This time of the year is hectic for Morningside senior Morgan Redford. While she is a member of the cheerleading squad, she competes on the school volleyball team. Later this month, basketball games will begin, and Redford will start her fourth varsity season with the Monarchs girls basketball team.
Since volleyball and cheerleading go on at the same time, Redford created a system to attend practices.
“I have practice for both sports every day,” she said. “I would just go to one practice for 45 minutes and for the other practice, I would go for 45 minutes.”
Competing in basketball has been a learning experience for Redford. During her junior season, she had to help her teammates learn the fundamentals.
“For most of the players that we got, they were new, they never played basketball before,” Redford said. “I saw myself as being a leader because I had played previously and they hadn’t.”
Cheerleading has taught her how to adapt to different situations, which helps her in both volleyball and basketball. Redford noted that the cheerleading squad is a headstrong group full of pride and enthusiasm.
“We have each other’s back and we’re all supportive of each other,” she said. “It’s just nice to have that sisterhood and that bond with a group of females that you can be around every day.”
Balancing her duties to her teams with her schoolwork is a challenging undertaking for Redford. Every school day concludes with her heading to practice.
“I have AP classes and we always have projects,” she said. “I have a certain amount of practices a day and by the time I get home, it’s already 6:00P.M.”
Redford is currently taking AP English and Government. During her time at Morningside, she learned about the Harlem Renaissance; this became her favorite historical event to study.
Along with sports, Redford does work with the Associated Student Body (ASB) at Morningside as a representative of the ASB cabinet. ASB, as well as other students, helped plan the homecoming festivities this year.
“It was fun that we get the opportunity to plan what we want instead of having adults do it,” she said.
Redford also interns with Writegirl, an organization that teaches teen girls about different forms of creative writing.
“I like it,” Redford said. “It helps me prep myself for adulthood, I really like it.”
Redford attends Black Student Union meetings on her campus. She recalled an intense discussion they had on abortions.
“We talk about stuff that’s going on in the world today,” Redford said. “Sometimes we talk about our history.”
When she grows up, Redford aspires to be a family social worker because she has a passion for working with children. Her advice to upcoming Morningside student athletes is to not procrastinate.
“Since we do have block schedule, I would just say do your work because you would have a day before to do your work,” Redford said. “Don’t wait until the last minute and then you’re doing it on the day that you have that class.”
