There are very few people in our introverted generation who maintain a positive attitude and make it their sole purpose to uplift others. Senior Kenzie Cooper is a shining example of one of them. Being a cheerleader her entire life, she is used to lifting others up. Whether it is congratulating the Kaneland varsity football team on their big win or complimenting a friend in the hallway, Cooper is always cheering people on. She demonstrates the positive qualities she learned from cheering throughout her daily life. Her hard work and uplifting attitude earned her the honor of winning Kaneland’s Homecoming court. The athletes on her cheer team nominated her while the rest of the school voted for her to win. But behind the bubbly and accomplished person that Kenzie is are years of hard work and dedication.
Kenzie has lived in North Aurora for the full 19 years of her life. Being a competitive cheerleader her whole life, she had a different upbringing than others. She spent a lot of her time in the cheer gym ICE, located in Naperville. Most of her life revolved around cheer, which made her who she is today.
“I have spent most of my time in my cheer gym and working volunteer hours, which is like coaching a special needs cheer team and a middle school cheer team,” Cooper said. “Throughout my life, I have been on the cheer teams Allstar Rebels Gangsters, Team Illinois Silver Charm and Pink Envy, Ice Frost, Ice Black Ice, Ice Thunder, and USA Unified. I have also cheered at three different cheer gyms such as Allstar Rebels for 10 years, Team Illinois for three years, and ICE for the last three years of my cheer career.”
Cooper has also been on Kaneland’s varsity football season cheerleading team for the past four years, as well as Kaneland’s competition team. Cooper has a positive attitude with everything she does, and always welcomes any new additions to a team.
Ava Kraus, a freshman cheerleader at Kaneland, was on the same team as Kenzie at the beginning of the school year. Kraus had never cheered at the high school level before, and Cooper being on the team helped Kraus feel more confident in herself.
“Kenzie has affected our team by bringing positivity and excitement to every practice and game,” Kraus said. “She always made everyone happy to be there. I admire how much she brings to the team and how happy she is to be there, and it really inspires me to be as hardworking as she is.”
Cooper’s attitude has affected not only the cheer team, but everyone around her. Emma Hardekopf is a sophomore on the track team, and she became a friend of Cooper’s when they met through track.
“Being around Kenzie always makes me happy,” Hardekopf said. “I really just love how bubbly and open she is to everybody, and she treats everyone like they are best friends. She is an amazing person.”
Cooper has a positive effect on everyone around her. She has worked hard her entire life to get to where she is today, and if it weren’t for that hard work, she wouldn’t be who she is today.
Cooper recently went through a life changing experience that affected her outlook on life. It helped her become an even brighter person and realize how lucky she is.
“When I was in Florida at NCA for a cheer competition a few months ago, I experienced a shooting at the competition,” Cooper said. “Having to run for my life made me rethink a lot and helped me be more positive and grateful every day.”
Cooper recalled that she heard shots being fired, and everyone started running. Dozens of athletes were trampled in a stampede that caused mass chaos at the cheerleading event. This life-threatening event helped Cooper realize how lucky she is to be alive, and to take every moment as a blessing.
Cooper always treats everyone around her with kindness and compassion, no matter what she is going through. Even days after her traumatic event in Florida, Cooper returned with a smile on her face, just as encouraging as ever.
“I love how positive and uplifting Kenzie always is,” Kraus said. “Even though she recently went through a life changing event, she is always complimenting me in the hallway and concerned about how her friends are doing.”
Cooper has multiple principles that she tries and displays in her life. The most important things to her are her mindset, the way she treats people, how she is viewed, doing things she enjoys, and making other people happy.
Cooper’s hard work has earned her many accomplishments in life and many friends who love her. Her dedication and determination has also landed her a spot at Grand Valley State University, where she will be attending school in the fall.
