CHEERLEADER CHAT
Name: Jenna Rangel
School: West Texas A&M
Age: 22
Hometown: Arlington
High School: Kennedale
Year: Senior
Major: Biology for pre-med
What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up: An anesthesiologist
Mac Engel: How did you pick anesthesiology?
Jenna Rangel: My dad had been sick with brain tumors since I was in the fourth grade. He recently passed a couple of weeks ago. I just never felt like a doctor cared about my dad so I wanted to be a doctor so that other people's parents would know doctors cared.
Then I got interested in surgery but I can't see myself cutting some, but being in the room helping someone without cutting. ME: How did you wind up at West Texas A&M?
JR: I got accepted to West Point. I was going to go there but couldn't because I had asmtha when I was 10. You can't have that on your record. It was late in the process, a friend from high school went to West Texas A&M and that's how I heard about it. I came here at the time they were having cheerleading tryouts. I called the coach, tried out, made it, and that's why I'm here.
ME: What is there to do in Canyon, Texas?
JR: The school has gotten a little bigger and it's a lot nicer here. Really, for me, I'm just cool with practicing and hanging out with my friends.
ME: How long have you done the cheerleader thing?
JR: Do you count the sixth grade? I played volleyball for a while. I did track all four years at high school. I was in the band.
ME: Were you a band geek?
JR: No, that's my sister. But I played the flute and trumpet. One time I had to play while I was in my cheerleading uniform. My mom made me stay in band all four years because she said it would work the left side of my brain.
ME: What are the fringe benefits of being a cheerleader?
JR: You just get so involved in things. I like to be involved. You get to network a lot.
ME: Ever been seriously injured doing this?
JR: I had a concussion in high school and two since I've been in college. But that's it.
ME: That's it? Those are serious.
JR: I got hit in the forehead by someone's shin. It felt like I woke up a day later on that one. I fell off the top of the pyramid once.
ME: Is it true all cheerleaders want to date guys on the football team?
JR: No. There are a lot of girls that don't want to go near the football team.
- Mac Engel
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@MacEngelProf
i appreciate that you were in band. i respect you for that. i was in band all through middle school and freshman year. i played trumpet like you. i am a senior now and i am graduating from high school in two weeks. i am only 19 years old. i just turned 19 on april 16.
Posted by: Morgan King | May 04, 2012 at 10:20 AM