Life after any sport is difficult but leaving cheerleading behind presents a unique set of challenges. Cheer isn’t like other sports; there’s no professional league to aspire to and for most there’s no casual adult league to join. Plus, leaving behind the glitter and bows can feel like losing a part of yourself. Here’s what I’ve learned about rediscovering who you are when the glitter settles and the crowd goes quiet.

Netflix’s ”Cheer” has brought a much-needed spotlight on the sport of cheerleading, but it fails in some ways to dive into some of the more contentious issues about cheerleading.