MANHATTAN — Everyone knows about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Now meet the only high school cheerleader in the entire state of Montana to get to march in it.
"I am beyond excited," says Kelsey Myers. "There's no words."
It’s a dream that senior Kelsey Myers has had since, well, forever.
"I've watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade since, you know, I could remember," Myers says. "I always grew up watching it. And I was like that'd be so cool to be in that one day and I just never thought it would happen."
Last year, with help from her community and her mother at her side, Myers achieved that dream.
Joining more than 550 other cheerleaders from across the country, the Manhattan native took the Big Apple in style.
Somewhere in that sea of pink uniforms and green pom poms, Myers had a realization.
"It was amazing, just being in New York City, you know, coming from a small town," Myers says. "It was overwhelming the first couple of days but I love it now and I'm so excited to go back."
The program is called "Spirit of America," bringing together cheerleaders for a week of intensive, nine hour day training sessions.
And Myers tackles them with a smile.
"I saw Diana Ross, Ashley Tisdale from High School Musical," Myers says. "It's an honor.”
Manhattan, Montana is quite a ways from Manhattan, New York. Myers never thought she'd get to do this once, let alone twice.
Now she gets to do both. And she said she will go into the experience humbly.
"They are always so supportive and just wishing me good luck," Myers says.
Kelsey means her entire team, and others, even her principal, Jason Slater.
"She came in at the beginning of the school year and wanted a way to recognize all kids, not just one segment of kids but all kids," Slater says.
Her principal it’s that same humbleness that makes Kelsey the perfect Manhattan rep.
"As you do look at those people and traits that you want to take from them, I would say Kelsey's heart and compassion is going to take her far," Slater says.
As for Kelsey, she leaves Thursday morning for the Big Apple. While she’s missing the Big Game (Manhattan takes on Eureka for the Class B state football title), she’s rooting from afar.
"I'll definitely be cheering on our football boys from New York City," Myers says. "Follow your dreams. Just get out there and do what you want to do."
