Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Holland.
Jessica, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I knew that I always wanted to be this positive role model, whether if it was for cheer, mentoring, I just wanted to be that person for somebody. I have been cheering all of my life. I knew that outside of having my boutique and cleaning business that I promised myself I would have a cheering organization but it would be so much more than that. Growing up in Oak Cliff, all we had was poverty and sports. Sounds crazy, huh, but it’s the truth. The elementary school had sports back then and pop Warner and it was so easy to get into. As we got older, the school districts began to take all of those things away from school, making it only to where you had to be a certain age and grade level leaving nothing for the younger kids to do. I watched my mom pay thousands of dollars so that I could have the best, tumbling cheering for my school, all-star, and gymnastics.
As I got older, I began to coach for all-star teams and, high schools and at that point, I knew cheering had to be so much more. But it is so much more than just cheering, I wanted something that not only you can participate in but learn and grow from as well. I created an organization, that not only my cheerleaders can cheer but also grow and learn from. We offer free tutoring, college tours, act/sat prep, we offer free cheer packages to low-income parents who can’t afford the expensive all-star teams meaning they pay nothing out of pocket, we have outing 2xs a month. Not only are we a cheer organization but every girl is assigned to a mentor. I sat and wrote on paper day after day what I wanted and what I wanted people to get when coming to me. These days, nothing is free, everything costs and growing up in a poverty low-income neighborhood, we all want our kids to be the best and be a part of some of the best teams but they can’t afford it. It’s not about winning with me, I want everybody to win in life as well.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has been the hardest thing ever. Some days, I would just sit back and cry just from frustration. I started with 30 girls and my numbers dropped, but no matter how many girls I started to lose as long as I reached even just one maybe even 2, I knew I was doing my job. It’s long nights, dedication, finding balance between that and my other businesses and my own family. I continued to push no matter what the circumstance was. Everything is financial, time and more time. When I first started, I didn’t have anywhere to practice hold tutoring but I always made it happen, that’s how I knew it was for me to do.
Texas Diamond Cheer – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We are a cheer and dance organization. We do recreational cheer, all-star and dance competitions. We offer tutoring, act/sat prep, mentoring program, tumbling private lessons. We are known for cheer but also we provide free cheer packages to low-income parents and also single mothers. Cheerleading is one of the most expensive sports there is and everyone can’t afford it but I absolutely believe that everyone deserves a chance to be a part of something. The parents come out of pocket for absolutely nothing and we are giving that child to something they can be proud of, something great to be a part of. I’m am most proud of where I am today. Although this is my dream when I started, everything that could go wrong went wrong, the typical person probably would have quit, it has been a battle but I continued to be consistent and kept pushing. I’m proud that I am still standing today and the girls that I have touched as a person, a coach and as a mentor.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I’m only grateful that I am where I am today. We started with a little bit of nothing. We are growing each and every day. We started out renting places and therefore and we finally in the process of closing in on our 1st place to call our own. We’ve come a long way in just a year, many donations, sponsors, help from other parents and organizations and I can only be thankful and I’m ready to see what else is in store for us. I’m helping so many girls a day even if they aren’t a part of our cheer and dance organization. Helping them figure out their next place in life, college or even somebody they cant talk too. That’s enough success right there for me.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 9728030340
- Instagram: TexasDiamondcheer19
- Facebook: TexasDiamondsCheer
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