There comes a time when we all have to grow up.

Entering into high school, kids are forced to grow a thicker skin. The people are meaner and the gossip is more personal. People will dislike you for no reason and rumors will spread. Students deal with these things every day and, for the most part, do so successfully.

So why, if during the school day, children deal with constant drama, is it a problem once they reach the field or the court?

Many of you are familiar with the fact that our cheers for sports, such as booing the other team and chanting “Start the bus!”are not allowed by VHSL rules. What I don’t understand is why VHSL has to regulate cheering at sporting events.

In my personal opinion, we should be able to cheer how we want to cheer and these student-athletes should man up and deal with the cheering. These athletes willingly enter onto the sports teams, and therefore put themselves up to questionable cheering willingly. If they were on these teams by force, I would understand, but they choose the team they’re on. If they can’t handle the heat, they should get off the court.

Nobody likes that one mom or dad who is constantly “protecting” their child from the dangers of high school. Kids need to learn to fend for themselves, and if their mommy and daddy are constantly hovering over them, fighting the administrations and coaches over the littlest things, it ultimately hinders them socially. Without learning to deal with a little adversity, the kid will never survive in the real world.

A child that is slightly offended by the booing at a sporting event is just that: a child. If said child plans on playing sports in college or beyond, he or she will need to get accustomed to the harsh criticisms of opposing fans. If not, he or she will probably face criticisms once they enter into the work force.

Basically, I say negative cheering should be allowed. I say we boo that man with pride, because it teaches kids that not everything is going to be pleasant in their lives, and that the warm-and-fuzzy world of “Saved By The Bell” is not how high school really is.