“Here’s a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don’t worry, be happy….
The ageless words from the song written in 1988 by Bobby McFerrin offer encouragement in a simple phrase. And, for Hartshorne senior Charli Curliss, it’s her way to handle whatever challenge comes her way.
“You can’t control the uncontrollabes,” explained the Curliss. “Coach (Justin) James has always told us that we can’t control everything that happens to us in our lives. That’s why I’m always eager to try new things, determined to do my best and in all things be kind to the people around me.”
The achievements of Curliss speak for themselves. As a four-year member of the Hartshorne cheerleader squad, her accomplishments include earning All-American honors; a highlight that ranks at the top of Charli’s prime time moments.
“Making All-American at cheer camp and going to the beautiful state of Hawaii to cheer in the Pearl Harbor Memorial Day Parade would have to be my highlight moment,” she said with a sparkle in her eye, “but I have to say the memories I have made with these girls and the constant laughter we have shared is what makes me enjoy cheer the most. We are like a big family.”
Through discipline and dedication, Curliss has stayed on the right path and achieved cheerleading success- something the 2022 senior credits to the importance of teamwork.
“If cheer didn’t have teamwork then you wouldn’t accomplish anything. You need teamwork to throw up a stunt and hit it properly, you need teamwork when teaching someone a dance or a chant,” emphasized Curliss. “Cheer isn’t something you can do alone and having teamwork just makes your squad stronger. I’m proud that we’ve got that at Hartshorne.”
Always smiling and always on the go, Charli is the starting centerfielder on the softball team and also was the manager for the boys’ basketball team in addition to showing livestock as part of the FFA chapter at her school. After graduation, she plans to attend East Central University in Ada and major in sports medicine.
The influence of family, specifically her older brother Braxton, is a pillar of strength for Charli in all her endeavors.
“My entire life I have known my brother to be a kind and loving sweet person. Even after losing the people he has lost, he still strives to be the best kind soul he can be and live every day to the fullest, and that really inspires me.”
And without question, the influence and impact that Charli Curliss continues to give back to others results in a better way, every day, and proves that Character Counts.
