During Thanksgiving break, students are usually spending the day with family, feasting on turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, but Senior Miata Walker chose to spend the day performing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City for the second year in a row.

“I never thought my mom would let me [go on] the same trip twice, and I never thought I’d be able to be in the city again, so I was definitely excited,” Walker said.

Walker was chosen to go to New York through a high school summer camp tryout for the NCA’s All American Team. When Walker was one of the few girls chosen to be on the team, she was able to pick from a list of events at which she would want to perform. She decided to go back to The Big Apple to perform as she did in 2011. Walker stayed in New York from Nov. 17-24, rehearsing every day, a routine that she had learned online.

“I was so proud of her because she’s made it so far with her cheer career,” Senior and friend of Walker, Aaliyah Simmons said.

This year’s parade, Walker said, was a big difference from her trip in 2011; from getting closer with the girls that she met from all over the country to meeting the Power Rangers that were in the parade, and performing for Jimmy Fallon and the roots’ float.

“If I wasn’t a Senior, I would totally go back next year,” Walker said. “And if you are a cheerleader, don’t give the opportunity up, it goes by so fast.”

Through her experience, Walker would like to thank her mom, Sonia Walker, for her support.

“Without her support, I wouldn’t have made it this far in my cheer career and get to travel to all the places that cheer allows me to, I really appreciate her for this experience,” Walker said.