A smile can carry an athlete through disappointment, and Muskogee High School senior Zuri Stewart has learned to keep hers while working toward what comes next. Cheerleading has shown her that confidence can be a choice when an outcome is not what she hoped.
“Fake it ’til you make it” and “smile ’til it hurts” are lessons Stewart carries with her.
“I’m not always going to be happy, and I’m not always going to like the outcome, but if I keep smiling and pushing forward, soon enough I will get there and the reward will be worth it,” Stewart said.
Stewart cheers for Muskogee’s varsity team and competes on a Level 4 team with OK Spirit. She is proud to have been named an All-American at NCA and UCA camps in each of the past four years, but her most meaningful milestone was being baptized and becoming a Christian.
Her faith shapes how she views uncertainty and opportunity. Proverbs 3:5-6 guides her, reminding her to trust God even when she cannot see what is ahead.
Stewart pursues leadership away from cheer. She serves on the student council, the superintendent’s advisory council, the Fostering Hope Teen Board and the Muskogee Chamber of Commerce Youth Leadership Committee. She volunteers with Read Across America. Through those roles, she hopes to be a positive example for younger students and offer adults a teenager’s perspective.
She credits teacher Terri Brossett with encouraging her to work hard, pursue what she wants and step into leadership. Teammate Cheyenne Walden has made a lasting impression through her encouragement and friendship.
Stewart is grateful to her parents and older sister, whose support has steadied her through challenges.
“They are always encouraging and helping me through challenges and reminding me to keep going when things get difficult,” she said.