Energy.

Personality.

Pep.

All things associated with cheerleaders.

Maura Rhodes, sophomore, has these traits as well as others being a part of jv cheer.

“I consider myself to be a pretty peppy person,” Rhodes said.

What many people don’t know, though, is she has diabetes insipidus. This causes her to take pills regulating her intake of water.

She was diagnosed when she was four, so her parents controlled most of her medication then. Now she takes the medication two times a day.

“It makes me more responsible and makes me more aware of what goes in my body,” Rhodes said.

Rhodes said having diabetes is a way of life.

“My coaches are really understanding, but I always have water with me,” Rhodes said. “If not, my friends share.”

She said when people find out she has diabetes, their usual reaction is “I would have never known!”

“No one can tell I have it if they look at me,” Rhodes said. “It makes me realize there can be more to a person than you see on the outside.”