Titans Cheerleader Shatters Stereotypes
Grad Student Also Works As Neuroscience Researcher
POSTED: 11:48 pm CST January 7,
2009
UPDATED: 1:32 am CST January 8,
2009
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A Titans cheerleader is a Vanderbilt University graduate student who is shattering stereotypes while performing live in front of 70,000 football fans.
Watch This Story | ImagesTrained as a classical ballerinist, Melissa loves the energy and excitement that comes with performing live in front of a large crowd.But when she's not performing on Sundays, she's busy working in a science lab as a full-time molecular neuroscience researcher while working toward a career in medicine.Melissa enjoys touchdowns and field goals almost as much as beakers, labs and learning about disorders of the brain. Among the things she studies is schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and Parkinson's disease."Generally yes, people are a little bit surprised (by my career,)" she said.Melissa said other cheerleaders that she knows also have successful careers in advertising, law and teaching."We kind of are trying one-by-one to kind of break that stereotype and hope people can realize that just because you like to dance and like to cheer and you're a performer and you're a beautiful girl, that doesn't mean that you're just a beautiful girl on the outside. We do have good qualities, and we're smart, intelligent people," said Melissa.
Copyright 2009 by WSMV.com. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Got a story idea? E-mail newstips to news@wsmv.com or call the newsroom 24/7 at 615-353-2231.









