Ready Set, Inspire the Girls Ava!

By: Jazmyne Courtnii Byrd

On the surface, cheerleading is about stunts, routines, and the roar of a crowd. But for Ava, it was turning out to be something else too: a classroom.

With every practice, every competition, and every new skill she mastered, Ava was learning lessons that reached far beyond the mat. Confidence. Power. Teamwork. Self-awareness. Her mother, Jessica Austin, an attorney, watched it happen and started to wonder if those lessons could travel further than their own home.

“We knew we had something special,” she says, “when we realized Ava’s experiences in cheerleading were teaching lessons that extended far beyond the mat.” Together, they saw an opportunity. They could turn what Ava was learning into a story that might encourage other children to dream big, work hard, and never give up on themselves. What started as a shared idea between a mother and a daughter grew into a mission: Ready, Set, Cheer with Ava!, a children’s book built to inspire young readers everywhere.

Making it happen wasn’t simple. Life was already full. Ava had school, cheerleading, dance, and competitions. Her mother had a law practice to run and a family to take care of. Finding time to sit down and write wasn’t always easy. So, they kept it simple. They stayed focused on their purpose and took it one step at a time. “Every time we completed a page, we were reminded why we started and who we hoped to inspire,” she says. Page by page, the book came together.

The moment things really shifted came after it reached readers. People began telling them how much they connected with Ava’s story. Children, parents, educators, and supporters wrote in to say they saw themselves in the message. For a mother and daughter who had created the book at their own kitchen table, so to speak, it was a powerful confirmation that it was reaching well beyond their own family.

“That was the moment we realized this was about more than publishing a book,” she says. “It was about creating encouragement, empowerment, and inspiration for young people.”

That’s the feeling they hope every reader carries away. Whether you’re a young athlete, a student chasing a goal, or a parent cheering on your child, they want you to walk away inspired, empowered, and hopeful, with a bigger belief in what’s possible. Their message is simple. “With faith, determination, and hard work, dreams can become reality.”

The legacy they want to leave goes deeper than a book on a shelf. They hope Ready, Set, Cheer with Ava! will be remembered for inspiration, representation, and empowerment. They want young readers to know that their dreams matter, their voices matter, and their ability to overcome obstacles is magnificent. They also hope the story shows what can happen when a family comes together to nurture a child’s gifts and turn passion into purpose.

Looking ahead, they’re thinking bigger. Over the next five years, they see Ready, Set, Cheer with Ava! growing into a platform focused on literacy, leadership, and youth development. That means expanding the book series, visiting more schools, taking on more speaking opportunities, and creating resources that encourage kids to go after their goals.

What excites them most is that this is only the beginning. There are a lot of young lives out there they might get the chance to inspire, and they’re just getting started.