Taili Cid: Augusta University’s new SGA president

Even though Taili Cid has been a cheerleader ever since she was in middle school in Marietta, Georgia, this 21-year-old senior at Augusta University never gets tired of cheering and has become one of the most enthusiastic members of the Jaguar cheerleading team over the past three years.

Not only does she enjoy supporting the school’s athletic teams, but she is also a proud supporter of the university.

“I have always been really involved on campus since my freshman year here at Augusta University,” Cid said. “I have been a resident assistant for three years, I was a previous member of the Augusta University Orchestra program, and I worked at the Academic Success Center and in the Office of Academic Admissions, as well as being a student-athlete.”

Therefore, when LeDarius Scott, Augusta University’s Student Government Association president for the past two years, graduated in the spring, Cid decided she would seek the office of SGA president.

“Since I have been a part of a lot of different areas of this university, my platform this year is unity,” said Cid, who is also the co-captain of Augusta University’s cheerleading team. “I really like to bridge the gaps and connect different people who may have not been connected before.”

Cid said she also looks forward to promoting everything Augusta University has to offer students.

“When I came here three years ago, I wanted to focus on medicine and health because I have always wanted to go to medical school,” said Cid, who is majoring in cell and molecular biology. “I knew about the Medical College of Georgia, but I didn’t really know about Augusta University. It was kind of my parents’ idea for me to come here.”

But when she arrived at Augusta University as a freshman, she was surprised about how many instant connections she made with a lot of people on campus.

“I think the experience that I got here was definitely something I couldn’t get at some of the bigger schools I was applying to,” Cid said. “So, while the medical college is definitely why I came, I feel like I stayed for different reasons that I didn’t expect when I first enrolled.”

For instance, Cid said she is amazed about how much the professors and faculty care about the students at Augusta University.

“With the small class sizes here at Augusta University, all of my professors know my name,” Cid said, smiling. “I can still walk up to my first biology professor and he will give me a high-five in the hallway because he still remembers me from my freshman year. That’s an awesome feeling.”

And there are so many professors who go the extra mile to encourage students to succeed, Cid said.

“One of my favorite professors here at Augusta University is Dr. (William) Bryant,” Cid said. “He was my communications professor my freshman year. And, oh my gosh, that was my very first class here. That class was at 9 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.”

On the first day of class, Cid still remembers, she didn’t know what to expect.

“I was so scared because it was my first honors class, too,” Cid said. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh. I’m a freshman, I’m in honors and I am so nervous.’ But he just made that class so much fun.”

Bryant’s class is one she’ll never forget, Cid said.

“It’s been three years, and I still remember that class,” Cid said, laughing. “I sat on the front row, third seat on the right.”

Not many seniors at larger universities can remember exactly where they sat in their first college class, Cid joked.

“I really like the atmosphere and community here,” Cid said, adding that her love for Augusta University has made it easy to be on the cheerleading team. “I like the fact that I can cheer at the games and just be supportive of the entire university. I also like the competitive aspect of cheerleading because I’m very competitive sometimes. I did gymnastics when I was little, so I have always loved tumbling and things like that ever since I was young.”

Her two favorite sports to cheer for at Augusta University are basketball and volleyball, Cid said.

“I am a die-hard basketball fan,” Cid said, adding that, ironically, her parents never wanted her to become a cheerleader. “When I was little, I always wanted to be a cheerleader, but my parents were like, ‘Oh, that’s not a sport.’ So they were not going to let me do it.”

Instead, her parents signed her up for a variety of sports such as tennis, soccer and basketball.

“I did a whole bunch of random sports that I didn’t want to do,” Cid said, laughing. “Finally, they put me in gymnastics and realized, ‘All right, she’s kind of good at this.’”

As a result, Cid begged her parents to let her try out for her middle school’s cheerleading team.

They finally agreed.

“And you know what? I didn’t even make it the first time,” Cid said, shaking her head. “I was so sad. But then I tried out again the next year and I made it.”

Those life lessons taught her to never give up, she said.

“I’m determined,” Cid said, smiling. “And I always told myself, when I made the cheerleading team, I would never not cheer as long as I had the opportunity. And I’m still cheering.”