Known for his fun-loving spirit and energetic presence, junior cheerleader Charlie Dib has put his passionate heart into cheerleading, wildlife, and dancing. Onward State sat down with the biobehavioral health major from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, to learn about his time so far as a Penn State cheerleader and TikTok dancer, as well as some insight into his hobby of herping.

Onward State: Talk about your journey through cheerleading. How did it start, and how did it lead you here to Penn State? 

Charlie Dib: I actually played football my entire life; I had never cheered. I was looking at colleges to play football, but my parents had gone to Penn State, and when I got accepted, I made the choice to come here. My dad actually had cheered for one or two years, and he told me to try it out. I saw a flyer on Penn State cheerleading’s Instagram, and I gave tryouts a shot. I was strong enough and met the requirements, so I made the team. At first, it was rocky; I had to get used to it being much different from previous sports I had played. I learned to love it because of the people around me and the atmosphere it created. It’s very positive and joyful, and it has made me grow as a human being. The people made me love the sport. 

OS: You bring a lively energy when it comes to cheering. How do you manage to keep confidence when performing in front of hundreds of thousands of people?

CD: I just love doing what I do. Dancing around, being happy. Some people judge me, but I don’t mind that; I still spread energy. It’s all rooted in love and wanting to spread joy. 

OS: What has been the best experience you’ve had as a cheerleader so far, and what made it such a memorable moment? 

CD: I would say the aspect of just being a part of such an amazing team. When we travel, it is truly so much fun. Team meals together and just bonding as a whole in and out of cheer have been incredible experiences I’ll never forget.  

OS: You have a neat wildlife hobby in herping (the act of searching for amphibians and reptiles). How did you discover this as something you really enjoyed?

CD: I’ve been extremely interested in animals, nature, and wildlife my entire life. My dad would take my brother and me to Florida, and we would catch little lizards called anoles. I like catching snapping turtles and water snakes most. It sounds taunting, but they are more scared of us than we are of them, so if you hold them for long enough, they mellow out.

Last spring, I said to myself, I’m surrounded by woods everywhere, I need to explore it, so I went out, flipping rocks, searching trees and brush to find all of these incredible reptiles and amphibians. I learned their names, scientific names, behavioral patterns, and diets. I try to learn as much as I possibly can. I am actually studying abroad in Melbourne, Australia, in February, so I look forward to seeing snakes, monitor lizards, toads, and frogs, as well as mammals like koalas and kangaroos. My dad has taken my brother and me on trips around the world, and that really sparked my interest in seeing animals from different regions. 

OS: You recently started a TikTok page that consists of you dancing at different locations around campus. What made you want to do this? 

CD: I just started seeing people dancing on TikTok, and I was like why am I not doing this? My first video was in the Redifer Commons, and it got a lot more attention than I thought it would. I learned the Louisiana jig; my roommate is from Mississippi, so he introduced me to that style of music, and I learned how to dance to it. I receive hate on the page, but it doesn’t matter. I plan to keep posting and having fun with it.

OS: When people see your videos or watch you cheer, what do you hope they feel or take away from it? 

CD: I just want to spread joy and make people happy. I want people to see my content and laugh, and have a positive reaction to it that makes them smile. I love what I do, so I enjoy sharing it with others.

@charliedib14

#redifercommons #psu #jig? #pennstate

♬ original sound – Fbrl challenge creator

OS: What makes you take on life with such a fun-loving spirit? 

CD: My family really instilled positivity into my mindset from a young age. I’ve always lived on the idea of going through life with the best frame of mind possible. Not everything in life can be the most enjoyable, but it is a blessing to feel emotion, whether it’s happiness, sadness, or anger; it’s a blessing to be alive. 

OS: What motivated you to pursue a degree in biobehavioral health? What do you hope to do as a career? 

CD: I originally wanted to be a biology major, but when I got to campus, it was not the right fit for me, so I switched to BBH. I really enjoy BBH, and I am on the veterinarian track. I want to become a travel veterinarian, with a niche for reptiles and amphibians. I would love to travel the world, work with exotic animals, and be an advocate for them. 

OS: How do you balance the hectic schedule of cheerleading, studying, and personal time, as well as your hobbies? 

CD: It is difficult, I won’t lie. I am lucky to have a schedule that is well-structured, which helps me to hit all of my important goals for each day. I just break down each part of the day, and focus on one thing at a time. It is most crucial to stay on top of my school work and take advantage of the time I have to do it. 

OS: Where do you hope the rest of your college experience takes you?

CD: I’m hoping to make new connections, meet more great people, and make even better memories. I also hope to find some research experiences as well. Overall, just live in the present moment and be happy.