We poured thousands into cheerleading instead of my daughter's college fund. I don't regret that choice.

The author (right) has invested heavily in her daughter's extracurricular activities over the last decade and has no regrets.

Courtesy of Katie Barton.

I spent thousands on my daughter's activities instead of putting that money in a college fund.

Cheer and gymnastics taught her discipline, hard work, and commitment to long-term goals.

She may have to take on student debt, but I don't regret investing in her confidence and growth.

My oldest daughter is entering her senior year of high school , and instead of adding savings to a college fund to send her off to school, I've invested heavily in her extracurricular activities over the past decade.

This choice hasn't always been easy and required careful deliberation, but now that she's in the final stretch of her high school career, I can safely say I don't regret my decision.

I wanted to make her dreams come true My daughter is an elite-level cheerleader and tumbler who fell in love with gymnastics and stunting in the third grade.

That's when she first saw another girl flip across the football field, throwing one back handspring after another, and she became determined to do the same.

The author said she is proud of the transferable life skills her daughter has learned as an elite cheerleader.

Courtesy of Katie Barton.

As many parents would, I signed her up for a local gymnastics class .

Little did I know that it would become an almost decade-long pursuit.

Over the years, I've spent thousands of dollars on all-star cheer, gymnastics classes, and private coaching, which is money that could have gone to a college fund.