University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Photo by: Alex Mowrey/Pitt Athletics
Dani Hall: My Light at the End of the Tunnel
5/2/2018 10:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Pitt: My Light at the End of the Tunnel
Written By: Dani Hall
Being a gymnast since the age of five provided me with a solid foundation for who I am today. Gymnastics shaped my dedication, work ethic, perseverance and many other qualities. However, the opportunities of competing at the University of Pittsburgh for the last four years is what truly solidified these assets, as well as set me on a great path to begin the rest of my life.
Being a club gymnast wasn't necessarily fun. It took over a large majority of my time and robbed me of a "normal" childhood. At the age of eleven, I was already training 35 hours a week. It defines you and people simply know you as "the gymnast". Don't get me wrong, I loved gymnastics, otherwise I wouldn't have continued through with it to this level. Looking back, I think I always knew that there was going to be a light at the end of the tunnel – and Pitt was that light for me.
Pitt believed in me when no one else did. After having to undergo back surgery my freshman year of high school, I accepted that I wasn't going to get recruited like the other gymnasts my age. Pitt trusted my recovery process and offered me a scholarship despite the adversity I faced. Then, when I had to undergo a second back surgery just a couple years later in my junior year of high school, I believed it was truly over.
Even with my doctors and parents hesitations, I continued with gymnastics and, once again, Pitt trusted and believed in my abilities. When it seemed like the world was conspiring to keep me away from the sport I loved, when I was at some of my lowest points, when I couldn't see beyond the next surgery - let alone a collegiate career - Pitt empowered me to dream big and not give up. I don't know if I would have continued, had it not been for the continued support from Pitt.
I often feel like I should have never made it to this point. There was an abundance of ups and downs in my early career, and many more once I arrived on campus. However, being a part of the Pitt team infused me with an even stronger love for gymnastics. The entire Pitt community, including the coaches and staff and of course my teammates, were all nothing short of amazing, and I have never experienced more support and love from an organization. I am forever grateful to Pitt for enabling me to continue to do the thing I love most, and for making pushing through the hard days so worth it.
Apart from athletics, Pitt has undoubtedly provided me with the necessary assets to propel into the next phase of my life. I was pushed to succeed in all aspects of college, including academics, extracurricular activities and community service. The staff at the University of Pittsburgh not only helped me discover what major and career path I am passionate about, but also helped me prepare applications for entrance exams for graduate school.
Thanks to all the aid I have received from Pitt, I am proud and ecstatic that I am staying at my dream school for another three years to earn my Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree. Even though I may be finished competing as a gymnast, I know that I will carry my student-athlete experience forward into my healthcare career and everything else in my future.
Thank you to my family, friends, teammates and anyone who has supported me throughout this long and bumpy road. A special thank you to my parents, who had to be just as dedicated to the sport as I was.
I wouldn't trade my experiences as a gymnast for anything, and I couldn't have done it without everyone along the way.
Hail to Pitt forever.
Dani Hall
Written By: Dani Hall
Being a gymnast since the age of five provided me with a solid foundation for who I am today. Gymnastics shaped my dedication, work ethic, perseverance and many other qualities. However, the opportunities of competing at the University of Pittsburgh for the last four years is what truly solidified these assets, as well as set me on a great path to begin the rest of my life.
Being a club gymnast wasn't necessarily fun. It took over a large majority of my time and robbed me of a "normal" childhood. At the age of eleven, I was already training 35 hours a week. It defines you and people simply know you as "the gymnast". Don't get me wrong, I loved gymnastics, otherwise I wouldn't have continued through with it to this level. Looking back, I think I always knew that there was going to be a light at the end of the tunnel – and Pitt was that light for me.
Pitt believed in me when no one else did. After having to undergo back surgery my freshman year of high school, I accepted that I wasn't going to get recruited like the other gymnasts my age. Pitt trusted my recovery process and offered me a scholarship despite the adversity I faced. Then, when I had to undergo a second back surgery just a couple years later in my junior year of high school, I believed it was truly over.
Even with my doctors and parents hesitations, I continued with gymnastics and, once again, Pitt trusted and believed in my abilities. When it seemed like the world was conspiring to keep me away from the sport I loved, when I was at some of my lowest points, when I couldn't see beyond the next surgery - let alone a collegiate career - Pitt empowered me to dream big and not give up. I don't know if I would have continued, had it not been for the continued support from Pitt.
I often feel like I should have never made it to this point. There was an abundance of ups and downs in my early career, and many more once I arrived on campus. However, being a part of the Pitt team infused me with an even stronger love for gymnastics. The entire Pitt community, including the coaches and staff and of course my teammates, were all nothing short of amazing, and I have never experienced more support and love from an organization. I am forever grateful to Pitt for enabling me to continue to do the thing I love most, and for making pushing through the hard days so worth it.
Apart from athletics, Pitt has undoubtedly provided me with the necessary assets to propel into the next phase of my life. I was pushed to succeed in all aspects of college, including academics, extracurricular activities and community service. The staff at the University of Pittsburgh not only helped me discover what major and career path I am passionate about, but also helped me prepare applications for entrance exams for graduate school.
Thanks to all the aid I have received from Pitt, I am proud and ecstatic that I am staying at my dream school for another three years to earn my Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree. Even though I may be finished competing as a gymnast, I know that I will carry my student-athlete experience forward into my healthcare career and everything else in my future.
Thank you to my family, friends, teammates and anyone who has supported me throughout this long and bumpy road. A special thank you to my parents, who had to be just as dedicated to the sport as I was.
I wouldn't trade my experiences as a gymnast for anything, and I couldn't have done it without everyone along the way.
Hail to Pitt forever.
Dani Hall
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