I am very thankful for being given the opportunity to be a division one athlete at Mizzou. Although Columbia is a long way from my home in Houston, Texas, getting to come here has been a great experience. Gymnastics before college is strictly an individual sport; now I am able to compete for something much bigger than myself: my team, my coaches, and my school. I am proud to be a Mizzou tiger!

Athletics has also created new ways that I can become involved in the community; the Total Person Program helps coordinate events where we can visit and speak at local elementary schools, be active at Special Olympics events in Central Missouri, visit children at the hospital on campus, read to children at local schools from a location on campus via video chat, and the list goes on. This has been a huge help for me getting involved. While athletes are busy with their sport and schoolwork, having the Total Person Program organize events for us makes doing community service so much more convenient; I have gotten involved in the community a lot more because of their help.

I am also thankful for the free tutoring we receive. Balancing class work and practice can be challenging, and this service provided to us has been a huge help! Having a nice computer lab and many individual quiet study rooms in the Sheldon Academic Resource Center provides us with a good place to meet with tutors or study when needed.

Overall, I am just lucky to be here and thankful for being given this great opportunity to be an athlete at Mizzou. GO TIGERS!

Allie