Does Gymnastics Define Me?

I am a gymnast, but is that all there is to me? Being a gymnast limits you from other activities such as other sports, instruments, and even hanging out with friends. I train five days a week, four and a half hours a day at Black Diamond Gymnastics. I have early release from school, missing one period every day, then go to straight to gymnastics until six. I get home, eat, do homework and go to sleep. This is my basic routine Monday through Friday. So, although I have a small amount of time to be social, does gymnastics really define me? This question went through my mind multiple times this summer. 

When most people think of me, they think of “Morgan, the gymnast”. It is the same with other people, “the football player” or “the singer”. But is our sport or activity all there is to us? Gymnastics is a huge part of my personality, but I have other characteristics that define me. This summer, when I was pondering this question, I really thought about what else there was to my personality. This was tough at first, as most of my life revolves around gymnastics. Many of my closest friends are teammates, I am at the gym twenty two and a half hours a week, and wherever I am I cannot help but do a handstand, some flips, maybe stretch a little, or just hang upside down. This concept is not something I thought about for a minute and concluded “well, I can throw a ball so I am okay”. No, I literally sat down at the computer and looked up lists of sports and activities to try in high school. I ended up doing some simple activities at home with my family for fun.

My family, where I live, my friends and even school have a place in my character. I have done gymnastics since I was four, and although it is not all that defines me, I believe it has been an immense part in shaping who I am today.

This is me (left) after my first gymnastics competition when I was six!