A Day in the Life: Sampling Self Care

On the Clock, Off Campus

Gina Parducci

& KK Gilbert

Hallway staff interviewed members of our Holland Hall Upper School student body who pursue unique sports and hobbies. These students spend multiple hours each week excelling in their passions.

Figure Skating Josie Shingleton’22

How long have you been involved in figure skating?

I have been skating since I was 10 years old.

What is your favorite thing about figure skating?

Skating is a feeling so unique to anything else I’ve ever experienced and is a great way for me to express myself. Every aspect of skating has a different feeling. Gliding and skating across the ice brings you a sense of control, jumping feels like you are flying, and spinning feels powerful.

What was your biggest accomplishment in figure skating?

Landing all my double jumps (two full rotations in the air) and becoming a US Figure Skating gold medalist are my biggest accomplishments.

What is the biggest challenge in figure skating?

Figure skating requires an impossible amount of both physical and mental control. In terms of physical control, if you have one leg or arm slightly out of place on either a jump or spin you risk losing it. You need mental control because allowing any fear to enter your mind will cause you to chicken out of your jumps.

How much time do you spend doing figure skating?

I skate three days a week.

Competitive Cheer

Kendall Riley’22

How long have you been involved in Competitive Cheer ?

I have been doing competitive cheer since I was 10 years old (4th grade).

What is your favorite thing about Competitive Cheer?

My absolute favorite thing about doing competitive cheer is getting to walk out on a stage with thousands of people watching you. It feels like a movie. I also love traveling around the country. One year I went to Kansas City, Louisville, Dallas, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Oklahoma City, and Orlando twice all in the span of about three and a half months.

What was your biggest accomplishment in Competitive Cheer?

My biggest accomplishment I have reached so far in all star cheerleading would probably either be placing second at the world championship or winning back-to-back national titles.

What is the biggest challenge in Competitive Cheer ?

The biggest challenge I face in all star cheerleading is time management. Sometimes, it gets hard juggling school, school cheer, and competitive cheer all at once. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I get out of school at 3, go to Holland Hall practice from 3:45 - 5pm, and then my other practice from 6 - 9pm.

How much time do you spend doing Competitive Cheer ?

I spend quite a lot of time doing competitive cheerleading. I usually practice three times a week for three hours, with extra practices often added to that schedule and even more during competition season (in which I also spend weekends competing).