Spring Break
AMAZING GRACE
Gym Dog Georgia's 'perfect little ambassador'
TYLER ESTEP
Issue date: 2/27/09 Section: Sports
While she's yet to be out of the country on an official mission trip, struggling to find "a time when I'm allowed to not train for more than like two weeks," Taylor finds ways to serve in Athens. She leads Sunday school classes and church groups, and helps teach children gymnastics and dancing.
And, of course, she's always there for her teammates.
"Being here for the girls, whenever they need something from me, this is my mission," Taylor said. "Going out and living my life for the goodwill of the people."
Every Wednesday night, Taylor goes to Cornerstone Church of God to participate in the SHINE program, playing, dancing and worshipping with kids betweens the ages of five and 12. She teaches them gymnastics too.
"It's all based on encouraging them, and helping people," she said. "There's no skill level required. It's about having them achieve and encourage each other and positivity, and using their talents to glorify God. I love them so much. And it's just reaffirming too that this is what I want to do."
Said senior Gym Dog Courtney Kupets, Taylor's roommate: "She loves little kids, she loves playing around with them, so for her to be able to go to different countries and help those that are less fortunate than her is something that she would totally fit right into. I feel like she's done it her whole life with her siblings."
Taylor is also an outstanding student. She said she'll have over 120 hours after this semester, and is still pursuing her degree in health promotion.
"Gracie loves gymnastics, but as far as I can tell she actually
prioritizes school and the professional goals she expects to reach by majoring in health promotion," said Dr. Katie Darby Hein, Taylor's professor and advisor in the College of Public Health.
"In other words, gymnastics is how she gets to go to school - not the other way around with school being how she gets to do her sport."
As far as "her sport" goes, Taylor was last year's NCAA beam champion, and, on a Gym Dogs squad that has often been marred with inconsistency this season, is one of the only Georgia performers that has been perpetually excellent. She's second in the country on balance beam, and has scored below a 9.85 only four times this season.
And, of course, she's always there for her teammates.
"Being here for the girls, whenever they need something from me, this is my mission," Taylor said. "Going out and living my life for the goodwill of the people."
Every Wednesday night, Taylor goes to Cornerstone Church of God to participate in the SHINE program, playing, dancing and worshipping with kids betweens the ages of five and 12. She teaches them gymnastics too.
"It's all based on encouraging them, and helping people," she said. "There's no skill level required. It's about having them achieve and encourage each other and positivity, and using their talents to glorify God. I love them so much. And it's just reaffirming too that this is what I want to do."
Said senior Gym Dog Courtney Kupets, Taylor's roommate: "She loves little kids, she loves playing around with them, so for her to be able to go to different countries and help those that are less fortunate than her is something that she would totally fit right into. I feel like she's done it her whole life with her siblings."
Taylor is also an outstanding student. She said she'll have over 120 hours after this semester, and is still pursuing her degree in health promotion.
"Gracie loves gymnastics, but as far as I can tell she actually
prioritizes school and the professional goals she expects to reach by majoring in health promotion," said Dr. Katie Darby Hein, Taylor's professor and advisor in the College of Public Health.
"In other words, gymnastics is how she gets to go to school - not the other way around with school being how she gets to do her sport."
As far as "her sport" goes, Taylor was last year's NCAA beam champion, and, on a Gym Dogs squad that has often been marred with inconsistency this season, is one of the only Georgia performers that has been perpetually excellent. She's second in the country on balance beam, and has scored below a 9.85 only four times this season.
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