On Growing in Confidence Through DSHA Athletics

When I think back to when I was just a freshman, first entering the doors of our school, all I remember was fear. Fear that I wouldn’t find any friends, fear that I wouldn’t find my place here and general anxiety about everything. You would never catch me raising my hand in class or going out of my way to lead my peers. I lacked confidence and I lacked connection. I did not see myself as a leader.

I joined my first season of sports right away with volleyball in the fall, and instantly made connections with many of the girls at tryouts and on the team. Walking into school having a team that I knew had my back was refreshing to say the least. At the least, I knew I could count on a smile in the hallways and help with my homework.

After volleyball, I did gymnastics, where I found some of my best friends. Come spring when I joined track and field, I was feeling more comfortable, but was not fully confident in my place here. Track is what really changed my experience here. You can ask Coach Cal [Health & Fitness Department Chair and Head Track & Field Coach Brian Calhoun], I was so scared during my first weeks of freshman year track, I wouldn’t talk to anyone and I think it was obvious to everyone how scared I was. The amazing teammates I had put in so much effort to bring me out of my shell and make me feel included in every way. These were monumental moments for me.

During our first meet, I was put in a relay with girls who were all older than me, and I was so nervous but they made sure I was okay. By the end of the season, I was no longer afraid to speak out and add to conversations, I wasn’t scared to talk to new people or go out of my comfort zone. That first year of sports gave me the confidence to be a leader.

I've continued doing track and gymnastics throughout my years here and it brings me so much joy. Having a team and coaches that care about me like the teammates and coaches here at DSHA is what makes me a whole person. As I kept growing with my teams I gained so much confidence, not only in my sports but in the school environment.

I know we talk a lot about the qualities of a DSHA graduate, but here are some of the athletic department's qualities of an athlete: academic success, athletic excellence, teamwork, sportsmanship, leadership, and service to others. I was more comfortable asking for help from my teachers, reaching out to my peers, and advocating for myself. In direct relation to athletics, I gained academic success. By sophomore year, I was captain of my gymnastics team and representing that team on the student athletic advisory council. By junior year, I was captain of gymnastics and track and elected president of the Athletic Council. You can see how athletics developed me into a leader.

If you told freshman Dani that she would be a leader of anything, much less giving a speech at the Golf Outing, she probably wouldn't say anything out loud to you, but she would think you were crazy. Now, I stand here honored to be able to represent how the athletics department has shaped me and countless others as a whole person.

I recently was selected for the WIAA Student-Athlete Leadership Team, and I'm thrilled to be able to work with them and advocate for student-athletes to help make changes and improvements such as resources for mental health, treating refs with respect, and showing support for girls in girls sports. I wouldn't be able to represent DSHA in this way without athletics and the confidence and capabilities it has given me. I have a strong connection with the school community and truly feel like I belong here because of the athletics and coaches who support me in everything I do. I know I have that support system in the administration, teachers, and coaches, and I can confidently say that the connection and love I have for this school stemmed from sports and continues to grow. In numerous ways, I have the qualities of a DSHA graduate because of my experiences and growth in athletics.

DSHA has given me great confidence and preparedness for my future. I want to run in college, and I want to major in criminal justice to later work in the FBI. I believe in myself to do these things because of the environment here. Throughout my years here I have gained the mindset of success. Because we are an all-girls school, I am used to being empowered to be the leader of clubs and groups, and the thought that a guy usually holds high-up positions in the work world doesn't cross my mind. The law enforcement field is very male-dominated, but that doesn't worry me. I know my worth and what I can contribute to what I do, and I have that assurance because of DSHA as a whole.

The environment in sports and the classroom sets every single girl here up for success in whatever she chooses to do. I want to say thank you to my coaches who have lifted me up and showed me what I can do and my potential, thank you to my teachers who have helped me grow in the classroom and find confidence in myself, and thank you to my parents for allowing me to go here, it truly has changed the trajectory of my life. Thank you all for being here and helping grow our athletic programs so that they can continue to impact the girls at DSHA for years as they have impacted me. All of that fear that I had freshman year? It's gone. It's been replaced by love and gratitude, for all of you. Thank you.