Feb. 26, 2008
A Q&A with women's gymnast Brandi Personett, a sophomore from Katy, Texas.
What is your favorite thing about being a Penn State student?
I love that although Penn State is such a large school, there is a place for everyone. You can get involved in your classes and other activities that make each student feel like part of the university.
What is your favorite thing about being a Penn State student-athlete?
Being a student athlete, you are provided every opportunity to succeed in not only athletics, but academics, and life after college. There is also a lot of respect for the student athletes at Penn State because they do follow the motto of "success with honor" and it feels really good to get to be a part of something so incredible.
Why Penn State?
The academic and athletic opportunities are incomparable to those at other universities. Also, the girls and coaches on the team are wonderful and they make being a part of this team an amazing experience.
What is/has been your favorite class at Penn State and why?
Biology 141. I am pursuing a career in nursing and I feel like I learned a lot of information in that class that will be very useful to me in my future. My professor did a really good job of making the material interesting and displaying how it related to our lives.
What is your favorite place on campus and why?
The small pond outside the alumni center. When it's nice outside I like to go there and feed the ducks and lay out or do homework.
When I am not at class or practice, I am ...
In my room studying, hanging out with my teammates, or with my boyfriend.
What have you found to be the biggest differences between Junior Olympic and college competition?
Junior Olympic gymnastics is much more an individual sport where as college gymnastics is entirely about the team. You want to work hard not for yourself or your parents, but for the girls next to you who are working just as hard as you are toward a common goal.
Since coming to Penn State, what has been the biggest thing you have learned, in the gym?
Gymnastics can be really really fun!!!
Since coming to Penn State, what has been the biggest thing you have learned, out of the gym?
How to survive without my parents!!! I feel like I relied so much on them when I was at home, and now that I am on my own I have to be much more independent.
What has been the hardest part of practice and why?
Beam!!! Beam is always a challenge, which I have actually come to look forward to and enjoy. The beam plans are always creative and interesting and I know I will have improved once I am finished with it.
At what age did you begin participating in gymnastics, and why/how did you get into it?
I began gymnastics when I was 8 or 9 because I had no rhythm. My parents tried putting me in dance for years because my sister was a great dancer...but after multiple unsuccessful recitals, they decided to give gymnastics a shot!
To someone who doesn't know gymnastics and is seeing a meet for the first time, how would you describe your sport?
Intense. We are fighting throughout the entire meet. Not just to stay on the equipment, but to save every tenth we can! At a meet you will see a gymnast fall flat on her face and bounce right back up and continue her routine...if that's not an intense sport I don't know what is!
How would you describe the personality of the team this year?
Exciting. I think since we are such a young team this year that a lot of people don't know what to expect from us. I think we will surprise a lot of people with the talent and determination we will show throughout the season.
What is your favorite event and why?
Floor. It's the only event I don't get nervous for. I get really pumped up and energized for floor and I can interact with my teammates throughout the routine. It's a real crowd pleaser too!
Who is the craziest person on the team and why?
I would have to go with Mel. She never ceases to surprise and amaze me!
Who would you consider the leaders on this team to be and why?
I really think of the whole team as leaders this year. Since we are such a young team, we all rely on each other and look to each other for support.
What advice would you give to young gymnasts?
NEVER give up!!! I didn't make it to level 5 state because I couldn't make it over the vault and got a score of a 0!!! You can achieve anything if you believe in yourself!
What is the best advice you have ever gotten, and from whom did you receive it?
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" This is the bible verse that my team at home lives by!
What is your favorite sport (other than gymnastics) to watch at Penn State and why?
I really love going to ice hockey games...watching them on TV isn't quite the same. But the atmosphere of being at a live game is so much fun!
If you could go anywhere in the world on a vacation, where would you go and why?
Australia or Hawaii. I want to learn how to surf!!
What are your hidden talents?
I don't think I have any! That's kind of sad! haha
Finish this sentence: "We Are Penn State. We Are ... "
AS ONE!!!
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