WHETHER HER uniform was purple and yellow, red and black, or just shorts and a T-shirt, Kenadi Hall has loved gymnastics and cheer. It’s been a lifelong commitment — ever since she was a 4-year-old just coming out of her shell. Even now, as a recent college graduate just beginning her professional career, Hall does not intend to quit.
As with many extracurricular passions, Hall found cheer by accident. She grew up an only child. When she was 4 and soon to be in kindergarten, her parents decided she needed to get involved with other kids so school wouldn’t be a culture shock. They signed her up for Tennessee Gymnastics & Cheerleading.
“I was that kid that literally sat in the corner and cried for the first few sessions,” Hall said. “They really helped me out as a 4-year-old to be comfortable and get involved. So I did, and once I did, I just kind of fell in love with it.”
While she enjoyed gymnastics as a whole, Hall specifically loved tumbling.
“It just fascinated me — just being able to throw your body around,” Hall said. “Every Thursday night, I got to just forget about everything else that was going on and just focus on me and the mat and tumbling and nothing else.”
Aside from that physical outlet, gymnastics and cheer helped her stay active through elementary school, middle school, and high school — and it helped her in the long run through college scholarships as she cheered at Tennessee Tech University. Even more importantly, it gave her an opportunity to teach others in return. Those experiences helped her grow her patience and her communication skills in a way that was applicable in all areas of life — as a STEM major, Hall said her communication skills are often surprising to interviewers. Patience and communication skills have also been helpful when she volunteers and tutors.
Hall has volunteered at Good Samaritan and various food pantries since she was little, led by her parents. At school, she found joy in tutoring people, helping them understand the math and science that came easily to her. She has tutored high schoolers, college students, and students with disabilities like Turner’s syndrome.
“That’s really just all I would like to do with my life — is help people,” Hall said.
She graduated college with a degree in chemical engineering, and she was hired by Y-12 National Security Complex. There, she is getting involved with local service organizations like Young Life and its middle school counterpart, WyldLife. There, she will be able to serve others through her love of cheer and gymnastics.
“I’m getting connected in WyldLife, and, hopefully, whatever middle school or high school I get placed with over in Oak Ridge — maybe there’s going to be a position available for a cheer coach,” Hall said. “If not, hopefully I can find a local gym and I can work there; maybe do some private lessons.”
She may not be in a uniform anymore, but Kenadi Hall is still living out the lessons she learned through her years of cheer and gymnastics training. Her commitment to the sport, to service, and to teaching will be a blessing to anyone lucky enough to work with her. GN
