The end of the year is approaching and students are preparing for finals. Many have become stressed with the thoughts of passing their finals and doing those last assignments well enough to bump them to the next letter grade. While the average student is picking their brain about the stress of school, student-athletes are carrying the weight from their schoolwork and the sport they participate in all on their shoulders. Student-athletes are like superheroes. They adjust themselves to being a student during school hours and an athlete during practice and game hours. These special kind of people are hard workers and are dedicated in getting things done so that they can be successful in the future. Student-athletes are the same as an average student when it comes to finals. They have to study, complete study guides, and stay up long hours as well. The only difference is that student-athletes feel as though they have it worst as being a student than a normal average student. Three different student-athletes explained their reasoning and how they manage to balance being a student and an athlete throughout their sport’s season.
A student-athlete is a full-time participant in an organized competitive sport at their school while also being a full-time student at the same institution. The roles of a student is to attend class, do assigned in-class and homework, study and take exams, and participate in-class lectures. The roles of being an athlete is showing up to practice, learning new technique and plays, displaying teamwork, and playing in games to win. These are the roles a student-athlete abide by every season their sport is in. With finals being this week, football player, Marcus Sayles, stated “I have to study three times more than what a normal student does because they are given more time in a day than athletes.” An average student main focus should be school while those students who participate in a sport has to focus on school and their sport. “I never forget that being a student is my first priority and being an athlete comes second,” stated Sayles.
Athletic Academic Coordinator, Emily Hall, stated “An important guideline to follow as a student and a student-athlete is to always put being a student first.” She talked about how the school offers some good resources to help athletes with their schoolwork, work ethics, and time management while being enrolled as a full time student. “Most of the athletes take advantage of the resources given to them, while some don’t use the resources given serious and end up struggling or at risk of failing, all while being pressured of might having to sit out a game,” said Hall. Student-athletes are put under pressure when they take on the challenge of playing two roles. Basketball player, Christian Houston, said “Being a student-athlete is something I chose to do because one role is going to help me in the future, while the other might help me but for the moment, it’s something I love doing.” Houston describes his roles as being a stepping stool in preparing him for the future as he takes on the job of possibly having multiple responsibilities.
“Student-athletes have the ability to be just as great as a normal student because it’s all about their habits and how well they manage their time,” stated Assistant Athletic Director, David Haase. With finals coming up, students are preparing themselves by studying more often than they did during the semester. Volleyball player, Katie Hanson, talked about her study habits and what she does to prepare herself to ensure she does well on her exams. “I make sure to make flash cards and complete the study guides given by reading the assigned chapters,” said Hanson. The time that I had when I was not at practice or games, I would literally be in the library studying until early the next morning.” It takes hard work and dedication to become a student-athlete and balancing the two roles but there isn’t much difference between an average student and one who is an athlete. Both students have to take the right steps to ensure that they do well on their exams by practicing good study habits. “Being a student-athlete is challenging but it is possible,” stated David Haase. Therefore, if you’re an average student thinking to become a student-athlete or are stressing about school, just remember these roles and quotes of a student-athlete and what they do to achieve good grades to remain a student first and being an athlete second.
