It is a common struggle for student-athletes to be able to figure out how to balance school and athletics while also maintaining a social life. As a varsity athlete, an A-student, and someone who loves to hang out with my friends, I’ve learned a few ways to balance it all. I’ve had to make a lot of tough decisions about whether to have fun with my friends or stay home and study.
Most of the time, I make smart decisions and do my school work, but sometimes I can feel unmotivated and just want to hang out with friends. These are the moments that I have to realize that I will have plenty of opportunities to be with friends, but the more I push aside schoolwork, the more it will build up. All that will do for you is cause stress and overwhelm you. So, complete your schoolwork and then go out with your friends. You will be much more successful, plus you will be able to enjoy your free time more since you won’t be stressed about things you have to complete at 11:59 p.m.
Another part of being a student athlete is deciding when it is important to put your school work first over your sport. Even if you are very serious in your sport, most coaches require a C or above for their athletes to be able to perform. If you cannot achieve this, then it may be necessary to rethink your schedule to be successful academically. There have been days when I had to text my coaches that I could not make it to practice because of having an overwhelming workload, and that is perfectly fine to do. What isn’t perfectly fine is using that excuse repeatedly and using it to a point where your coach is questioning your commitment to your sport or team.
If it is getting to that point, it is probably a good idea to talk to your teachers or coaches about alternative options, or dropping a few classes that may not be a good fit for you. Every year, when I am picking classes for the following school year, I always keep volleyball in mind. While I want to do hard classes and challenge myself, I also have to remind myself not to put too much pressure on myself, as I already have a busy schedule.
While getting to play a team sport is the best thing that has ever happened to me, there are going to be a few downsides I have to look past. For example, being fully committed to a sport year-round can lead to missing out on some social things. For example, recently I had a volleyball tournament in Louisiana, causing me to miss a big basketball game for my school. Most of the school was there, and all of my friends had so much fun, but I was states away playing volleyball. Even though I was sad I couldn’t be there, I told myself to enjoy the moment and play the sport I love with my team. Sometimes, all it takes is a positive mindset and to stop worrying about what you’re missing and enjoying what you have.
