Throughout high school and college, student athletes are constantly working to find a balance between their academic responsibilities and athletic commitments. Whether it’s early morning practices or late night studying, it can become a challenge to balance success in both areas. As the school year and spring sports come to an end, student athletes reflected on how they managed success in the classroom and on the field.
One of the biggest challenges for student athletes is managing time. With the weight of practicing and looming deadlines it can be hard to fit everything in, especially when assignments and games fall on the same day.
Sophomore JV football, and track and field athlete Joshua Ling shared how he struggled with time management during the course of his season.
“Practicing took a lot of time and it’s like really hard to do all the school work,” Ling said.
In addition, many student athletes struggle to get enough sleep, often staying up late to finish homework after a long evening of practice.
Balancing school and sports often depends on effective time management. Many student athletes use different strategies to stay organized and avoid falling behind. Freshman varsity soccer player Isabella Arias shared that she utilizes her phone to stay updated on her workload. Others rely on planners or calendars, while others use apps or alarms to keep track of their tasks.
“I set up reminders on my phone to remind me,” Arias said.
Managing academic deadlines while staying committed to practices and games requires communication with teachers and coaches.
Senior varsity tennis Aliana Sandoval shared the importance of using resources available and communicating with teachers to ensure the completion of assignments and proper study time for exams.
“You have to talk with your teachers and make sure there’s time to schedule between lunch or any of, um the tutoring and office hours that teachers have in order to complete those assignments and have those exams done. It’s just taking a lot of accountability and recognizing that sometimes things overlap and you have to do something about it,” Sandavol said.
Balancing school and sports takes discipline, but many student athletes know the importance of priorities and putting academics first.
“Put school first because without the grades you can’t play any,” Ling said.
Important skills like time management, responsibility, and perseverance can help student athletes succeed through multiple areas in their high school career.
