Have you ever wondered how athletes like Lebron James and Tiger Woods became legends of their respective sports? Well the simple answer is they worked hard. As easy as it may sound, their work ethic was the driving force behind their success.
While we often see them dominating the basketball court or the golf course, much of their dedication took place both on and off the field. It all began in the classroom, where their journey truly started.
The life of a student is often overlooked. From running to catch the Q65 to having to meet the 11:59 PM deadline. Schedules are significant to a student’s success. The complexities of scheduling can be hard to be perfect, but there are major steps towards having a less stressful time balancing classes and extracurriculars. From freshman to seniors, we take a dive into their life and the obstacles they had to overcome as they continue to pursue their dreams and goals.
Freshman, Sophia Ragavanis, is a rising soccer star within the walls of Edison. As young as she seems, she isn’t too unfamiliar with having to manage such a hectic lifestyle. One of her biggest obstacles has been time management.
“Well, sometimes I don’t have time to do all my work, or sometimes I won’t be getting enough sleep, or because I practice, and then I have to stay up doing work and just making a schedule,” Sophia said.
A schedule can be hard to make up, but it all depends on consistency. It can be difficult to be consistent when game schedules and different assignments are published at uncertain times.
“If I have math after lunch, then I’ll do my math homework at lunch, if I have Spanish first, and I’ll do Spanish before school,” Sophia said.
To better balance different classes, you must look at the time you’re given. Like Sophia, there has to be time you sacrifice to keep up with grades.
Similarly, Joshua Vera deals with the balancing between his studies and his basketball season.
“It often depends on the time of year,” Vera said.
Edison’s Basketball season often takes place during the winter and is most intense for Joshua. Feeling the pressure, he is often motivated by his parents.
“To be a student athlete, being a student comes first and then an athlete…my mom pushes me to get good grades, too. She knows it’ll help me in the long run,” Vera said.
To participate in Edison’s athletic teams, one must be passing their classes. This is a strict rule imposed by the school so a student doesn’t “slack off.”
Mental health is the most important factor that plays a role in the performance on and off the court. Jayron Salazar knows this best by his extensive curriculum—taking 3 APs and participating in indoor and outdoor track. Many students like Jayron have to take on challenging classes as they get closer to their final years of high school. This has obviously affected his mental health by being burned out. Throughout this process he has learned that rest is significant toward maintaining himself.
“At the end of a season, maybe I take like, a week or so off to recuperate, and it’s also like time to, like, for my body to rest, because I over exerted itself throughout the seasons,” Jayron shared.
Rest is not only important to recover from intense training but also gives your brain to relax. The reason why many often find themselves burnout is because their brain is under so much stress.
Being a student-athlete is a challenge even for Markayla Pollock, as a senior softball player, knows all too well.
“I always have a lot on my plate,” Markayla shared, noting how balancing her commitments often leaves little time for rest.
Despite the struggle, Pollock believes that the effort invested in practice, reflects the effort needed to succeed in school.
“I feel like when you are a part of a sports team, you really do see that the work you put in does it translates to your game,” Markayla said.
The sense of accomplishment, whether in the classroom or on the field, makes the challenges worth it.
Being a student-athlete is no easy task. The journey requires not only physical skill but mental strength, time management, and commitment to balancing both academics and athletics. From freshman to senior year, each student athlete faces unique challenges, yet all share the same drive to succeed.
While the path may be filled with sacrifices, the rewards of personal growth and achievement, make it all worthwhile. For those determined to perfect being a student-athlete, the lessons learned along the way are invaluable.
