Illustration by Riya Charora
The incessant beeping of the alarm evokes unpleasant flashbacks from the morning before. At the crack of dawn, or perhaps earlier, student-athletes all around the world rise to accomplish their goals for the day. Resisting the urge to snooze their alarm is one goal, but so is successfully getting through a long school day and the practice that follows. The ordinary person may not realize this, but being a student-athlete is both a massive commitment and a tremendous sacrifice.
Seniors Jaden Norwood and Aden Walsey, junior Skylar Chui, and sophomore Charlotte van Gent all understand the commitment required to achieve high excellence.
“I can’t play basketball if I don’t get straight A’s, so I have to be on top of my game both in the classroom and on the court,” Norwood said. “Yesterday, I had four [hours] to work out in between the end of school and practice, so I did my work.”
Walsey, who will be rowing at Cornell University next year, wakes up at 4:30 a.m. to practice before school. Instead of viewing practice or homework as a chore, he sees both as a good opportunity to better himself.
“I’ve dedicated nearly five years of my life to rowing, and there’s no other activity I’d rather wake up [early] for,” Walsey said. “When you have a driving force that’s bigger than yourself, it makes it so much easier to get through difficult tasks.”
Chui, who plays on the girls varsity basketball team, admits that her experience as a student-athlete has not always been smooth sailing.
“It’s definitely been a trial and error sort of situation where I’ve pulled all-nighters or haven’t been prepared for basketball,” Chui said. “But, I’ve figured out what works for me.”
Similar sentiments have been expressed by van Gent, a girls varsity soccer player, who is still learning how to manage her busy schedule.
“I have a white board in my room on which I write the times… of my practices, games, [and due dates of] large assignments [every] week,” van Gent said.
Clearly, every student-athlete has their own method of dealing with the rigors of academics and sports. Although it is not easy, it feels rewarding when all is said and done.
“When the clock hits 11 on Saturday morning, my last practice of the week is done, and my weekend start[s],” Walsey said. “It’s not a feeling of relief, but a feeling of accomplishment.”