In season, you tend to see your team more than your family, not getting home from games until late, then having work and studying on top of the challenges youthhood brings.
It’s easy to get demotivated and lose the spark that keeps you going. There is no denying that a student comes first in every student-athlete’s journey, but every athlete’s journey is different.
Some can’t afford the luxury of being so good in a sport where you can do that for a living.
Some individuals must excel in the classroom to establish a strong foundation for future success.
Being a student athlete is one of the highest privileges within any school.
Putting on the jersey with the school’s name on the front is an honor unlike any other.
Student-Athletes’ Perspectives:
The Barron Perspective interviewed students from Woodbridge High School, asking what it means to them to be a student athlete.
Sophomore breakout athlete Jack Kobylakiewicz, who plays football, says, “When putting on that football jersey, it means a lot to me, like I’m putting on a jersey with my town on it.”
“Being a student athlete, I feel, is more than just doing my work and showing up to games and practice. It takes time, dedication, late nights, and early mornings,” said Junior Marissa Martinez, who is a key member of the girls’ volleyball team.
“I think being an athlete is the easy part, it’s the student part that’s hard because with sports you’re always at practices and have games, “ said Sophomore soccer standout defender William Clarke
The feeling on game days, representing your school, is a feeling many can’t or don’t get a chance to feel. The highs of winning can quickly be dismissed by one bad game or the reason the team lost.
Another part of being a student-athlete that is often overlooked or dismissed by talent is the student aspect. Balancing school and sports while trying to maintain somewhat of a social life could be tricky. However, athletes at Woodbridge High School got it figured out.
Clarke says, “I like to get all my work done in class. This way, I don’t have to worry about homework after practice, and I hang out with my friends.”
“I typically turn my phone off at a certain time, and I’ll just focus and get my work done at once and be done for the night,” said Martinez
“It’s definitely hard to balance sports and school work. Grades definitely matter, so it can be tricky. I just try to get all my work done in class, and if I have homework, do it as soon as I get home,” said Kobylakiewicz.
