Being a college athlete is no walk in the park. There are pros and cons, but there are just some things almost all athletes will experience in their time as an athlete. Although there are times I think to myself and question why I put myself through these things, at the end of the day, I wouldn’t trade my experiences for the world as a college athlete.

1. For the love of ice! Athletes have a love/hate relationship with ice.

The whirlpool solves so many aches and pains, but MAN IS IT COLD.

2. Spending more time in the training room than your own room.

3. Showing up to class in sweats . . . and drenched in sweat.

Let me tell you first hand that 5:30am practices are a very good excuse to use dry shampoo and perfume to shower before your 8:10am class (especially if you are trying to eat and not have your stomach growl the entire time in class).

4. Having limited options in class scheduling because everything revolves around your sport.

Good luck getting that professor you’ve always wanted, fitting the rest of your schedule in, and not getting 8am classes.

5. Sleep versus socializing: the constant battle of determining when to go to bed the night before a morning practice.

6. Realizing that buses and hotel beds may just be comfier than your own dorm bed.

Between all the traveling, you learn not to be picky about where or when you get to take your nap. It's all the same to you.

7. Knowing you should diet, but knowing you don’t need to diet.

As an athlete, it’s a constant battle of wanting to eat everything in sight because you know you will burn it off in practice, or eating little amounts of healthy food knowing you will puke anything else up running sprints at practice. You still end up eating stuff like a cupcake sandwich, anyway.

8. Debating whether napping, showering, or class is more important.

Every athlete has been there. Is taking the pre-game nap more important than the one-hour lecture on 18^th century Africa? (The answer is “yes, the nap is more important”).

9. Understanding that you may be 20-years-old, but you will probably end up in a wheelchair before you turn 30.

Thank you, endless lifting, sprints and practices.

10. Knowing that your sport is more important than that party this Saturday.

Mom will be proud of you for this one.

11. Practice, class, eat, lift, homework, sleep. Repeat seven times a week.

12. Getting the “there is no practice today” text . . .

No explanation needed.

13. Hearing “get on the line” and contemplating making a run for it, because conditioning is no joke.

14. Saving money in season because coaches buy dinner for away games.

15. Christmas is whatever day team gear is distributed.

16. Having that one song that just gets you hype AF before games.

17. Waking up on game days and realizing you and your team are all in this together, and everything you went through was worth it.