For many, in high school comes the last team bonding, the last practice, the last game and the last time you can call yourself an athlete. The transition from being ranked top 10 in the state to being ranked NARP is a tough transition for all high school athletes. The top three worst parts of transitioning to NARPdom is 1. No longer being able to answer yes to “Do you play any sports?” 2. Watching all your old teammates and their new teams. And last but not least 3. Missing the sport that taught you everything you know about leadership, teamwork and grit.
Some may be reading this and thinking “NARP? What’s that?” Well, NARP is what all the athletes at your school refer to you as when you’re not in the room. Still a little confused? NARP is the shortened title for a “Non-athletic regular person.” You can play as many intramurals and go to the gym as much as you want, but I promise it still won't feel the same as walking onto the field with the team you once thought you could never live without.
The rest of you reading this already know all too well exactly what I am talking about. NARPdom, while sometimes an upsetting fate, is where majority of us find ourselves. Some of us choose not to continue sports into college, while the rest of us simply knew we wouldn’t make the cut. At the end of the day we are all NARPs anyway -- lumped into the same category.
My advice? Embrace it. Yes, being an athlete on campus was fun in high school, and no, school won't feel totally normal as the seasons roll on and you aren’t meeting up with the same people daily for after practice shenanigans. That’s okay. Make a new routine. Stay active and stay healthy -- you have nothing to be ashamed of. Missing the team atmosphere? Get involved in a tight knit club or group. Campuses are booming nowadays with opportunities for students. Try a few out and if you don’t feel like any of them are right for you, start one of your own. Embrace your new roll in the community. If you can’t stand not playing your designated sport, dream big and try to make the cut. Prove that you are enough for the team, having a big heart and incredible motivation can get you so far. Most of us can’t escape NARPdom so if you hear the athletes calling you a NARP, don’t sweat it. They’re probably just cranky from their lack of sleep going into their 6 a.m. lift.
