College is all about new experiences. Your time at school is what you make of it. Getting involved is probably one of the best things you can do while attending college. Although the work load from classes can be overwhelming, and it seems like it can be impossible to balance that along with maintaining a job, staying active, getting involved, and having a social life, I promise that if you are happy at the end of the day, it is all worth it.
In high school, I was very used to having an overwhelmingly busy schedule. All of it revolving around a sport that I loved: soccer. Soccer had been a huge part of my life, and I decided to give it all up and take it easy when I graduated and left for college. My freshman year was very laid back with a couple clubs here and there, doing school work, hanging out with friends, and trying to keep myself motivated to go to the gym regularly. And all of that was great, but something was missing. I was so used to always going and being in the best shape of my life during high school, and all of that was slowly disappearing as I started college.
This past summer, my roommate mentioned to me that she was going to go out for the Crew team (for those who don’t know what crew is, it’s the competitive sport of rowing). I thought about it, and decided why not do it too. Yes, my schedule is a lot busier. Yes, it’s hard to balance things sometimes. But I wouldn’t change my decision to do a sport again for the world. Something was always missing in my heart, as corny as that sounds. I missed being a part of a team, I missed the rush and competitiveness of doing a sport, I missed constantly being awake and active while doing something that was “just for fun”. Crew was something new. A whole new sport that gave me all of those things, all while making new friends and genuinely having fun.
If you were a former athlete, or just want to try something new, I recommend doing a sport in college. It doesn’t have to be a varsity sport that you have to try out for, it could be a club sport or an intramural. These things are fun, don’t consume your life, and allow you to create great memories while being a part of them. Nothing beats the feeling of being with your team and representing your school, town, group, or whatever it is you’re playing for. It’s something I craved in all my years playing soccer, it’s something I missed in my gap year from sports, and it’s something I’m excited to get back while being on this new team.
Doing a sport in college can be overwhelming with everything else that’s going on in our busy lives as students, but all of the hard work being put into it gives the satisfying feeling of accomplishment. If it’s something you currently love, something you loved in the past, or something new that you’re willing to try, go for it. It may be the best decision you ever made, or you may regret it, but how will you know if you don’t try? Athletics are a way of life that never leave your side if you were once part of it, and continuing it while you’re young with a club or intramural sport is just the start of it.
