How to Balance Life as a Student-Athlete

While some say high school was the best four years of their life, in truth, it is also four of the busiest years- four years that require intense focus and hard work. For some, academics is the first and only priority in high school. However, for many others, athletics, clubs and music play large roles in their lives. As a student-athlete, managing your schedule of homework, athletics and social life can be a daunting task. The discussion of which of the activities is the most important is constantly debated, and can have a profound effect on a student's future.

As a tennis player, the months of fall and winter are much easier to sort through than the spring, when the tennis season takes place. The schedule mostly consists of homework, tennis practice and weightlifting on the weekdays, and hanging out and tennis matches on the weekends. However, as a junior, ACT and SAT prep have begun to eat up a large amount of time in my schedule, and have created a serious change in my schedule. I am going to bed later than ever, which negatively affects both tennis and school, and as I work ever-harder to maintain my grades and improve my abilities on the tennis court, my free time dwindles, and I am left with less time to hang out with my friends outside of school. This constant shuffling of schedule, and increase in homework, standardized test prep and workouts, have led me to ponder: what should I prioritize as a student-athlete?

In personal opinion, academics should always come before athletics or free time. With no plans of going pro, I take pride in my schoolwork first, as that is the main factor in college decisions. Most say that high school is prep for college, and in many respects, that's a very true statement. The information and knowledge you gain in high school translates directly to college, which is why so many students stress over their grades. Of course, however, when you commit yourself to a program, whether it be a sport, club, or band, you commit your time and schedule to that team. It is a privilege to participate on any extracurricular or varsity-level team, and you are forced to mold your schedule around that program. This can lead to a struggle in school, and it is something student-athletes must constantly deal with.

Some will say that many waste their time at home, procrastinating by using their phone for hours, or playing video games for large periods of time. But procrastination stems from the struggle of managing an overfilled schedule. People with hectic schedules put off work until a deadline because they value free time more than others- they understand the rarity of a free few hours, even if it comes at the expense of a homework assignment or extra sleep. It's incredibly difficult- especially for and under-18 year old- to prioritize social life and athletics and schoolwork, partly because sports and hanging out are a lot more fun than learning. However, putting schoolwork first will pay off in the long run, and can actually lead to more free time in the future.