To My Fellow Flustered Individuals,

We all know that the idea of choosing a college and ultimately having to map out your life in an instant seems like an awfully large task, especially just coming out of high school. Your wide-eyed, 18-year-old self can't wait to be free of your childish past and embark on newer and grander things. New friends, new experiences and new opportunities lie ahead of you... But nobody really knows what they'll personally have in store until their first semester of freshman year actually plays itself out.

Being a student alone is difficult enough in our generation when trying to handle multiple classes, holding a job, or attempting to have a sliver of a social life. Oh, and don't even get me started on the mentally and emotionally draining point in time called finals week. You're figuring out payment plans, making a "roadmap of success" and budgeting for ramen more than you ever thought you would. You're discovering who you are as an individual while being required to stay on top of everything all at once... But nobody truly understands just how complicated this can all be until you add being a student-athlete to the mix.

I don't know if anyone is aware of this, but being a collegiate athlete tends to be extremely time-consuming and is a lot harder than I ever thought it'd be. With constant conditioning, two-a-day practices, fall tournaments and travel time for away games, you end up missing out on a lot of school (unintentionally) and have to realize a proper way to invest in the minimal time you do have for yourself in a day. It's incredibly different from high school athletics, and you basically end up scheduling your schooling around it. But always remember, you are a student first, athlete second.

Always remember, it is perfectly normal to feel stressed. Reading this can seem like the whole world is resting on your shoulders, but it will all be okay in the long run. If that one math class is too much for your plate this semester and you have enough credits to keep you on track without it, it is 100% okay to drop it and make it up in the upcoming term. Keep your GPA on track to remain eligible and you will feel so much better than you did stressing over those three credit hours. I know what it's like to bite your tongue over dropping a class, about worrying how it would look... But more people do it than you think and were still successful in their field of study. You deserve a second chance and some peace, trust me.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE being a student-athlete. As long as I can remember I have always been involved in sports through my school years. I have always loved the concept of being part of a team. Having the pleasure of bonding with my teammates, creating lifelong friendships from the four years spent together in high school lacrosse will always stick with me. On a team, you connect with individuals in such a special and productive manner that is uniquely your own and you can always depend on them. Being a part of something greater than myself just makes me forget about everything else going on in my life for those glorious hours on the field. Trust me, I get it.

You've got this, keep fighting for the sport you love and strive for your academic goals. Take a deep breath and enjoy your college career with all you do.

Sincerely,

A Freshman Bio Major and Midfielder for UPIKE Women's Lacrosse