Going to college, and playing sports, the dream that many boys and girls have, and what very few get to actually accomplish. No matter what division, (I, II, III, Or junior College) playing a sport at the collegiate level is honestly a big deal. balancing the school work and the sport and all other extracurricular one may have is a difficult job. but i think all to often people forget that in college before the word athlete is the word student.
I know personally as an college athlete that when my friends and I are asked what we are majoring in we jokingly answer with the sport in which we play. But the honest truth is that we are much more than just the athletes and I think it is time that credit is given where credit is due, especially to the amazing STUDENT- Athletes on my team at UMass Lowell.
Let me start off my saying it takes a special kind of crazy to be any kind of engineer, but to be and engineering student and a Division I athlete, that just blows my mind. Ashley Smits, Alisha Welch, Casey Harding, and Lauren Ramirez, four amazing athelets on my team are not just amazing on the field but also in their fields these amazing young women not only bust there ass day in and day out on the field for practice and lift but also in their major. These are some of the smartest people I know and the need to be recognized for more than just that athelte that they are.
Lets not forget all the other crazies out there that are currently pursuing things such as Exercise science and Physical Therapy, Tori Alcorn, Sam McQueen, Marissa Carasco, and Mari Handly, are all more than athletes some of these people are going to be doctors some day, and i have the pleasure to work beside them as the strive everyday to not only be the best in the field, but also in the class room. Not to mention the craziest of all, Alyssa Zinkiewicz, who just recently graduated nursing school, i can't even begin to fathom how difficult that was being a student athlete.
To the business majors on my team, all i have to say is god bless, because you are never given enough credit on how difficult your major actually is, Madison Alcorn, Colleen Frank, Alyssa Hasbrook, and Emily O'Brien, your are the future accountants and business owners of the world, and I could not imagine anyone better for the job, i want you to know even thought it may seem like it, you are not being over looked!
Criminal Justice is never given a good wrap in college, people usually say it is the easiest of all the majors and for that I call bull shit. Taylor August, and Sydney Barker, the future layers, president, FBI agents, where ever this world takes you, I know you'll do great.
As for those of you on my team that are undeclared, take your time everyone has there own special niche in the world, you will find yours. Kaysee Talcik and Brianna West, look around your team, your are surrounded by brilliant minds, what ever you choose to do, know that you'll always have support.
These are real people, real athletes, real students, and soon to be real professionals in their chosen fields. So next time you want to say something bad about an athlete, remember they are more than just that, they are the future doctors, lawyers, nurses, police officers, and business owners of this country, not just athletes
To my team, I hope you receive the credit you truly deserve, you're all a cut above the rest.
