The difference between the lives of college athletes and the rest of a university population is quite extreme. While many of us are sleeping until lunch time at the house, these athletes are awake being actual people. Being a college athlete can be very rewarding, but also extremely exhausting and hectic and stressful and demanding – why would ANYONE choose to do this? Anyway, here are some pros and cons to being one of those legitimately fit people in college.
Pro: Recognition.
Athletes are looked up to in every single college community. The recognition they get is deserved, so don't be mad when they get to cut the line at the bar.
Con: What's a social life?
Nights before 7 a.m. practices are no time to rage. Us normal people, we don't schedule anything before noon. We rage. Mondays through Sundays. And maybe even a day after that.
Pro: Tuition money.
Many of these recruited athletes get scholarships to the school they're playing for, which definitely helps with the cost and stress associated with paying out of pocket or taking out loans.
Con: Scholarships mean rules.
Being a college athlete comes with many rules, and you have to abide by all of them to keep your scholarship and eligibility. Some of these include maintaining a certain GPA and attending class EVERY time (and yes, in some schools, they sit outside and check names off a list).
Pro: Free tutoring.
College athletes have free personalized tutoring due to their hectic schedules. They can always trust that they'll be able to receive assistance with any class they're struggling with.
Con: Time management is a must.
Between workouts, practices, class, tutoring, and games, who has time to study? Those who aren't athletes are able to conduct their own daily schedules and do things at their convenience; they don't have to plan their days around anything.
Pro: "Athlete" dorms.
It's no secret athletes get the nicest dorms on campus.
Con: Away from civilization.
Athlete dorms are usually located near practice fields and away from the main heart of campus, and thus, us "bad influences."
Pro: Free stuff.
Free athletic gear is like a year-long Christmas miracle, except Santa's new name is Nike.
Con: Constant pain.
Normal people would rather not struggle to get from their bed to the kitchen for a bag of chips. We would rather frolic.
