Being a student-athlete is a special brand of hard. We know it’s hard to do other things, like have a job as a student or be in the theatre program, and props to them, but for the next 800 words or so, I’d like to give a special shout out to all my student-athletes everywhere.
1. Always Wearing Athletic Clothes
When you have one or more practices a day, you begin to wonder what the point is in putting on real clothes. I literally only wear leggings or sweatpants every day. My tennis shoes hate me because they want a break from everything I put them through on the daily. You know who the swimmers are because of our signature wet bun. The only times I put effort into my appearance are when I have a presentation in class or I feel like people need a reminder that yes, I am a girl. For the most part, though, I’m thankful I have five pairs of leggings and endless T-shirts to get me through the week.
2. Being Hungry 24/7
I’m hungry the minute I wake up, after practice, during class, an hour after lunch, and before I go to bed. I literally have had to prepare for the inevitable onslaught of cravings at around 8 p.m. I don’t just crave ice cream, either. I’m talking about a meal. I want meat and potatoes. I promise my diet isn’t lacking, in case that’s what you’re thinking. No matter how much I try, I can never get enough carbs to hold me over until my next meal. There are granola bar wrappers cluttering my backpack and my purse.
3. Waking Up Early
I’ve had to train myself not to roll my eyes at people who complain about having to wake up at 8 a.m. I am so used to waking up early at this point that waking up to sunshine makes me worried that I missed my alarm for practice. When I don’t have morning practice the next day, I feel like I have all the free time in the world, and I go crazy. There’s nothing better than waking up hours before dawn and walking outside in the freezing, windy weather. On your way to the fitness center, you’re jealous of all the windows with the lights out because you know how warm everyone must be sleeping in bed instead of walking across campus so your coach can kick your ass for two hours.
4. Being Busy Every Weekend
If I had a dollar for every event I’ve had to miss for meets, practice, etc., I wouldn’t need financial aid. Football games, concerts, parties, socials, retreats, and all the other perks of college come second when you’re a student-athlete. Not only do you have to miss these events, you can’t complain about it. You have to get over it because everyone on your team has given something up to be at whatever event (meet, game, etc.) you’re at that weekend. People begin to think you’re using your sport as an excuse for stuff because “You always have a game/meet!”
5. Being Sore
Being sore makes me look like an idiot when I walk around a store or other public area. There are times when I literally have to use my hand to lift my leg off the brakes when I’m driving. Sometimes it hurts to swing my legs out of bed or put my backpack on. I’ve crouched over to dive off the blocks or do a flip-turn with my hamstrings screaming “Noooo!” Sometimes it even hurts to cross my legs because my quads are so sore. These are the times to take the most Advil you can without dying of drug overdose.
