I have been an athlete just as long as I have been a student: from a town team in kindergarten, to a travel team in middle school, to a nationally ranked club team in high school, to now as an NCAA student-athlete in college.

My entire life has been a juggling act between sports and academics. I have constantly pushed my body to its limits seeing how much work I can accomplish while running low on fuel after an hour-long lift followed with a two-hour practice, on top of sitting in class and a 4-hour lab that day.

Early mornings and late nights come hand and hand while taking two labs in season. Throughout the entire season you will constantly hear my coach repeat one phrase over and over again, "Get in the weight room and get stronger." Now, believe me I am the first person to jump at the chance to work out and blow off some steam. But in the offseason, when I have three exams on top of having three labs, work, and volunteering in a single week, when is it getting to be too much?

Never have I ever heard my coach tell me, "take the day off, your mind needs it" but you will constantly hear him stress how important it is to ice bath your muscles after a 3-session day during pre-season.

I firmly believe that half of being an athlete is physical ability, while the other half is mental toughness. After all, when your legs feel like they're going to shut down, it is your mind that disciplines you for the final 120-yard sprint. When are people going to start talking about the mental side of a college athlete?