All student-athletes, regardless of what team they play for, can relate to one another. We walk the same journey of belonging to the athletic program at our college or university. Somehow every student-athlete knows of one another; it's a sense of community that we establish on our own. You won't find a stronger bond than the one between the athletes on campus. Although we might not all personally know each other, we all have one thing in common: our passion for the game we love.
Don't hate 6:30 a.m. practices.
They're a way of life, as we've all come to know.
In most of our sports, which we are lucky enough to play year-round, those morning practice temperatures always seem to hover between 20 and 35 degrees. Even though you've been in a routine since high school of waking up relatively early, you've fortunately never made the mistake of oversleeping for a practice in college. Knock on wood. But the oppressive fear of unanswered wake-up-calls still leave you feeling the need to set five or more alarms...and you should. Let's face it. Your coach's voice demanding you to the end-line is not the "good morning" that you're exactly hoping for, especially because of your late and lazy ass.
You better hope that when that 6:10 a.m. alarm comes around that your clothes are already laid out and your bag is already packed because you're running out the door and not looking back. It's every man for himself.
We say we hate them, but 6:30 a.m. practices are secretly the best things to ever happen to us...the most commonly misconstrued phrase in all of a student-athlete's vocabulary. It's a nice productive way to start your day and when all of your friends are complaining about when to fit the gym into their class-filled schedules, you feel relieved that you've already exercised. Getting it out of the way early on is a blessing in disguise. It leaves more time for studying and whatever else you have going on.
Just because some people dress up for class doesn't mean it's a thing...or ever will be.
Your coaches don't give you (or sell to you) team apparel for nothing! Do you even play a sport if you're not always reppin' your squad? Athletic clothing is your second skin.
Why wake up 30 minutes earlier so that you can pick out an outfit?
*10 years later...explanation still pending.*
We genuinely feel bad for people who decide to put on those skinny jeans and that blouse just to walk to class and back. We know you're uncomfortable, and you're not fooling anyone.
Stand up for the water bottle.
A prized possession to say the least. As pre-season rolls around you know you're about to get another one to add to your collection. By graduation you will have around four or five, give or take losing or gaining a few. The Powerade or Gatorade reusable water bottle, whichever your school gives you, is something you are guaranteed to fall in love with.
You literally take it everywhere...breakfast, class, lunch, class, dinner, class, practice, etc. Don't let NARPs (non-athletic regular people) discourage you from carrying it around with their sarcastic comments like, "Do you play a sport?" They're just insecure and need to learn to love themselves and the NARP that they are.
Infiltrate the dealer and find the supplier...of food.
People often think our eating habits consist of salad and protein, but I'm here to tell you there's never been a more false claim made. We are athletes, which means the more we exercise the more we need to fuel our bodies. And sometimes that, "I could go for some food," (hunger), turns into, "I need food now and I don't care what it is" (hanger). You want a burger? Eat a burger! You want ice cream? You deserve it!
It's nice knowing the options are endless when in season because we are just going to be working it off eventually anyways. Don't be shy!
People are always going to judge you, so order a meal for three, sit alone and don't you dare look back!
Don't wish the time away.
You're not going to get the chance to be a student-athlete at the school you love and for the sport you love for forever. Mid-sprints when you feel like all you want to do is fall over and lay there, just remember why you started in the first place. Cherish the game and give it your all while you still can. Leave it all on the field, court, mat, etc.
Your teammates were your first friends at school and they'll be there until the end. They are probably the most dysfunctional group of human beings you've ever met, but you can't help but love them. They're the only ones who have shared the same hardships and successes when it comes to the game. Don't ever take that for granted.
All for one and one for all.
