“There’s no way they would get accepted without their sport.”

“I haven’t even improved past what I did in high school.”

“I just want to have fun; they would own your personal time.”

If you’re a student athlete at any college in the U.S., there’s a good chance you’ve heard phrases that share a similar sentiment concerning university athletics. This can be daunting to recruits, walk-ons, and even kids who are already in the grind. The reality is that these conjectures about the life of a student athlete are not without truth: You choose a challenging lifestyle when you sign on. As a freshman and track and field athlete at Penn, I found my first year to be full of moments of doubt, stressful scheduling, and uncertainty.

I absolutely loved it.

I’m not writing this to claim I’ve mastered the experience: I simply see value in shining light on ordeals new athletes experience and how we continue to find joy in our sport regardless.

Beginning the year, there was a feeling that I hadn’t really earned my way into my school. A lot of athletes feel undeserving or guilty for being accepted because their applications were supported by recruiting. To many it feels like cheating the system. What I came to realize, and what other athletes should understand as well, is that university is more than just grades: It’s passion. If you can bring your passion of sport to the school you belong to and use it for something constructive (college-facilitated youth sports, community service, etc.) then your inclusion in the institution has worth. It requires a high level of dedication to bring oneself to the collegiate level, and I believe that we shouldn’t feel ashamed for trying to pursue our passions as far as possible, especially when it creates new opportunity for positive influence.

Time became my most precious resource as the season started and classes increased the workload. No matter where you are, college athletics require a lot of maturity in management. Three to five hours of your day that other students presumably use to frolic in the fields and play bongos in the quad are dedicated to practice, conditioning, and meetings. Where do you find time to enjoy yourself with this kind of schedule? Sometimes you don’t. Some days you study, train, and sleep, but you have to remember what it’s for: It’s for bettering yourself in the discipline you love. If you want to be the best version of yourself then time is your greatest sacrifice. Maybe you show up to practice tired from studying at night, maybe you miss some office hours to lift. It’s not about finding a perfect schedule but more about adjusting in the moment as best as you can. And when you do have time to yourself, you use it for special things. Or just Netflix.

As the season was closing, I was uncertain in my own ability to grow competitively. Sure, my consistency improved, but I found myself unable to push my best performances beyond what I did in high school. How was it possible to work so much harder and reap so little? Was I reaching my peak? This is when new student athletes have to take a step back and analyze the changes: You now train differently, more frequently, with higher standards and in a very different setting with a new attitude and schedule. It’s likely going to take longer than half a year to accommodate these conditions. Being patient while experiencing this requires mental fortitude and an overwhelmingly positive attitude, and quitting on yourself before you’ve had enough time to adjust is a mistake you may dearly regret. Look to older teammates to remind you why you should remain resolute through this transition period.

The list of difficulties goes on for miles, but these struggles struck me as the ones that could be cross-listed as both common and difficult to deal with. Incoming freshman, don’t be scared away: You’ll have others to brave the new world with you and you’ll make great friends in the struggle. Those currently in the grind: Stay strong, because the next three years are going to test us, but that’s why we do what we do.