Freshman year of college, I was surrounded by athletes. I lived in the athlete dorm, and being around some girls and guys who spent more time out on the field than in their dorm room made me seriously consider walking onto a random team so I can take advantage of all the Nike gear, moped rides and celebrity status. At a Big Ten University, sports seem to be the main focus of college life. Being a NARP (Non-Athlete Regular Person) may have its cons, but I am here to give you a play-by-play on all the wonderful advantages of being average:
1. No push to be active or fit.
As an athlete, there is the constant burden of working out with and without your team. You need to eat healthy in order to keep your body functioning at an exceptional rate and to perform the best at your designated sporting event. As a NARP, no one is pushing you to be healthy or in shape, so there is no reason to be! Plus, no one really cares what you look like because, hey, they aren’t going to show you, the average person, on TV any time soon! Feel free to let it all hang out.
2. Tailgating.
While the athletes from your school are strutting their stuff on the field, you get to chug beers and cheer them on in the blistering cold. If you were an athlete, you wouldn’t get to spend your Saturdays waking up early to pick out an outfit that’s cute enough for your Instagram, but still being just warm enough to protect from frostbite while still being resistant to beer showers. You didn't buy all those T-shirts at freshman orientation for nothing!
3. Freedom to wear other apparel brands.
Everyone knows that the Hawkeyes are sponsored by Nike, but why limit yourself to one brand of apparel? Who really needs the free stuff when you have the choice between Nike and Adidas? In reality, who wants the free stuff anyway when you can just buy it at the Hawk shop? Not only will you by stylin’, but giving back to your school at the same time!
4. You blend in with the crowd.
Being a NARP means that you don’t have to waste your time signing autographs, making appearances at school events or worrying about being recognizable in public. You’re just the Average Joe, and this can work to your advantage. You don’t have to worry about people noticing you because, really, why would they notice you anyway? Plus, the fact that you aren’t broadcast on a big screen being all sweaty and athletic, you don’t have to worry about what you look like (See No. 1).
5. Your parents get the opportunity to use all the money they’ve saved.
Your parents have worked hard saving up their hard earned cash over the years to allow to you go to this grand educational institution. They are proud of all the pennies they’ve saved and corners they have cut so that you can get a good education. A lot of athletes are provided with scholarships in exchange for the hard work they put into representing your school. Think about it though—if your school was paid for, then your parents did all that hard work for nothing! That would truly be a disappointment and a waste of time.
Don’t look at your non-athletic capabilities as a downside. Being a NARP can be cool, too.
