By: Grace Hahn
Being a student athlete adds an extra layer of complexity to attending college. For many college athletes like myself, there isn’t really an option to play or not play in college; it’s a goal of many junior athletes, like a final celebration or final hurrah to compete at a high level. I always knew I wanted to compete in college, but while pursuing a college degree at the same time, especially one in the science field, it can be hard to balance it all. In my case, I also work multiple jobs in my hometown and have two jobs on-campus, which makes my situation even more complex. Despite this complexity, balancing every aspect of your life in college is not impossible! I know there are many others with situations like mine, and I hope this can be of assistance to you. First, I suggest buying a planner, specifically a monthly planner, for not only your assignments, but also your competitions and personal events. I know everyone has their own preference of how to organize their schedules, but I have found that a monthly planner allows me to visually see the weeks ahead and my events like due dates and matches. It acts as my life at a glance. I use this planner: https://www.yesstyle.com/en/tcuc.USD/coc.US/info.html/pid.1097002527?googtrans=en&utm_source=GoogleAds&utm_campaign=1425184459&utm_term=&utm_content=62829238544_274256254249&utm_medium=Shopping&bac=EXUXNBGL&mcg=paidsearch&gclid=Cj0KCQiAjJOQBhCkARIsAEKMtO30KdrQLTuivdcIxEufirx59pExNpdheAJg349JRM49OrjepJZxYCYaAgZvEALw_wcB One thing that was hard for me, and still is, is finding class times that don’t conflict with my jobs and my practice/competition schedule. What I have found works very well is staying in contact with your advisors, since they are very knowledgeable regarding how to shift your schedule around between the current semester and your remaining semesters. Sometimes, if you have a course that you are unable to take in the current semester, your advisor would know if the course is offered in an upcoming semester. If you need more specialized help, your professors can also be a great resource to employ, since they may be able to help work with your athletic schedule as well. Roosevelt professors and advisors have been such great resources for me since they are so caring and always go out of their way to understand each student’s individual situation. I have never been stuck in a situation where I cannot take a class that I need in order to graduate; I have always been provided with a solution that helps me! I have also found that the Roosevelt professors that I have had have always accommodated my athletic schedule. I advise asking your coach for excused absence forms for each competition in advance so your professors are alerted sooner rather than later. If you ever have any questions regarding how to balance athletics, academics, and work, feel free to reach out to me or drop by my office hours! I would be more than happy to provide any help you may need. Trust me, it may seem hard, but it is NOT impossible!
1 Comment
Alfredo Guzman
3/15/2022 01:13:48 pm
Love this post!
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