by Jenna Dobson
Assistant Editor
Darkness filled the air surrounding the field, illuminating the twinkling stars above. All of the lights have been shut off in the parking lot, causing student athletes to use flashlights on their trek back to the car. The late-night drive is not the only upcoming struggle as the student begins to picture the backpack full of homework due the next day sitting at home. At Northern High School, a significant amount of students participate in after school sports and activities, but how do these extracurriculars affect the student in student-athlete?
The idea of being a student athlete involves managing school work as well as being an athlete. The task doesn’t seem to be too daunting, but when considering the long hours spent after school and the weekend obligations, the stress of being a student athlete builds up. Senior field hockey player Charlotte Thon spoke on the stresses of being a student athlete, “I get stressed knowing I have a busy week with games and tests.”
The stress levels are one down-factor to the student-athlete experience. Another drawback to being a student-athlete is the exhaustion. Most sports spend more than two hours after school daily. This plus their eight-hour school day leads to high levels of exhaustion for many student-athletes. “I’m very tired after a week of fhockey,” Thon spoke.
Although being a student-athlete can be draining and stressful, there are many advantages to being one. Engaging in after school sports help harbor friendships, teach responsibility, and promote community involvement. The National Federation of State High School Associations did a study on the benefits of being a student-athlete. The study showed that participating in sports in high school helps better oneself for the future, whether it be in physical activity during adulthood or pushing past limitations in future life.
The true problem with balancing school and sports lies when students prioritize the athlete aspect over the student one. The terms “student-athlete” and “athlete-student” have become pretty popularized over the past few years in regard to a students work ethic during school hours. For a student who sees themselves prioritizing their sport more than school, they would be deemed as an “athlete-student,” and vice versa. Being a student athlete requires a decent sense of time management and the ability to balance responsibilities. When taking on the student-athlete role, one must be ready for that challenge.