Finding the Balance
How I Tackle Being a Student & an Athlete
College is hard enough as it is; class, hours of studying and homework, sleep deprivation... Adding athletics on top of that makes college 10 times harder. Being a student-athlete is difficult. Along with the hours and hours of studying we put into our major, we also have practice, early morning lifting sessions, hours of study hall, meetings upon meetings upon meetings! Finding the balance between the two is still a struggle even after enduring the journey for two years now... Let me tell you a little about myself.
I started running track my freshman year in high school. I wasn't really expecting anything to come out of it; just a kid who wanted to participate in an extracurricular activity to pass the time by. I honestly wasn't aware of where it was going to take me in the future. I didn't take it seriously at first; I just ran my races and called it a day. Before I knew it, I was winning my races! I was ecstatic about the ways things were going. My future was looking bright. Around my junior year, I was getting recruited to run collegiately. At this point in my life, I had to make a decision on whether I wanted to go any further with my career or just become a regular student in college; honestly, I didn't know anything other than the athlete life.
Fast forward through the last two years of high school to my freshman year of college... Collegiate sports are nothing like high school sports. Ask any college athlete; this is a different ballgame. I struggled to try to figure out how to balance my studies, sports, AND my social life. My first year, I had to learn that my studies and track came first. My coach always says, "You're a student first, then an athlete, then everything else." Once that was imprinted in my brain, I set a routine... Well, I didn't really have much of a choice LOL!
My day usually consisted of classes from 8:00 AM to about 12:30 PM, a small break, if any, for lunch, practice from 2:00 PM to about 5:00 PM. After practice, my schedule would vary. Sometimes I would go to study hall or have a team meeting... If I was lucky, I would have time for my social life. Once this routine was set, time management was another thing. I'll tell you, I'm still horrible at that to this day! I'm getting better though...
Coming into college, I wasn't expecting how much I had to grow up and I underestimated the amount of time management I would need. Slowly, but surely, I was able to manage my time as far as study hall and my social life would go. Being a student-athlete is hard. The best advice I can give is to manage your time well because there are so many hours in one day. It gets overwhelming sometimes but it definitely gets better.
About the Creator
Genesis Ewell
20 // Student Athlete // Future Occupational Therapist
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By Genesis Ewell6 years ago in Viva
STORY:BIRD LOVE
In a lush forest, two feathered friends named Robin and Bluebird lived together, sharing secrets and laughter. As the seasons changed and the forest bloomed with new life, their bond grew stronger, and they built a nest together in the crook of an old oak tree. When their eggs hatched, Robin and Bluebird welcomed their chicks into the world, teaching them to sing and soar with the wind. They watched with pride as their little ones grew stronger and more independent each day, knowing that their love would always be the guiding light that led them home. As the years went by, Robin and Bluebird began to feel the weight of time pressing down upon them, and they knew that their time together in this world was drawing to a close. One day, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the forest was bathed in the soft glow of twilight, they sat together on a branch overlooking the treetops, knowing that their love would live on forever in the hearts of those they had touched. And as they spread their wings and took flight into the starry night, they soared together into eternity, two souls bound by love and destined to be together always, in this world and the next. In the heart of a lush meadow, a pair of birds named Finch and Sparrow lived together, sharing everything together, from building their nest to hunting for food in the meadow. Their greatest joy came when they welcomed their first clutch of eggs into the world. When the eggs finally cracked open, revealing tiny chicks nestled within, Finch and Sparrow's hearts overflowed with love. They devoted themselves to caring for their offspring, teaching them to fly and hunt for food, and watching with pride as they grew stronger and more independent each day. As the years passed, Finch and Sparrow's family grew, with each new generation bringing joy and laughter to their nest. And though they faced challenges and obstacles along the way, their love remained unwavering, a beacon of light that guided them through even the darkest of times. As they watched the sunset paint the sky in hues of pink and gold, Finch and Sparrow nestled together in their nest, their hearts full of gratitude for the life they had shared. Bird love refers to the affection, bond, and social interactions that birds exhibit towards one another, typically within mating pairs or family groups. This love can manifest in various behaviors, such as courtship rituals, pair bonding, and cooperative breeding. Mating pairs of birds often engage in elaborate courtship displays, such as singing, dancing, and displaying vibrant plumage to attract a mate. Birds also demonstrate love and care towards their offspring, with both parents typically participating in raising their young, from building the nest and incubating the eggs to feeding and protecting the chicks. Overall, bird love encompasses a wide range of behaviors and emotions, all centered around the formation and maintenance of social bonds between individuals within a bird community. In a secluded corner of a dense forest, a solitary bird named Luna lived amidst the darkness, harboring deep sadness within her heart. She had once been part of a loving flock of nightingales who sang together in harmony under the moonlit sky, but tragedy struck, and Luna's beloved flock was scattered by a fierce storm that ravaged the forest. As the seasons changed and the forest bloomed with new life, Luna's sadness only deepened, and she withdrew from the world around her. One night, as Luna sat perched on a branch, lost in her melancholy thoughts, she heard a faint rustling in the leaves beside her. Startled, she turned to the stars, knowing that their love would always be the guiding light that led them home.Luna, a compassionate bird, found solace in caring for a wounded bird in the forest. She found hope in the bird's health and a sense of purpose, despite the darkness that had consumed her. Luna realized that she was no longer alone, and that love and kindness could still flourish even in the darkest times. With her friend by her side and the stars shining brightly overhead, Luna lifted her voice, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of love to heal even the deepest wounds. Her song serves as a testament to the power of love in healing even the deepest wounds.
By Al Mahmud hasan6 days ago in Education
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