By Demetris Constantinou, Contributor
It’s no secret that in today’s competitive landscape, student-athletes struggle to keep themselves in a steady path – a path that will eventually lead them to the dream-come-true of a student-athlete: the dream of going professional. Undoubtedly, some may say that student-athletes are privileged to be in their position in the first place, but this does not make their life any easier or their route any less complicated. As a student athlete, you’re required to find balance in your life, at a much younger age compared to regular college students and you’re expected to mature or be overwhelmed by what’s coming your way. In this article, we’ll address some of the most prevalent challenges that student-athletes regularly face, and we’ll try to give you some tips on how to ease those challenges and smoothen your otherwise unsteady years of being a student-athlete.
1st Challenge: Creating a balance between your athletic and academic responsibilities
Are you a student or an athlete? The answer is both. You’re in college to play, but also to earn a degree. Many student-athletes focus too much on sports and neglect their studies, risking eligibility and academic progress.
Tip: At the start of each week, block out time for both classes and training. Share your schedule with your coach and professors. They’ll likely support you and help adjust expectations.
2nd Challenge: Creating a balance between social activities and your student-athlete responsibilities
College is about more than classes and practices — it’s also about enjoying the experience. Still, it’s easy to miss out on fun when your schedule is packed.
Tip: Set aside a few hours each week for social activities. Time with friends helps you recharge and keeps you emotionally balanced, which can actually improve your athletic and academic performance.
3rd Challenge: Keeping yourself emotionally stable while having to compete both on and off the field
It’s normal to feel overwhelmed juggling everything. Emotional stress is common and can snowball if left unchecked.
Tip: Shift your mindset — pressure isn’t your enemy, it’s your fuel. Every successful athlete has felt it. Learn from their path. Let pressure push you forward, not drag you down.
Having outlined the above challenges, it’s important to note that these do not reflect the full spectrum of challenges faced by student-athletes but intend to give a broader understanding of the hardships faced by student-athletes and some tips that might ease them. Overall, the key to being a successful student-athlete and tackling every challenge that comes to your way is finding the right balance. ‘Playing’ on multiple fronts is hard, but when you find balance you can manage anything that comes your way and you learn to distinguish what’s important and what’s not. Finally, no student athlete has ever accomplished anything without setting their priorities and realizing what their position is. As the famous NFL running back Earl Campbell said “I talk to student-athletes. I try to get them to remember that they are not just athletes, but student athletes. You need to get an education, keep your hands clean and try to represent the university.”
For more information on the challenges faced by student-athletes and how to tackle them, you may get in touch with us at [email protected]