Julian Quintero 
Sgt. Jeff Otterson, a Marine recruiter in Marysville, Washington, congratulates Marysville-Pilchuck High School student athlete Austin Joyner on his participation in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl March 9, 2015. Joyner, a highly-touted cornerback from Marysville, was one of three Washington State football players selected to play in the Jan. 4 game in Carson, California. Following his high school graduation, Joyner will attend the University of Washington on an athletic scholarship. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Reece Lodder)
By Julian Quintero, Matthew Cadogan and Denzel Eustache
DEC 11, 2018
Being a student athlete can be very stressful, if there is no balance between studies and activities. Athletes are under extreme pressure to perform at their best on the field and in the classroom. According to Mr. Brian Gibbons, a St. Thomas Aquinas (STA) football and basketball coach, one of the rewards for a student athlete includes better chances of receiving the best education possible at top-tier schools.
One of the major components for being a student athlete is time management. Equal amounts of time must be devoted to studying and athletic activities. For best results, it is important to avoid all outside distractions as this will slow down progress, and waste time. It is also very helpful to create a schedule that organizes the amount of time that should be spent on each task.
In an article that David Serwitz wrote for TeachHub.com, he recommends that students should always go that extra mile in both studies and academics. If students are determined enough, they will be able to get ahead in their assignments and have time to spare. It is important to learn how to manage stress, as well as how to balance time for training and studies in order to avoid burning out.
When a student focuses too much time on either sports or studies, it may result in failure in the neglected area. Sometimes, even when failing, an efficient student athlete will be motivated to work harder, capitalize on the situation, and improve their performance. Although being a student athlete takes many sacrifices, most feel that the effort will be highly rewarding.
