High school is often romanticized with football games, homecoming dances, prom and school rivalry events. For student-athletes, however, the reality of high school is far from this cinematic ideology.
These groups of individuals fight with unique challenges, choosing between athletics and participating in rambunctious school events.
This decision is not easy.
For many, it is not just about missing a school dance or a pep rally, it is about weighing their future dreams against the high school experience.
Demands for student-athletes is a harsh cycle.
Their calendars revolve around practices, games, tournaments, training, and maintaining their grades along with their social lives. State championships, regional tournaments, and weekend games often clash with school events such as prom, Battle For The Paddle, or graduation.
Most athletes choose sports over these events for the opportunity of their futures. Big tournaments and high-stakes games allow students to be recognized by college coaches.
Another factor is the commitment that an athlete has made to the team.
“Missing a game feels a lot different than missing a school event,” Junior Ernie Steele said. “I feel like I learn a lot more through sports than at school and push myself harder.”
The stakes are particularly high for these athletes, especially those hoping to pursue a career in athletics. This can significantly reduce the financial burden of higher education. The reward or experience is often what justifies those hard decisions in the end.
“Sometimes, I get a sense of FOMO from missing school events, but I feel like it is worth it because of my volleyball family and the experiences of travel,” Junior Aryah Black Eagle-Seres said.
Along with the decision to cut school or events for these sports comes the juggling of on and off grades.
Student-athletes are expected to excel in both arenas and the classroom. Maintaining a solid GPA while performing well in their sport. This balance can get rough.
“Do not procrastinate on your homework,” Black Eagle-Seres said. “I do a lot of it in class so that I am not stressing outside of school.”
Constantly being on the road for games or tournaments can mean missing a fair amount of school, which means missing assignments and tests. This forces athletes to rely on independent studying or effort to keep up.
“When I have time to do my homework I do it, mostly at meets and on the road,” Steele said.
The stress of managing both worlds can take a toll on athletes’ mental health too. It creates a constant pressure to meet expectations on and off the courts, fields, mats, etc.
There is also a pressure to keep up with a teenage social life.
“Missing school events is hard and a little annoying. I just have to call or text my friends to keep in touch during the season,” Black Eagle-Seres said.
However, while all of this pressure seems overbearing for student-athletes many schools provide support systems for those in need.
“When you decide to become an athlete it does become a little hard for you because you have to balance, like family and work, but that is maybe what is one of the great things about extracurriculars,” Lakeland Athletics director Matt Neff said. “You learn that life skill of time management and it is challenging, but that is why these athletes are going to be so prepared for life because it is hard and you have to find that own balance yourself. I tell coaches that our athletes should have a 3.0 GPA or above, and what that does is puts a priority on coaches and teams to be talking about academics and keeping up on those things.”
Recourses like study halls, tutoring, and working with students after classes can help make sure an athlete does not fall behind.
While resources like these are available, students must still reach out for help. Many teachers are willing to step in and help these students in their classes.
“As long as students talk to me I can tell them what is going to happen in class and how to stay up to date,” Lakeland teacher and football coach Rick Anderson said. “The problem is when they don’t talk to me about it and then they end up missing class because of their events. It is hard to keep them caught up when I do not know where they have been.”
The stress put on athletes to prioritize grades while also working to excel in their sport can be draining and seem like a never-ending cycle of constant falling behind and catching up. From a teacher’s perspective, these actions can be seen as lazy or just not a good work ethic, but from a previous coach to a teacher it seems almost a little too relatable.
“I think all coaches look at it differently. Coaches are as dedicated as the kids to the sport, and often, it becomes more about the game than the academics. I fall into that trap; everything becomes about winning,” Anderson said.
Learning how to manage all of the time put into sports and schooling is something that can seem impossible. This often leads people to wonder just how these athletes manage it all.
Time management is a cornerstone of student-athletes success. These students often learn to prioritize tasks and plan around their schedules. Many athletes wake up early for practice, go to school, head back to training, and then study and do assignments at whatever time remains.
“You are a student-athlete, not an athlete-student, you need to prioritize grades and find time around the demanding schedules,” Steele said.
Family and teachers also play a big role as well. Parents can often step in to help and guide students on what to do, Coaches can help serve as mentors guiding students on how to stay focused and organized.
Teachers can help with the organization too with how to manage their work while being away so often.
“I think a big help would be if the school could notify various teachers that these kids are rostered on teams and they are going to be missing certain dates because of events and when they will be scheduled. If we notify teachers instead of relying on kids it would help me personally plan for the kids,” Anderson said.
Lakeland athletics and staff come together to come up with scheduling and make sure that no conflicts arise so students can enjoy both parts of athletics and the high school experience, but when it comes to club sports the staff has no control over the club team’s schedules and is at a loss.
“For the school, we plan things so that they do not interfere with each other, but for club sports, I have no control over the schedules or anything of the sort,” Neff said.
Technology can also help balance grades. Apps for scheduling, reminders, or even extra tutoring can make it easier for students and relieve a bit of pressure. Apps like Google Classroom can help students find the assignments and textbooks that they need while they are away. Ensuring that they stay connected even when they are not on campus and having communication with teachers is a crucial way to help keep them in touch.
With all of this juggling social life, school, and sports, the worth of missing these things is often a question of whether or not it is worth it.
Ultimately, the argument of whether it is worth it depends on the athlete’s goals and perspective. If the athlete is more committed to the team or aspiring to play in college then missing school events may feel like a small price to pay for working at their goals.
“I skipped Battle for the Paddle my freshman year for a tournament and though at the time it did not feel like it was worth it, I know it would be known if I had to do it again,” Black Eagle-Seres said. “If it is something you are passionate about then making those sacrifices is 100 percent worth it.”
For others, the trade-offs may not feel worth it at all.
Missing things like their last prom or rivalry event can seem like they are disconnected from their class and cause them to feel like they have FOMO. The feeling of isolation can often be hard to deal with.
I have personally missed events for sports and it has made me left out when all my friends would talk about how much fun they had or I would see everyone’s pictures online.
However, the long-term benefits of being a student-athlete often outweigh the immediate sacrifices. Life skills such as teamwork, leadership, and pushing through tough situations can teach just as much as sitting in a classroom.
“You learn a lot more through being a team and pushing yourself through sports,” Steele said.
The life of a student-athlete is one of the toughest decisions. Missing big school events for sports can feel bittersweet, but for many, it can also be a calculated choice. Whether these sacrifices are worth it in the end, will always depend on the person’s goals and perspective.
