10 Struggles Of Being A Collegiate Athlete
By Jacklyn Krol
1. Everyone on campus knows you
“Oh hey, you’re on the ___ team!” becomes the most commonly heard phrase. People you don’t know suddenly become your “friends” and getting multiple friend requests from people you haven’t heard of. You’ve learned to play along with pretending you know somebody.
2. Teachers think you want special treatment
You’re a cheerleader? You must think you’ve got the world in the palm of your hands! The professor critiques you to no end. There is no avail! (But please, actually do your work to give athletes a better reputation.)
3. What social life?
Your social profiles become your social life. You have games, conditioning, practices, and school! This is another full-time job! If you have a part-time job, hello to no time to even eat or sleep!
4. Or love life?!
What’s a significant other? I don’t have time to wash my hair, let alone go on dates and repeatedly text and call someone. If you do have a boyfriend or girlfriend, you have no time for your friends or any other social activities.
5. You’re suddenly a role model
Whether you like it or not, people and children look up to you. They may not know your name but you better believe they will remember your face when you step out onto that floor or mat. Every big or small decision you make will be judged and will most likely end up on the internet for the world to see.
6. You have to eat healthy for the team, but have no time to do so.
Cooking requires time, time is what we don’t have. But at the same time, you will have to work off the snacks and fast food you just ate. All in all, it’s better to just eat healthy and try to make extra time so you don’t have to condition as hard.
7. Sleep before partying
The golden rule, enough said.
8. Conditioning
Your worst nightmare and best friend. It’s what makes you look amazing at the beach, and also makes you look like a pig leaving practice and feeling it the next day in muscles you didn’t know you even have!
9. Sports bras and spandex are a lady’s best friends
Comfortable and easy to stretch and run your butt off in. (To the point where you never wear anything else. Ever.)
10. You wouldn’t know what to do if you weren’t an athlete
What would you do on weeknights and weekends? No games? No practices? How do I get a more social social life? Taking a semester off you realize how much you would weigh without being active and how much free time you have without this sport in your life.