The Biggest Things I’ve Learned Being a College Athlete

Being a college athlete is hard. Weights and conditioning at 6 in the morning followed by a full day of classes, then 3 hours of practice, coming home and scarfing down dinner, then rushing to mandatory team study hall, to finally stay up late and finish my remaining homework, pass out and then do it all again tomorrow. The weekends feel like even more of a blessing than usual. There have been many times where I have envied my roommates who sit on the couch and have enough free time to watch TV. But when season ends and I suddenly have all this free time, I realize how much I love being busy and how much I love what so many athletes call “the grind”.

College athletics have taught me so much, and it is a rewarding experience that only some people get to enjoy. Here are some little bits of wisdom that I have gotten from being a student athlete:

1. Time management is essential. The amount of friends that I have that do not play a sport, but still do not have enough time to hang out on weekends or go out to dinner during the week is INSANE. Being an athlete forces you to learn to manage your time and get all of your stuff done efficiently.
2. Going the extra mile does pay off. Staying the extra 15-30 minutes after practice, or doing an extra round of putting drills after the tournament started to show and reflect in my scores. Even if you no one knows that you stayed later and put in extra work, you know it and it honestly does improve your confidence and skill set.
3. A good attitude goes a long way. No one likes a complainer. Everyone notices a smile and a good attitude no matter what. It’s like your coach telling you that you’re running sprints for conditioning, or when your boss tells you that you need to stay an hour later after work. Complaining won’t change anything, but a good leader will recognize a good attitude and reward you for it later.
4. You’re held accountable by EVERYONE. Whether it’s on the course or on the weekends, student athletes are held to a certain standard. Someone is always watching whether you know it or not, and this is true in the real world as well, not just in college. People will know if you are a person of integrity, or just put on a fake smile when you know someone is watching.
5. How you treat people speaks volumes about you. People are appalled when I give them a hand written thank you note. It is a simple gesture that has since been forgotten with the amount of simple “thank you” texts that are sent. Writing a thank you note will leave a lasting impression on the person you give it to. Being grateful, showing appreciation daily and letting people know they are valued is never time wasted.