The Stereotype

Being a student athlete goes beyond the field and the weight room, can't forget about the school which most important.  So those are three aspects which are very time consuming but still somehow they have to pull through and grind it out everyday.  It takes a lot of dicipline, focus and will power but most of all, time management!  During my time as a student athlete at Mercyhurst University, I have seen countless examples of poor time management, which ultimately lead to decreased playing time, mandatory stud hall and even dismissal from the team all together.  Some of the young players currently on the roster now have told me it is definitaly not for the faint of heart, "It feels like there isnt any down time or at least some time to yourself when, always on the move."  Now i can testify to that because when i used to play, it was always something whether it be study hall, weight traning or practice there wasn't any time to breath or take a second.  Another thing you have to deal with being a student athlete is the fact that teachers know who you are because you play a sport and even though they don't like to admit it, they pick on the athletes and single them out, or are harder on athletes than the other students.  Im sure the majority of teachers will deny that, but its the Stereotype of athletes and how they are portrayed, that most athletes feel picked on in the classroom.

That does not stop student atheletes from performing and doing great things in the classroom,  there are plenty of facts and statistics that can show and prove the success rate of student athelets across the nation.  Yes they have alot to deal with and can be overwhemling at times but that does not stop them from pushing and feeling sorry for themselves.  Being a student athlete is a special privilage which should not be taken for granted, so many stereotypes and labels come with the territory, like "dumb jocks" or being lazy and cocky.  As long as they keep up the good work the stereotypes will vanish for good and let their hard work do all of the talking.

The Difference

Athletes all across the world know that we are all different from the average person, not to sound cocky or put us above other people.  But it is almost like a scared fellowship regardless of what sport you play or background you have come from, weall have made the ultimate committment and sacrifice to indulge ourseleves into the world of sports.  The long practice hours, getting up at sunrise while it feels like the rest of the world is still sleeping, grinding through grueling practices in the summer heat.  While your friends are out partying and having a good time, your in the gym working your butt off, putting in your time with the blood, sweat and tears that come along with it.  You love it though and no matter how much you complain about being sore or tired, or feeling like you just want to strangle your coach to death, you know in the end all of that hard work will pay off come game time.  The average person who has never played a sport in their life can never fully understand all of those emotions athletes go through day in and day out, sun up to sun down, they just can not do it.  And that is the difference between the two, making the sacrifice to better yourself for competition and not hang out with your friends on a friday night, or take a day off for feeling sorry for yourself is something the outside world would not be able to relate to no matter how hard they try.  The taste of victory is so gratifying and blissful, hearing the crowd roar knowing everyone is on their feet because of what you accomplished is such a rush and unbelievable feeling.  Here is a video to describe what I am talking about.That is what makes all of the pain, long practices, heated debates with teammates and film sessions all worth it.