Being an athlete is never easy especially a student athlete. There are many expectations that are expected of student athletes while trying to balance all the schoolwork with the 5-6 days a week of practices and games.
While no one said it was easy there are definitely things you should keep in mind while thinking about or being a student athlete. Teachers are trying to uphold high expectations like quality work and meeting the deadlines while student athletes are often leaving right after school for games and not ending their day until close to bedtime.
It takes some serious time management skills to still meet those academic expectations which for student athletes includes maintaining a 2.0 or higher GPA. For some student athletes this is easy but for others it’s a struggle.
Kenwood English teacher Ms. Single adds, “Students should reach out when they’re starting to notice their grade dropping and they are expected to reach out to teachers and not the other way around.”
Kenwood offers many things to make sure students are staying ahead of their grades like coach class. Coach class is offered to provide students with help to boost their grades up or help them get a better understanding of the material being taught. While coach class is great, it provides extra help to the student athletes because it can be hard to manage school and athletics all in one. With saying that Mr Miller shares, “ Students should be going to coach class about their bad grades and if you are academically struggling you should reach out before you get to the point of no return.”
Many saying balancing being a student athlete one of the hardest things to balance while in school. Ms Komorowski shares, “Athletes should always make sure grades are coming first because in the statement “Student Athlete” student comes before athlete” and also “be present in school and keep your grades straight because it brings you better opportunities.”
Today, November 15, marks the beginning of a new sports season with the beginning of winter sports. Students with that 2.0 or higher GPA can try out for basketball, wrestling, indoor track, or cheerleading this winter. Though it may be hard to balance both school and sports, it’s also great preparation for the real world after high school.
If you want sports to be a part of your high school story as Baltimore’s own Michael Phelps says, “You dream. You plan. You reach. There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work, with belief, with confidence and trust in yourself and those around you, there are no limits.”
