The years you spend at college really are some of the best years of your life. Being a student-athlete can provide you with a very different college experience to that of a ‘regular’ student, but nothing can compare to the rush and excitement you get from playing college sport. Although you can go through some tough times as a student-athlete, they don’t equate at all to the countless memories you create throughout those four years of playing sports.
1. You’ll meet some of the closest friends you’ll ever have
The relationships that you create through that time on the playing field are unlike any other bond you will ever have in life. That type of camaraderie cannot be forged and the friends you make through sports really will be with you for a lifetime.
2. You’ll think about quitting several times, but you won’t
Between the treacherous workouts, and the coaches constantly yelling, being a student-athlete is definitely not an easy route. However, having a strong support system will help you to stick it out. In the end, you’ll realise that years of being a student-athlete will prepare you to handle anything and allow you to see that it takes time for good things to come; you’ll be glad you didn’t leave your sport behind.
3. You’ll go through some kind of major change that’ll make you better
There will definitely be a time throughout your collegiate career when one of your teammates will transfer, someone on the coaching staff will depart, or you may go through a certain realisation process that completely changes you. At some point during your time as a student-athlete, you will have to go through a major adjustment or situation in which yourself or the team as a whole will be different in some type of way – whether that be for the good or the bad. You will go through this experience, learn from it, and undoubtedly come out stronger at the end of it.
4. It will be hard to sacrifice, but it’ll be worth it
You will see your classmates going out, having fun, and going home for holidays. You’ll be on campus before the school year starts and you’ll stay long after the majority of students leave. You’ll have to give up any free time away from your sport to study or to go to the training room. It will be extremely hard to sacrifice the things you want to do for the things you have to do, but you’ll realise how much it was all worth it when you’re celebrating at the end of a game with your teammates or holding that championship trophy at the end of the season.
5. It goes by in a flash and you’ll certainly miss it
Your time as a student-athlete will pass by extremely fast. You’ll grow to see that you should have appreciated it a little more, and you’ll want to go back in time to relive some of the moments. You’ll reminisce on the good times and even the bad ones to see that being a collegiate athlete made you who you are today. The student-athlete experience is one that you’ll value for the rest of your life.
Think you've got what it takes? Apply to FirstPoint USA today for your chance to pursue a sports scholarship and be the the next US student-athlete:
