Student-Athletes: Balancing the Workload

By Lauren Brown ’24

Being a student-athlete is all about balancing your workload, especially if you have other commitments. With a schedule full of classes, practice, games or meets and any additional campus obligations, it can be a lot, but knowing when you have free time to do homework will make these four years of your life a lot less stressful.

Classes and Schoolwork

Academics always come first at Central —ask any professor, coach or student-athlete. What’s important is finding the right times outside of your sport and using those times wisely to do your homework. Every semester your class schedule is going to be different. That might mean doing homework from 12:30-1:45 p.m. on a Wednesday before your 2 p.m. class or all-day Tuesday because you don’t have lab until Thursday. Balancing your time is key as a student-athlete because practices and games are going to take up most afternoons, nights and weekends.

Practices and Lifting

Each sport’s practice times vary. Some teams practice at 5 a.m. while others enter the gym at 4 or 6 in the afternoon. The lifting schedule is also different for every team and changes depending on whether they’re in-season or off-season. Once you know when your practice and lifting times are, it’s best to plan around them so you’re able to do your homework and still get some sleep.

Games and Traveling

Game days are the best days of the week! The team finally gets to compete on the field, in the gym or on a track. It’s what athletes look forward to most. What we don’t look forward to is all the homework and studying we need to get done for the next day. Some coaches allow athletes to work on assignments during games or meets, which is super helpful. When it isn’t allowed, students try to get their work done before the bus departs or do their homework while traveling on the shuttle bus. I tend to struggle with doing homework on a bus but being able to compete makes it worth it!

Other Obligations

Outside of being a student-athlete, you may have other obligations like clubs, councils or work study. These commitments may add to your workload, but they also add to your college experience. What’s important is finding those random times throughout your day — finding that balance — when you can focus on being a “student” so at other times you can focus on being an “athlete.”

 

Read More From Community Contributors

About the Author

Hi, everyone! My name is Lauren Brown ’24, and I am from Underwood, Iowa. I am a communication studies major and Spanish minor here at Central. I’ve been a part the track team since  sophomore year. I also am a member of, and the female representative for, Central’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council and TMK Hall Council President. Finally, I work as a writing tutor on Sundays and an editorial assistant for the Communications Office during the week.

Although my extracurriculars keep me busy, I still have time to hang out with my friends and go to different events on campus. I also enjoy running; watching movies or Netflix shows; and reading books in my free time. I hope you find exactly what you are looking for at Central and join the family! Go Dutch!