Many students feel that athletes sometimes get special benefits just because they are good at sports. Actually many athletes stress about the pressure not only to perform on the field, but in the classroom as well. Every student has their own challenges that make school difficult at times, but when athletes have to be successful in the classroom in order to do what they want on the field, it sometimes does work on their brains.
In multiple circumstances, student athletes have to turn in their work early or take a test earlier because of deadlines.
Some teachers do not take into consideration all the time put in that is necessary in order to perform at the highest level or even to the level that will satisfy their coach.
Kelin Briones, an athlete on USD men's soccer team said, "It is hard sometimes when you are traveling and trying to prepare to leave, and you hear from your teacher that you have to turn in work early. I've ran into this problem, and it was hard to finish on time. I heard later too, that other students were given extra advice in the class that I missed due to traveling." All students have issues, but at times teachers must understand the obstacles and challenges a student athlete goes through on a day-to-day basis.
Practice, treatment for injuries, weights and games take up a lot of time, and definitely slow the body down, which makes it difficult to finish homework or study for tests.
"I take time to relax and do nothing in order to alleviate stress I deal with. I also try to get eight to nine hours of sleep to rest and rejuvenate," Kevin Muno, a baseball player at USD, said. In other words, time management is a crucial element in a student athlete's life. Knowing when and what has to be done in order to not turn in assignments late is important to getting things completed.
Losing can often be the start to this stress about homework or school. Losing can cause someone to not want to go to school, start homework or study for a test. Jen Ellenbeck on USD's softball team said, "I try to get ahead on my work, run, swim, play beach volleyball and party with friends in order to get past the stress."
Doing things that keep the mind off of what stresses an athlete out is a key aspect to getting over stress.
More people and more teachers should take these things into consideration. Student athletes go through many obstacles in order to promote themselves in the classrooms, as well as promote USD by performing at their highest athletic level.
