Always in Game Mode
How student-athletes juggle the pressure of sports
Late nights, early mornings, endless hours of work, while also making time for family, friends, and themselves. At schools all over the world, these are the pressures that student athletes constantly face. The pressure isn’t just in getting through these tough times, but also in forcing themselves to have healthy outlets that allow them to maintain their peace of mind while still performing at a high level, both in the classroom and in their sports.
“Personally, I look up to my older brother because he also played high school sports,” student athlete Vonshana Porter-Dubois said.
Porter-Dubois is a senior who plays girls' basketball and flag football.
“He kept his grades a priority, while also showing me that you don’t have to just choose one sport and that you can do them all,” Porter-Dubois added. “It’s not in how many sports you do but how effectively you manage your time.”
Similar to Porter-Dubois, many teens on campus deal with the same demands. Work deadlines, projects, social commitments, and practices all in one.
These stories from the views of athletes show how young adults grow and build skills that will last a lifetime through their sports, such as discipline, resilience, and time management.
“Balance isn’t only about time management but also about mental health,” sports writer Emily Dush stated.
The stigma is starting to break among athletes, as more and more athletes and universities are talking about mental health. Dush explained that athletes are now learning about how essential it is to have healthy outlets to cope with the pressures.
“Finding ways to cope with all of the stress and pressures that come with being a student-athlete as well as a human being,” Dush emphasized.
On campus, these challenges are recurring in the classroom, at practice, and at home. Athletes deal with these things while also trying to be the best version of themselves in every other aspect of their lives.
For junior Amaya Hyslop, a softball player and weightlifter on campus, support and mindset are the keys to her success.
“My mom is my biggest supporter and always the loudest one cheering!” Hyslop stated. “She always reminds me that before I can give the world my best, I have to pour into my own cup first, and that’s how I stay balanced.”
Although both athletes play different sports, they have both learned common themes and lessons throughout their seasons that go beyond sports and the classroom.
For Paxon’s young adults, balance isn’t just about getting through the season; it’s about building habits that last a lifetime. Whether on the court, field, or at home doing homework, it all takes resilience, discipline, and mental strength!