by Rob Boscamp managing editor
Looking back on the days of high school, most college students have participated in some form of sporting activity. As an athletic alumnus myself, I participated in football and cross country all four years. Although I wasn’t the best at my respective sports, I had a lot of moments that made the training worthwhile.
Fast-forward several years later; there are a select few that continue to make memories not only for themselves, but for those that sit in the bleachers and watch in awe.
However, what most college students fail to realize is that these athletes also make the grades while they sit right behind us in class.
As a regular college student, one has to ask, “What is life like for a student athlete”? Island Waves decided to dig into the matter by asking several athletes about their own experiences and how they balance the big plays with the essays.
From the beginning, the jump from high school to college for any student can be crazy. One can only imagine how difficult it is for athletes that have to run to class—and on the playing field—at the collegiate level.
“The workload obviously is harder running-wise, as well as school-wise. In high school, everything was structured and set so that you come to school in the morning to run…when and what classes to go to…the hardest part about being a freshman was time management,” said track and cross country runner Kirk Dalheim.
In addition to the scheduling adjustment, another symptom of “freshman frenzy” is the realization that everyone, in any given sport, is just as gifted as you are.
“Everyone has always told me that from high school level to college there is a big difference…when I first arrived at A&M—Corpus Christi, I thought that softball seemed the same to me. It wasn’t until I played big colleges did I see the difference. At the high school level, we were all the all-stars of our team. Now every girl is pretty good,” said softball player Andrea Simancas.
Some things, however, that don’t seem to leave upon high school graduation are the misconceptions that student athletes are either looking to make a career out of athletics, or they are no brains and all brawn.
While everyone can’t be William Bullard and be drafted to the Harlem Globetrotters, most student athletes have more of a career in mind outside of their respective playing fields.
Dalheim is pursuing his bachelor’s in accounting. Simancas, a senior this coming fall, will be graduating with a degree in history.
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“The thing I hate about being a student athlete is the stereotype that all athletes are stupid and… get so many benefits in order to pass classes. In my case, I work hard for every grade I make, through studying and learning, and no one can tell me that I did that just because I am an athlete,” said Simancas.
Simancas has certainly backed up her words, recently being named to the 2008 Southland Conference Capital One All-Academic First Team with a 3.848 GPA according to goislanders.com.
That said, publicity is a given for any college athlete, no matter what the sport. More importantly, as role models, they also take time out of their schedules for their many fans of all ages.
“[The cross country and track teams] go help out [with] local fun runs or events and get to interact with the kids. It’s pretty rewarding to see how much they look up to you. A lot of times we sign autographs which is really cool to see. It feels like we are giving them goals that they want to accomplish which can really help them later in life,” said Dalheim.
Of course, if the accolades weren’t enough, student athletes are also entitled to a few benefits as well.
“There are some benefits to being an athlete… you get to go to cool places—for free—and spend time with your best friends while playing your favorite sport. I really don’t get any time for tutoring, but if girls on the team have the same classes they can help each other out, which helps,” said Simancas.
For classes, student athletes are required to do a 6-hour study hall. However, if a student has higher than a 2.75 GPA, the study hall then becomes optional. The study hall gives athletes access to tutors and computers, as well as free printing services.
On the other hand, with every silver lining comes the cloud that carries it, and there are certain aspects that somewhat hinder the full college experience.
“We are almost forced to kind of live a certain life style which…I don’t have a problem with but you miss out on a few college experiences… on the flip side, I would have missed out on this experience. It’s possible to have both but very difficult,” said Dalheim.
The final question that has to be asked is with a commitment to both academics and athletics, is it worth it in the long run?
“I like to believe that my running has done much more than just give me this great chiseled body,” joked Dalheim. “Seriously, the focus and determination and goal setting skills I have learned through running will take me a long way in life.”
Simancas also believes that these past few years have taught her that some of the most important lessons have been “learned on the field, and the most important one is to never give up on your dreams—no matter how cliché that sounds—and that I will carry on with me for the rest of my life.”
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