Making the step up from high school sports to college is a big deal. Suddenly, your studies are more intense, training gets that little bit harder, and you compete against far more experienced athletes.
College is a learning experience, and these challenges only make you a better student and athlete.
So, how can you make the most of your student-athlete experience?
Set Your Goals
For many student-athletes, arriving at college is the culmination of a goal you’ve worked towards for many years. You should be so proud of how far you’ve come! It’s an experience not many people can say they will take part in, so put on your favorite team issued apparel as they’re who inspired you to be where you are, and enjoy it.
However, ticking off one goal should only mean a step toward your next destination.
Now is the best time to assess your personal goals and set challenges for yourself for the coming weeks, months, and years. Make smart goals that can give you that extra motivation throughout the early weeks of your season, and push yourself even harder now that you’re in college.
Life is a Balancing Act
Whether you’re playing college sports as a stepping stone to going pro or as a hobby, there will always be a balance between your sports and your studies. You’ve made commitments in both areas and must live up to both.
If you fall behind in one area, it will affect the other. As CampusReel shows, USC admission requirements are strict, so they know you can balance your sports with your studies; now, you’ve got to prove them right.
It’s a Step Up
For many people, college sports will be a huge step up from high school. You might have been the best player on your team in high school, but it’s unlikely that will be the case in college.
You will be playing against players much older than you and much more experienced than you, and this is something you will have to deal with. Nothing is stopping you from thriving in this environment, but you’ve got to have the right attitude.
It’s the Best Time of Your Life
This might sound very cliché, but for so many student-athletes, it’s true. When you look back on college ten-twenty-thirty years later, you’re going to remember your teammates, the brutal practices, the big wins, and the significant losses, and you will wish you could go back and experience it again, even if it’s just for a day.
College life goes exceptionally quickly, so make the most of it before you return for homecoming as an alum, craving to get out and compete with your teammates.
Remember Why You’re Here
There will be tough times, just as there are for everyone. However, those tough times are part of the journey. When things do get difficult, remember why you came to college in the first place. Think back to those goals you set right at the beginning and see how far you’ve come.
There are many opportunities during your college career, so make the most of them and remember why you are there.
