‘You are a student-athlete, not an athlete-student.’ All high school student-athletes have heard these words from administrators, teachers, and parents alike. Oakdale prides itself on having students that are both academically and athletically successful, but in order for this to be possible students often struggle to stay on top of their priorities. This requires sacrifices and can often lead to burn out and extreme stress. 

“I’ve definitely experienced burn-out, and addressing it is knowing when you need to take time gathering your thoughts instead of letting everything pile up,” shared boys track captain Sam Skinner.

Captains of all sports take on the responsibility of influencing the underclassmen who constantly look up to them. “Leading by example, doing good in your classes and on the track makes more of an impact than you think,” Skinner added.

Balancing both academics and sports at a young age can definitely be difficult. As students grow older they learn new techniques to manage time better, but many wish they had known the same strategies when they were younger. 

“Don’t make your sport the only thing, have other hobbies and other things that you do,” Sophomore Kady Gamble advised. As a swimmer and a member of the tennis team Gamble mentions how it can be easy to get caught up in many commitments and lose track of the enjoyment. Finding and maintaining that personal balance is necessary to success as a student-athlete.  

Staying motivated while dealing with personal, academic and sport commitments can prove to be challenging. When discussing how to keep teammates motivated, “ Encouragement at practice is a big thing… it’s okay to reach out and ask for help,” Senior Maddie Chorney and girls track captain provided.

While being a student-athlete has its ups and downs, it can be a very beneficial aspect of your teenage years. It takes a lot of balancing, focusing on school and sports simultaneously. But overall, most student-athletes are able to keep steady throughout their highschool experience.