Student-athletes have a tough job: balance classes, homework, team practices, and games – on a daily basis. Finding this balance is difficult, but extremely rewarding for the students who are successful.
This year, 26 student-athletes from ENC are receiving Academic All-Commonwealth Coast Conference honors from varying sports.
This honor is awarded to student-athletes who receive a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3. Many students from each athletic team, male and female, achieved this academic award.
For athletes, their job as a student is tied closely to their sport. When asked, three academically successful athletes shared advice on how they maintain their grades while playing sports, citing time management skills and strict discipline in helping them to achieve good grades.
Although freshman cannot receive the Academic All-CCC Honor, two freshman who received Dean’s List and Honor’s last semester shared how they stay remain academically successful while being an athlete.
For freshman women’s soccer player Gabriella Schmidt (Rochester, N.Y.), constant reminders of being a positive part of a team became a huge part of her success.
“It is easy to complain about waking up early for practices or about how tired you are in the afternoon when you juggle between your team and school, but a positive attitude goes a long way,” Schmidt said.
A positive attitude isn’t all it takes to balance athletics and academics. Junior volleyball player Julianna Cameron (Moultonborough, N.H.) mentioned that keeping a written schedule was a huge factor in their academic achievements.
“You have to be really smart with your time and very organized with your work in order to manage everything, but it is worth it,” Cameron added.
Freshman women’s tennis player Jordan Cressman (Bowmanstown, Pa.) also stressed the importance of sticking to a schedule.
“I would schedule my class times, gym time, work, and the rest would be dedicated homework,” Cressman shared.
In addition to the class and practice schedule, Cressman also added a very important part of the college life: naps.
Athletics isn’t just time consuming for college students − it actually can help them academically. A study done at the University of British Columbia found that “regular exercise appears to boost the brain area involved in verbal memory and learning, and regular exercise changes brain to improve memory and thinking skills.”
“Getting a daily exercise definitely helps learning. You’re more awake, you have more energy, and it keeps you in shape,” added Cressman.
Though these athletes received the spotlight, anyone with the right mindset, tangible goals, and a planner can strive to be an athlete on the Honor’s List, and perhaps someday achieve an Academic All-CCC Honor.