The only thing worse than having eight pages of homework and three tests to study for is having to do it after.  Although there aren’t many students who don’t take sports, there’s an even smaller group of student varsity athletes taking high level courses. Junior Shaan Patel has late night games and study sessions as a member of the varsity football team but he manages to balance it well. 

“Football gives me a good balance: it really teaches me time management,” Patel said. “I chose to have a study hall as well.” 

But there’s more to just cramming school work  to get good enough grades. Athletes have to really understand and create their schedule in a unique way that works for them and allows them to succeed. Some athletes take a study hall, early release, or late arrival to help them have a properly balanced day. There’s an important reason to do both school and sports on such a high level, and that is to pave the way to a good college.  Athletes demonstrate their academic performance or sport to get into a school they wouldn’t get an acceptance too. This is true for senior Connor Jones, who has obtained a swimming scholarship to Stanford university.

“My dream was always the Olympics,” Jones said. “I haven’t let go of that dream but I’ve just refocused towards Swimming Division 1 in college.”

On top of studying, student athletes also have to make sure they’re always in good shape for their sport. When they’re studying they give it their all, and it’s the same as when they’re practicing or playing. For them, everyday is an endless grind to achieve their dreams and goals, but that endless high paced worth ethic can be draining on anyone. 

“There are struggle days and they happen more frequently than people would like to admit but [you] just [need to find]  the time to do something you really love…, to take a moment to debrief and refocus yourself,” Jones said.