Which came first? The student or the athlete?

Aniecia Brewster
Staff Writer

Growing up I was always told that academics come before playing sports but now it seems that being an athlete comes first.  This is a catch 22 considering that if you don’t have the grades, then you can’t compete.

Don’t get me wrong, I love being an athlete. From the adrenaline rush you get when you compete and win to traveling around the world. I really like being able to see other Olympian runners at the same track and field meets that I’m attending too.

I’m a student-athlete. Did you check the first word? Student! A student is a person who is studying at a school or college, such as: scholar, undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral fellow, freshman, sophomore, junior, senior… a college student.

I’m a student-athlete. Did you check the second word? Athlete! An athlete is a person who is proficient in sports and other forms of physical exercise, such as: sportsman, sportswoman, sportsperson; jock; Olympian; runner… the school’s top athletes.

If you listen to most coaches, you’re an athlete first and then a student. Your ability in sports is what is paying for you attend school.  If you were not an athlete, would you really have the money for school?

People really do not understand the long, tiring days a student-athlete has on a daily basis because in college, the sport is defiantly all-year around. You breath, eat and sleep your sport.

But is sports really your life? In my opinion, sports is life.  It’s paying for my academics and allowing me to participate in something I love, track and field.

But sometimes I do have those days that I just don’t want to deal with track and field anymore because I have a load of school work to do and I’m tired; physically, mentally and emotionally.

We practice Monday through Friday. Starting in August and ending in May or June depending on how far you make it pass the SWAC Outdoor Championship. Then you still have to train during the summer because your off-season is what sets the tone for your in-season results.

This is the life of an athlete. Some people couldn’t handle the things we go through just for the love of our sport.

Along with the obvious benefits, sports is great way to stay in shape and healthy. It is also a business that produces millions for our nation. Sport gives a ton of employments to individuals and the components inside of game or field of play.

Coaches might think that we are athlete-students but in reality we are just regular student-athletes who handle business in the classroom and field of play.

Is sports really life? Yes! Sports prepare you for any task that comes your way in a difficult situation.

I’m proud to say that I love being a student-athlete.