Sports are where you meet new friends, embrace new challenges, and create lifelong memories. However, playing a sport, especially during high school, takes a lot of commitment.
Some people have tight schedules and, because of that, aren’t able to continue their sport due to prioritizing academics and extracurriculars in preparation for college.
However, some people have found ways and methods to overcome this difficulty.
“My grades were dropping that year, and I wasn’t getting that much sleep, so I decided to make the tough decision of quitting football,” said senior Nicholas Yanney, who played Frosh and JV football two years ago.
“Ever since I quit football, going home and focusing on my studies and homework have been way easier than before,” Yanney said.
The difficulty with playing high school sports is that games can be on weekdays and most practices are right after school, which leads to students having tight schedules.
Some students have found ways to balance academics and sports.
“I try to be as efficient as I can with my time by not wasting it, and trying to get my work done as quickly as possible, leaving spare time for cross country,” said freshman Gregory Shechter.
Shecter has found himself a successful start to high school with his ability to prioritize and use his time wisely.
“I try to use the extra time I have in class to get homework done in other classes, and it has so far been working out pretty well for me,” Shechter said.
For incoming freshmen, the jump from middle school to high school is pretty wide, with less free time in high school due to more classes, more stress, and just more things on students plates.
“I’ve noticed that in high school, I’ve been studying way more in advance, which has been a big contributor to my grades,” said freshman Kenna Woo.
“Since Song is during school hours, I’m able to finish my homework and study enough outside of school, which has led me to have a pretty successful start to the year,” Woo said.
When it comes to balancing out your academics with your sport, there is not a formula for success.
“Any free time you have should be utilized towards getting assignments done so you have more free time, and procrastination is always your enemy,” Shechter said.
It all comes down to one’s commitment and how you decide to use your time.