10 Struggles of Returning to Student-Athlete Life

Photo Courtesy: Dan Worden

By Erin Himes, Swimming World College Intern

It’s that time of year again when college athletes struggle to get back into student-athlete life. And while it can be so much fun once you settle in, the struggles of balancing two identities seem twice as hard these first few weeks. Here’s the top ten (of way too many) struggles of getting back in the swing of things:

1. Learning how to wake up early again.

Blonde lying in bed and hitting alarm clock

Photo Courtesy: Huffington Post

Being up before the sun doesn’t really get any easier, no matter how many years you’ve been doing it. After a summer of sleeping in, waking up at the crack of dawn after a night of studying is nearly impossible.

2. Adjusting to intense, competitive workouts.

Photo Courtesy: Robin Sparf

Racing feels the same as warming up for the first few days back in the water. When your coach says race, you know you’re about to experience a lot of hurt with very few results.

3. Remembering how to do swim math again.

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr / Swimming Australia Ltd.

Calculating intervals and breaking down splits in your head takes no time by the end of the season, but right now it’s like rocket science. Not only is school hurting your brain, practice is, too.

4. Dealing with the aches and pains.

Belinda Hocking showing the strain of another hard set of training. University of Auburn Aquatic Centre, Alabama USA. Australian Olympic Swimming Team are in their final training staging Camp before heading over to the Rio2016 Olympic Games. July 29 2016. Photo by Delly Carr. Pic credit mandatory for complimentary exclusive editorial usage. Thank You.

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr / Swimming Australia Ltd.

You forgot you need to set aside a chunk of time everyday to ice your shoulder, stretch, or figuring out how to roll out of bed when you’re sore. While Michael Phelps may have helped the world understand those weird cupping marks you have on your back, you doubt your classmates know how much effort goes into dealing with all the pain. Suddenly, those days of summer vacations feel really, really distant.

5. Walking to and from class after a hard workout.

neale-exhaustion-tired-lay-lie-down-post-race

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr / Swimming Australia Ltd.

In the summer, working out is followed by recovering. During the school year, you have to climb stairs or run across campus to get to class on time. Ow.

6. Putting the student back in student-athlete.

Photo Courtesy: CJ, flickr

Ten a.m. isn’t early. But 10 a.m. is an extremely hard hour to endure after you’ve already done a soul-crushing swim and an hour-long lift. Getting through class and the work that follows it is undeniably one of the hardest student-athlete adjustments every single fall.

7. Letting go of your promise to “actually look presentable” for class this year.

Photo Courtesy: Annie Grevers

You’re hair will never dry for class. Your professors may not recognize you if it did. Now that the first few weeks have settled down and you’re swimming in new athletic gear, you’ve likely accepted this as your new 24/7 wardrobe.

8. Setting aside enough money to feed yourself.

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That swimmer’s appetite is back and stronger than ever and any income you had during the summer has likely halted or been reduced. The struggle of keeping up with caloric needs while being economical has returned.

9. Studying after your second practice of the day.

stressed-student

Attempting to get all your homework done without letting your head hit the pillow is the hardest part of the day, especially when those workouts are taking an extra heavy toll on your body.

10. Remembering it won’t be this hard forever.

Photo Courtesy: Kenneth Chung

You’ll get there. You will. One day you’ll be back in shape and these struggles will feel normal. In the mean time, keep pushing through and embracing student-athlete life.

All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.

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9 Comments

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Charlene Tallen

7 years ago

Alison Tallen?

Helen Bartsch

7 years ago

Lachlan Bartsch

Ce Cil

7 years ago

Jacob Matthew

Michelle Reed Binkauskas

7 years ago

Michael Binkauskas, #8 seems especially true!!

Denise Leonard Rosen

7 years ago

Great article!! I need to share this with Nick. It’s tough getting into the student-athlete life freshman year!

Sarah Dodge

7 years ago

High school swimmers too!

Cynthia Gordy

7 years ago

Great article, Erin!!

Cynthia Gordy

7 years ago

Fantastic article, Erin!! I need to pass this on to Julian. He just finished three weeks of 6 a.m.’s.

Helen Nelligan

7 years ago

Tied just reading about it obviously not doing it. Makes one appreciate the work of student-athletes. Love hearing all about it.