Julia Der

A boys varsity basketball game versus a load of math and English homework.

Five assignments due in the span of 48 hours, six more are marked as missing on Google Classroom, a 2-hour practice is scheduled for later and there will be a far-away game after school that goes late into the night. 

Student athletes are not only kids who spend their time working and strengthening their bodies, but also scholars trying their best to keep up with schoolwork. 

As a student athlete myself, I can attest to how much of a struggle it is to juggle between each job. In middle school, being on the volleyball or softball team was a lot easier than it is now in high school. It’s a common experience, considering high school is more serious and intense and the workload increases.

Soccer player and sophomore Ben Yasko said there is pressure pleasing a coach as well as winning a game. Turning in a big project on time also results in being overwhelmed. 

Baruch coaches acknowledge this kind of challenge but also point out some ways students can be supported mentally. 

Teammates and coaches can connect by experiencing the same feeling of loss or victory after a game. Yasko said it creates “good friendships in different grade levels.” 

Mike Breman said relationships build rather quickly in team sports. He is the dean of BCCHS and has coached three sports teams at the school. He led the Boys Varsity Soccer team for seven years, Varsity Wrestling for eight and Boys Varsity Baseball for five.

Joining a team sport at Baruch can be challenging, but many agree it is a great experience as long as you manage your time.

Senior Aidan Wood, who is the captain of the boy’s soccer team, said the sport is “more mental than it is physical.” Because of this challenge, he said he had trouble managing an AP Comparative Government and Politics assignment while also thinking about a big game coming up. 

How can we split our time to incorporate both responsibilities? 

According to the New York Times article, Procrastinate Much? Manage Your emotions, Not Your Time by Adam Grant, procrastination is linked to our emotions, meaning we stall for time if we are anxious or dreading the upcoming tasks. To avoid this, we must change our mindsets which can alter our habits into healthier ones.

“I just try to do my homework as soon as I get home from school or practice, so I can get it over with,” said Ben Yasko.

But, it is understandable that this method is daunting to some, including me. I developed my own beneficial strategies that align with my lifestyle.

I had a hard time adjusting to my new habits, but the more consistent I became, the easier it got for me. The outcomes were promising. Here are a few tips that helped me:

1. Try the 1! 2! 3! method. Clear your mind and just blank everything out. Then, on three, jump up and do whatever task you need to do, without hesitation. Telling your mind to just follow orders with no questions asked makes it easier to complete your assignment.
2. Plan a very specific goal for yourself so you finish your work. For instance, “At 4:05 I will get up and go do my Earth science homework and finish that email I meant to send.”  More particular goals will make you more eager about finishing the job.
3. Just “pure” pressure. Understand the consequences of not finishing your work and let these motivate you to make time for those tasks; school is important and learning helps improve yourself for the future.

Taking care of your body with exercises and sports as such is just as important as working out your mind and keeping your brain fresh and smart.