After fourth period ends, many San Luis Obispo High School student athletes walk towards the sports that take up many of their after school hours. Photo courtesy of freshman Joe DiBiase.
At San Luis Obispo High School, a significant number of students are fully immersed in sporting activities like Water Polo, Volleyball, Dance, and more. These commitments are not just shaping their lifestyles; they are driving student-athletes to dedicate time and effort outside of school to excel in their sports careers.
While these substantial commitments can sometimes challenge academic performance, they also foster resilience and determination among students, motivating them to strive for excellence in both school and their chosen sport.
“I love doing volleyball because it’s fun and I get to hang out with my friends, but it’s also hard to get my school work done after school because my practices end at 8:00 pm, and I still have to shower and eat dinner before I can do my homework,” said freshman Kate Fouhy.
Late practices and the exhaustion that follows can significantly take a toll on the amount of time dedicated to homework. This often leads to higher levels of stress that aren’t typically experienced by students who aren’t involved in sports. The issue of students being “overscheduled” is real; it can lead to overstimulation and may trigger anxiety or even early signs of depression as they attempt to maintain a balanced schedule. It is crucial to address these challenges to promote wellness among student athletes.
“We can balance schoolwork and activities by staying on top of our work when we get time and making sure we get enough sleep so we have energy for school and swimming,” said junior Henry Esola.
Taking time to complete lengthy assignments and spend consecutive hours daily trying to make the due dates can be hard for students, but when we take the time and make the important things our top priority, it can make a world of difference.
“I spend five hours outside of school dancing when I have rehearsals, but on any other occasion, it is three hours,” said freshman Brittany Clark.
Engaging in vigorous activities during or after school hours can impact students’ academic performance and mental health by replacing schoolwork time with sports. If we prioritize academics or improve our time management as a society, we may see better grades in school.
We can see that students involved in sports must work hard to achieve success in both areas. The main challenge is balancing time and space for schoolwork while ensuring it remains the top priority for academic achievement.
In the future, it may be beneficial for more students to establish a routine that allows adequate time for each aspect to achieve the best results.
Sources: haywoodchristianacademy.org, nea.org
