Student-Athlete

I’ve got two words for you: Student-Athlete.   A student athlete is a person who combines their talents on the field for a specified sport and in the classroom.  Some people don’t understand the pride, effort, and passion it takes to represent your school.  I was fortunate enough to be a part of the William Paterson University soccer team that has excelled beyond our expectations this season.

            The professor, Coach Brian Woods, is our teacher on the soccer field, mapping out strategic plays and daily scouting reports on our opponents.  He knew we were going to be this good even during the beginning of the season; As well as our other coaches Anthony Pulizzano, Raffaele Lauretta, and Alex Wanless.  Any athlete on a sports team knows the concept of sports as a learning process.  There are many similarities between working on the field and working in the classroom. 

A student athlete must have a great deal of responsibility.  We are constantly on the run from prepping for tests and attending training sessions to joining clubs for the school and most importantly, from a coaches perspective, showing up on game time.  A determined mindset or work ethic is needed in order to succeed in becoming a student athlete.

We, as student athletes, must be accountable for our school work.  A certain G.P.A standard is now at a 2.5 in order to continue playing with a collegiate team.  This is when that determined mind set creeps in, persuading you to get the work done.  The determination has to come from inside of you just like sliding for a loose ball and kicking it in the back of the net for the game winner.  You will feel, emotionally and mentally, the satisfaction of getting the job done.  Sacrifices are mandatory in order for positive outcomes to occur. 

A student athlete’s best reward is the appreciation we receive from others.  The sense of knowing that we are representing the badges on our chests, along with the people of our school, is a phenomenal feeling.  It is another ingredient of the formula in winning games.  Don’t get fooled by the stereotypes that athletes are jocks and could care less about their education.  Those people have no respect, clearly blinded by ignorance.  They have no attempt in viewing both sides of the story.  The student athlete’s side consists of responsibility and representation.  We want our school to be on the world’s radar.