Balancing School With Club Sports

- Mikhail Maslov

Being a student-athlete can be extremely difficult at times, especially the challenge of having to juggle sports and school work. Monday through Thursday I arrive home late, usually around 9:00pm - 9:30pm, meaning I often end up starting my homework at around 10:00pm. Of course, this means I seldom ever have enough time to do my work thoroughly and get a good night's sleep. Despite this, here are a few ways I combat this.

During the school week, I have seven free periods in my schedule (four of them being PE). I use these times wisely, knowing that I will not have much time to do work in the evening when I arrive home. For me, the library is the best place to work as I can sit at group tables if I ever need to ask a friend for help or have any questions. I think that the best places to sit, if I need silence, are the single cubicles on the second floor of the library. I listen to music as it helps to block any sounds and allows me to focus on the work in front of me instead of what is happening around me.

Once school is over, I usually try to get work done on the bus. If I have an essay to work on or something to read online, I use my phone or laptop if necessary. I do not go home straight away, as I first have to attend swim practice. Before practice, I try to do any other work I did not get to finish at school during my free periods, such as taking notes or reading hard copy articles. My swim practices range from two and a half hours to three hours long, and moreover, it takes another hour for me to get home. 

Another method I use to help diminish the struggles of having such a busy schedule, is trying to minimize the amount of work I have during the week by completing it on weekends. I check my teachers’ websites and see what the homework for the upcoming week is. This allows me to get ahead of my work.

Granted, these tricks will not magically allow me to get nine or ten hours of sleep, or help me coast through the school year effortlessly, but they enable me to relieve myself of unnecessary stress and manage my time effectively.