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When playing a sport in college, it is very exciting, but it is also nerve wrecking. You’re coming into a new environment, playing the sport you love with new coaches and new teammates. It’s a lot to adjust to, but the most important factor about playing sports and going to college is managing your time. A lot of questions come to mind. How do you manage time between schoolwork and games? Is the work unbearably stressful? What do you do when you have a test and an away game on the same day? What do I tell my professors when I have to miss class for an alternate event? All these questions are answered from first-hand experience to help you prepare for your future as a student-athlete.  

HOW DO YOU MANAGE TIME?

Time managing sheets help the most or a planner. Write down when you have games and practice. Write down what days you have exams and assignments due.

IS THE WORK STRESSFUL?

The work can be stressful but staying on top of tasks and assignments and even trying to get them completed early can reduce stress. If you have an assignment due Thursday night and you know you’re going to be traveling that night, turn it in a day early.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE A TEST ON THE SAME DAY AS AN AWAY GAME?

Most professors prefer you to take the test during their office hours. You can email them or talk to them in person and set up a time when you’re both available and get it finished.

WHAT DO I TELL MY PROFESSORS WHEN I HAVE TO MISS CLASS FOR GAMES?

Most professors are notified that you are going to be missing class, but they appreciate to hear from you personally. Tell them you will be absent for the class due to a game and that you will get the notes from somebody or whatever it may be to make up for missing that day.

Here at the University of Pikeville, we interviewed Autumn Meade, a senior volleyball player, to give you some insight of her experience as a student athlete. Down below are the questions asked and her responses:

HOW DID YOU MANAGE YOUR WORK THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND VOLLEYBALL AT THE SAME TIME?

 “My first two years I didn’t have much of a social life, I spent a lot of time making connections with upper classmen and professors. I spent a lot of my time in tutoring lounge in the library. Time management was mainly picking and choosing what’s better for you at the time.”

ARE PROFESSORS UNDERSTANDING WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING UP TESTS AND ASSIGNMENTS?

“I had both professors on both ends of the spectrum. I had some professors that were super chill about me missing and they would let me come in early or late and make up exams or quizzes. But then I also had professors that said I was going to get a zero and better luck next time. It really depends on the professor.”

HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU FEEL OVERWHELMED DURING VOLLEYBALL SEASON BECAUSE OF CLASS WORK?

“I often felt overwhelmed my sophomore and junior year because I had to take a bunch of stat classes like histology and organic chemistry. Sometimes it’s just a lot of hard classes all at once.”

IS IT WORTH IT?

“It’s definitely worth it because you get to make great connections, you get to do what you love, and you get paid for it.”