As the athletic seasons are starting up, the struggles that our student athletes encounter during the season starts to grow.
Many of our star athletes on campus are academically inclined and are busy outside of school from being in clubs like California Scholarship Federation (CSF) or Future Farmers of America (FFA), or even having a job to save for their future.
Addison Meldon (11), who plays varsity volleyball, is an engaged student and FFA reporter who said, “The hardest part of being a student athlete would be the work missed in classes due to leaving early.” Meldon leaves school to go to FFA events and report on issues in our community that FFA is trying to solve.
As an athlete a lot of time outside of school is taken up with practices and games when others are able to use that time to complete homework and study for tests.
Joshua Gargano (12), plays varsity football and baseball. He explained what he does to stay academically inclined. “I sometimes have to do homework on the bus rides back from games, and over the weekend, I normally have to take time to complete the work I missed.”
All students are given a period out of the day, Pride Time, to use to make up tests, homework, or get extra learning hours. Many athletes take advantage of this by scheduling their hardest classes in order to make up tests and stay caught up.
Julianne Gurgen (11), plays varsity tennis, balances sports, academics, and a photography business. She believes that the key to keeping your grades up is, “Stay on top of your work and don’t get lazy.”
Many athletes believe that academics and athletics take a lot of extra work to excel in both.
Gavin Blackwood Estrada (12), who plays varsity football and baseball, transferred from Dos Palos High school and believes, “Academics are valued way more here than at Dos Palos High school especially when it comes to coaches and playing time for the sports.”
Some tips for freshmen from their upper classmen include the following: take advantage of Pride Time whenever you can, don’t get lazy, get a notebook just to write down your list of priorities for the day and cross off as you complete the tasks, complete your homework early and often, try to not over stress about homework, respect your teachers, and enjoy the challenges. And most importantly, ask for help. Ask friends in your class and ask your teachers. They are here to help make students successful.
