The student news site of Pleasant Valley High School

Spartan Shield

The student news site of Pleasant Valley High School

Spartan Shield

The student news site of Pleasant Valley High School

Spartan Shield

A letter to student athletes

The Miami Hurricanes prepare for a game.
Mark Light (Wikipedia)
The Miami Hurricanes prepare for a game.

Dear student athletes,

In a world where you’re expected to perform in sports and get good grades in the classroom all while maintaining a healthy social life, it is easy to become overwhelmed. When you’re constantly performing in the spotlight with high expectations, it feels like the weight of the world is resting on your shoulders. 

As high school athletes, we are expected to get good grades and set a good example for younger athletes looking up to us. This can be extremely difficult when you have countless assignments piling up, and the feeling of duress begins to set in.

When you let all of these pile up, anxiety will hit you. Anxiety is the feeling of fear, dread and uneasiness. According to medlineplus.gov “[anxiety] might cause you to sweat, feel restless and tense and have a rapid heartbeat.”

Senior baseball player Ryan Groenenboom understands the pressures student athletes face. “It is really hard; oftentimes you’ll have a couple assignments and big projects due in a week jam packed with a big game, and it is a lot to handle having to get it all done, and it can be very stressful and can make athletes anxious,” he said.

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress, but the way you deal with these obstacles is what determines whether you are able to be a successful student athlete or not. When the pressure and stress build up, it is important to keep calm and apply extra focus to your everyday life.

It can be helpful to make checklists of everything you need to do for school or around the house. This way it becomes easier to complete all of your tasks and manage your time. This will also allow you to not have to worry about these things while you compete in your sport helping you relax and relieving pressure and stress in game.

In the case where you might not perform your best on a particular day it is best to shake it off and not worry about it too much. Senior baseball player Drew Micek stated, “You can’t allow yourself to get rattled and lose confidence. Once the doubt in your mind sets in it will mess with you for the rest of your season.”

It is important to relax and be confident in order to perform your best. Student athletes face a ton of pressure on a daily basis. Their response to this pressure is what separates the successful ones from the ones who struggle to keep up. It is best to plan and manage time wisely in order to limit stress from school and perform the best you possibly can.

If you feel as though the pressures and stresses are getting to you, it is important to seek help. If you are considering causing self harm or are struggling with anxiety please call 800-273-8255 for help.

Leave a Comment
Donate to Spartan Shield
$480
$1000
Contributed
Our Goal

Your donation will support the student journalists of Pleasant Valley High School in Bettendorf, Iowa. Your contribution will allow us to purchase needed equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

More to Discover
About the Contributor
Carson Knebel, Student Life Editor
Carson Knebel is currently an active senior at Pleasant Valley High School and works as the Student Life Editor of the Spartan Shield. Carson is excited to expand his horizons and challenge his abilities this year by working on the Spartan Shield. Throughout his high school career, Carson has enjoyed competing with the Pleasant Valley Baseball team as a pitcher. Outside of school, he relaxes at home with his parents, brother and dog. Carson’s hobbies include listening to music and hanging out with his friends. When not engaged in the previous activities, Carson can be found working at Dick’s Sporting Goods where he serves as support staff for online orders. In the future, Carson plans to continue his education at North Iowa Area Community College. Carson is looking forward to contributing to the Spartan Shield!
Donate to Spartan Shield
$480
$1000
Contributed
Our Goal

Comments (0)

All Spartan Shield Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Activate Search
A letter to student athletes