Photo by Vince Fleming on Unsplash

By Abby Shenouda

Every student athlete has felt the unmatched busyness of the September to November season. With so many primary sports starting and finishing, the overwhelming feeling of school starting again hones in on students participating in fall sports, while still signing up for clubs and just making it to midterm. This feeling forces students to throw themselves head-first into the deep-end of student life and try to stay afloat. For this week’s student life article, I took a deep dive into what our Titans are achieving, on and off the field, court, and track.

Currently, there are 10 sports teams running at St. Augustine, not including those that have just finished their season and the new tryouts being posted daily. These teams include golf, tennis, basketball, soccer, volleyball, cross country, field hockey, and swimming. We have both girls and boys teams, as well as a mix of varsity and Junior/Senior teams.

But what do the students have to say about this “school-sport” balance? Here is a statement from a grade eleven student who comments on being part of a team that is currently in playoffs, while still having an academic obligation.

“As a student athlete I have learned to balance my studies while also being on the basketball team. It’s important to prioritize school work but you also have to keep in mind that being on a team requires dedication and commitment.”

The student continues to emphasize the benefits of being involved, especially as a student athlete, with her further comment:

“I have luckily found this balance and have been able to get my work done as well as being part of a team where I have made so many friends and have been having so much fun!”

But what about before you even make the team? The required preparation for trying out for various sports can also add pressure to students. Another grade eleven student comments on this anticipation:

“The grade I’m in also adds to the difficulty of balancing sports and academics. Finding time to practice for tryouts while making sure I have enough time for school work is often a struggle.”

Both students are in arguably the most crucial year of high school, and maintain their dedication to our sports teams amidst difficult courses, decisions about their futures, and other commitments both in and out of school. To conclude, check-in on your friends and yourselves– no Titan walks alone. Stay involved, Titans!