I know many people in high school question whether they want to continue playing sports in college or not. I remember being asked that question ad nauseam and the follow up would undoubtedly be, “you know that’s a huge time commitment right?”. Playing basketball, lacrosse, and a hint of rowing in high school was fun, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to keep doing it in college. I had always been athletic, but I was excited to try new things entering the new life that is college. However, I started to miss my athletics and made the decision to row here at UMass Amherst. Here are a few things that have gone through my mind during my first year as a D1 athlete.
Commitment, but it gets easier.
When I first started rowing, I’ll admit, the time commitment was intense. When in season, I commit at least 3 hours a day to practicing, not including the time it takes to get to practice, change, and return and shower. It felt like I was just going through the motions rather than taking the time to breathe and ask myself, “Am I enjoying this?” The first semester flew by actually, but I’ve noticed a shift coming back for second semester. I’m now used to my crazy schedule and it’s easier to manage because of that. I find myself smiling more at practice and taking the time to enjoy it rather than get through it.
Balance is the key to survival.
I think it’s very important to find time in my life to be separate from rowing. Like I said, I spend at least 3 hours a day thinking only of rowing and being with people that are doing the same. My roommates are not on the rowing team, so it’s nice to come back to my room and talk about other things whereas when I’m with my teammates, we often talk about the sport. I enjoy talking about rowing for sure, but I think it’s necessary to purposefully step away from it so I don’t feel as though my life is consumed by the sport.
The shift into second semester.
If you are a future collegiate athlete, you might at first feel on the outside before you fit in with the groove of the team and that’s totally okay! My first semester was about settling in and getting used to this crazy new schedule. Like I said before, it was hard to know if you enjoy something before actually getting to know it. Coming back for second semester I definitely felt a shift. My body and mind are stronger which helps me feel more confident with the team which then translates to me being happier. My schedule is crazy, yes, but I know how to handle it well now which makes this easier and happier.
These first few weeks of second semester have made me feel lucky to be a part of such a strong community and team within such a big school. I’ve gotten to show myself how strong physically and mentally I can be when I put my mind to it. It’s exciting to reconnect with my athletics and I’m extremely happy that I feel as though I have found a healthy balance between them and the rest of my life. And if you’re afraid that this could be a problem for you, just give it some time.