The Early Wake-Up Call: A Student-Athlete's Routine
The Early Wake-Up Call: A Student-Athlete's Routine
What a day in my life looks like as a Drury Swimmer!
Waking up at the crack of dawn for swim practice is just part of the routine for a student-athlete. After rolling out of bed at 5:30 am, it is time to walk over to Breech Pool for a morning workout before the school day begins. Most of my classmates are probably still asleep by the time I get out of the water. Waking up before the sun even rises never gets easier, especially when you are about to jump in an ice-cold pool. But once you are done it feels nice – accomplishing something first thing in the morning sets me up for having a good rest of my day. Even though my body might feel tired, my brain and mind are clear and ready to work hard in class.
After practice I refuel with breakfast before heading to my 9 am class - the first out of four of the day. At 11 am I have my two classes down, then it's time to head back home to eat lunch.
At 1 pm it’s time for my first afternoon class. After a long morning, it's difficult to not have a bit of an afternoon slump during this time. Between cramming in lectures, refueling with a quick snack, and trying to stay alert, it's a constant balancing act. All are part of the student-athlete lifestyle. At the end of the day, you're doing what you love - hitting the books and the field.
After class finishes at 3 pm, I have to rush to the pool to get there on time. The most special part about being a swimmer at Drury is my teammates. They inspire me to be better every day. The way that we all care for each other and encourage each other to accomplish our common goals makes me feel like we are all one big family.
After practice, I have dinner at Commons with my teammates. After a long day of classes and workouts, it's nice to wind down, have dinner, and chat with all my friends. After this, I usually go to the Olin Library with some teammates to get some homework done.
When homework is finished and the clock strikes 9 pm, I’m already in bed. A day as a student-athlete is often long and hectic, but very manageable if you plan your time right. I think living like this is very rewarding. Not only do you train your body, but you also train your brain. After all, balancing academics with swimming is mostly a mental challenge. Having the willpower to have time for everything, and showing up every day with your best efforts is a valuable asset that I hope to keep with me for the rest of my life. Even though I’m tired and stressed a lot of the time, I wouldn’t want to have it any other way.
