Kalani High School student-athletes experience pressure trying to excel at both school and their sport, with so much to focus on and such little time.
Coming into the school year student-athletes need to make the important decision on what they need to focus on, school or sports. It’s important to know that without passing grades you cannot play your sport. Kalani students struggle to find a balance between academics, sports, jobs, volunteer work, clubs, and personal life.
According to a Panorama survey given to Kalani students this year 73% say they are successful at managing their thoughts and behaviors. That is up 5% from last year’s results.
“During school season you practice for about 2 hours a day everyday and it’s kind of hard because you get tired and then you still have to do homework,” Sarah Miyazawa (12) says.
Playing in high school can be a great experience. You get to meet new people, create memories, and be a part of something.
“I found a way to find a change in myself from freshman year to now and found many new friends and supporters along the way,” Tomo Hiroyamada (12) states.
The Kalani football team came together to pray before their big game against our rivals Kaiser.
Despite the stress, baseball player Simon says “the grind” makes him happy.
“I would never wish for a different life,” Simon says. “I think the life I’m living right now is picture perfect and it’s a life that I enjoy living.
Some students have to try just as hard to go to their dream school for their sport —or any school for that matter — so focusing on both academics and athletics equally is essential.
“All semester I had heavily neglected one of my classes and it progressively got worse,” a college student — says in an op-ed in The Knight Times. I nearly failed that class because it was not for pulling away from sports after ECC’s to focus on my schoolwork.
Andrea Rivera says that finding a balance is hard in college.
Is being a student athlete worth it even if you’re not going to the next level?
“I would love to play college baseball as well as professional baseball one day…I don’t care what division D1, D2, D3, junior college, just whoever wants me I’ll take that spot on the team,” Vaughn Simon (11) says.
