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By Chris Wray, C'18

Congratulations! As a student-athlete at the Mount you are one of the very few in the nation who have the opportunity to compete in college athletics at the highest level. According to the NCAA, only 2.4 percent of high school women’s soccer players, and only 1 percent of high school men’s basketball players will play at a Division I institution. Even in other sports the percentages are not much higher.  

Being an athlete in college is in some ways the same and in some ways very different from high school. There are many more people there are to support you, but the pressure is greater.  

Here are 10 tips on how to thrive at the Mount as a student-athlete.

1) Don’t Be Afraid Of Change

Be versatile in your endeavors, be open to many different opportunities and challenges, and understand that you control your platform which builds connections. It’s not a bad thing to step out of your comfort zone, so be open for change. Just because it’s comfortable for you doesn’t mean that it’s beneficial.

2) Manage Your Time

Understand that in college your schedule will be set but there’s nobody to make you go through it. Figure out a way to become organized especially with assignments. You can use the planner, an app or something else, and make sure you check all of your syllabi. You can run short on time quickly if you’re not careful.

3) Get To Know Your Professors

Professors will know of you, but they will not know who you are until you decide to let them know. Being able to talk to professors about your academic and career goals gives them the opportunity to find out your strengths and weaknesses in the classroom and find out what they can do to help you be successful.

4) Find Out What Interests You

There are lots of different ways to get involved at the Mount, so don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. Coming into college with an open mind can help you find out what you are truly interested in and get a jump-start on building your career path.

5) Remove Outside Distractions

Limit your outside sources and their opinions. Although family, friends, and coaches have your best interest at heart sometimes it will not be what’s best for you. These people that are close to you are not a part of the team, so they do not see the things that you go through with your team - they only see what they believe is best for you.

6) Building Relationships

In college, there are many assignments, due dates, lessons and notes. Some of these you may miss because of travel or just not understand. This is the time when it’s necessary to have a good support system that understands this and can help get you back on track.

7) Every Question Is A Good One

College is full of situations that present openings intended for many questions, so take full advantage of this. Don’t be afraid of an uncomfortable situation or confrontation either. Being able to address things and keep them in-house makes the biggest difference.   

8) Stay Organized/On Top Of Things  

The things you do now determine how things will go for you in the future, and all situations are connected. If you are unorganized and stressed out with school it will carry over into your sport without you even noticing it but your coaches can tell. Some decisions you make come from an understanding that your sport is one of the biggest factors that should be taken into account.

9) Build Accountability

Be accountable for yourself first then do the same for others. Understand that your decisions will have consequences no matter how small you may think they are and it’s on you to make sure that no matter what you are prepared. Once you are able to successfully do this make sure you bring others along with you.

10) Trust The Process

Understand that the coaches and trainers are professionals in what they do. Believe in what they tell you because they are here not only to win but to help you become a better person both mentally and physically. 

Conclusion

“Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today”

I hope these tips help you find comfort and serenity in the Mount and all of its diverse resources. There is no better time than now to use this advice to your advantage - talk to your professors, teammates, and most importantly your coaches. Don’t be afraid to ask questions- in the end we will only regret the things we did not do. If there are any other questions or concerns that you may have visit our website www.msmary.edu.

Share this article with your current and incoming teammates and stay tuned for a video in the near future!