Being an athlete as a high school student has many pros and cons when it comes to playing sports and having after-school activities. In this article, students will talk about their lives as athletes and the pros and cons of their days. Making these commitments takes a lot of time and discipline to keep performance up both on the field and in the classroom.

We talked to Urbana High School football wide receiver Kiegan Rupinta about the life of a student-athlete and some of the biggest challenges he’s faced over the last three years at Urbana. Kiegan said, “Getting to school on time every day during the season, even after big games or late practices, is the hardest thing to do when playing sports.” When you’re on a team, you can’t practice or play if you are late to any classes, so being on time every morning is definitely difficult. Kiegan also said another challenge is dealing with injuries that occur during the season and linger throughout. We asked Kiegan what he loves most about being an athlete, and he said, “Playing football teaches me discipline and is a great way to represent my school. Playing what I’ve done my whole life in front of family and friends is one of the best feelings you can have.” Kiegan also said, “Being an athlete has challenges, but playing sports makes you better as a person and is so worth it when game time comes around.”

We also talked to Urbana High School football running back Cayden McIver and asked him about the hardest part of being a student-athlete and his best experience. Cayden said, “I really enjoy competing in sports, and the cons are not bad when you compare them to the pros of playing sports at Urbana.” The hardest part for me is managing my time with schoolwork and constant practice, but over the years you figure out how to manage it all.” He said his best experience is, “Proving people wrong and showing improvement each year is the greatest part of playing football.” Overall, Cayden also said, “Playing sports is worth it for every student, and it’s a great way to build new relationships with teammates and coaches.”

In general, students at Urbana High School say that being in after-school activities has many rewards, and that the cons are nowhere near equal to the pros when it comes to playing sports. If you can manage your time and be responsible in school, you should have no problem playing sports or participating in an after-school activity. Students also said, “There are many resources at Urbana High School to help students in after-school activities who are struggling in their classes and need help.” Being a student-athlete is overall a positive experience.