Toll or Benefit
By Kate Moore | Sports | spet. 29, 2025
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA) — Student athletes at Stanton College Preparatory School know the feeling of being pulled in different directions by the stress of balancing sports and academics. While being a student athlete can be rewarding, it can also be a cause of worry and struggle.
“I like [being a student athlete] because I have a lot more friends now. It’s a really good stress release because I forget about all the homework I must do after practice,” said sophomore Bailey Carter, member of the junior varsity girls soccer and swim and dive teams. “[But] if you add a whole bunch of tests I have to prepare for, then that’s really stressful.”
As Carter has found, sports take up much of a student’s time. After sports practice, students may come home more worn out and with less time to complete their studying, therefore going to sleep later to keep up, or sleeping sooner and falling behind. Participating in high school athletics can also take time away from the classroom. Student athletes often must leave class early, or even miss classes entirely, to attend a competition.
“Being a student athlete is hard, but being a student athlete at Stanton is a whole other thing. I’m really big on letting my teachers know [when I am missing class for sports] ahead of time and making sure I have everything planned out,” says junior Ashlynne Deason, member of the cross country and track teams.
With sports and school both vying for Deason’s time and energy, striking a balance between them is challenging. Even while they are still physically in the classroom, students may be worrying about an upcoming game instead of focusing on learning. The need to win and help the team advance can make students feel like sports are more urgent than academics. Not only does pressure to perform well distract from school, but it can also push students in unhealthy ways.
Being a student athlete can be a burden both on one’s mind and body. According to Ms. Rachel Keene, Stanton’s athletic trainer, there have already been five concussions across sports in the first four weeks of athletics this school year. Students recover differently, some returning to sports in a week, but others may take a month. Additionally, students are at risk for musculoskeletal injuries.
“An ACL tear can take nine to 12 months to come back from. there’s a mental toll because that person may go from playing school and club sports year-round to not being able to participate at all.” says Ms. Keene.
Though challenging, participating in sports can have a positive impact on one’s academic career. Marygrove College Athletics describes succeeding in both academics and sports as a daunting task because of the level of resilience and discipline that it requires. Sports hone these skills in student athletes.
“[With] practices and games you have to manage your time more wisely because sometimes the games end at 10 p.m. and you have to come home and start homework for the next day,” said senior Dhriti Vinjam, member of the girls basketball and varsity flag football teams.
Beyond the skills it crafts, being part of a sport team helps student athletes build friendships. Junior Nicole Fleming, a member of the Stanton track and cross-country team, feels that being on a sports team is a way to find people with shared interests. She also noted it has a positive influence on her identity student.
“[Being on a sports team] helped me become friends with a lot of people who prioritize good academics,” said Fleming.
Apart from its academic benefits, sports practice can be a break between doing schoolwork and homework. According to Harvard Health Publishing, exercise stimulates the production of chemicals called endorphins in our brains, which elevates our mood. It also reduces the levels of the body’s stress hormones, causing people to feel more relaxed. Not only is exercise a method of relieving stress but sports allow student athletes to enjoy themselves.
“It’s fun hanging out with my friends,” said junior Alexandar Kurucev, who is a member of the varsity boys soccer team. “I’m just [such] close friends with them on and off the field.”
Student athletes across all sports offered at Stanton are tasked with juggling sports, academics, and all the tolls and benefits that this responsibility entails. It is an experience that takes learning outside of the safety of the classroom. The activity shapes both athletic and academic identities in high school and onward.