Junior Year- Managing as a Student Athlete

Despite my best efforts to get ready for my high school junior year as a student-athlete, there have been more unanticipated twists and turns than I could have imagined. I'm coming to understand that this stage of a student-athlete's life is actually an assessment of the life skills that instructors, parents, and coaches have been attempting to instill in us. But even though I've been told for the past two years how crucial my junior year would be and how much advice I should take, I didn't really realize how intense it would be until I really experienced it. The degree of concentration and time management needed has exceeded my expectations, as my future depends so heavily on my performance both academically and athletically. To say I’m feeling overwhelmed would be an understatement.

These days, it seems that academics and sports are the topic of discussion in every conversation. Anxiety grows when words like highlight reels, SAT/ACT, and GPA are mentioned. I've always understood that, unless I fell into the extremely unusual top 1% of athletes who were called up to the youth national team, my sheer athletic ability would not be sufficient to get me recruited to some of those schools I'm interested in. And at the moment, I can't help but feel a little envious of those 1% of athletes. For the remainder of us, finding a balance between extracurricular activities, athletics, and academics seems like a never-ending challenge. 

Well-rounded student-athletes are typically preferred by colleges, particularly if you haven't been called up often to a national team or USYNT ID camp and can promote the university in other ways, like having a high percentage of collegiate athletes with high GPAs or raising awareness of the school through projects, internships, community service, and volunteering. It can be exhausting to try to balance all of these commitments without much of a safety net.

With so much on my plate, finding time to unwind, relax or socialize has been difficult. I know that taking breaks is essential for my mental well-being, but between the demands of school, sports, and the college recruitment process, it feels like there's barely any time left for myself. The pressures of my junior year have made me realize that I need to be more intentional about prioritizing my mental health.

Still, knowing this and finding balance are two very different things. Trying to keep up with academics while training and conditioning outside of team practices, attending ID camps, and not missing important ECNL matches, where I also need to invite coaches, feels like a never-ending cycle.  I feel like I'm letting coaches and teammates down because I'm pulled in different directions or disappointing them as a captain by not being at a match because I had to be at an ID camp. I can't help but wonder in the back of my mind if all of this work will ultimately result in a college offer.

On top of that, I didn’t realize how vital personal branding is to the recruitment process. At ID camps, coaches highlight this which has been quite eye opening. It has compelled me to adopt a completely different strategy for how I show myself to prospective colleges. 

One of the most difficult aspects of the recruiting process for me though has been navigating the mixed messages from college coaches. Communication opened up after my sophomore year, but now, as a junior, the emails, text messages, and phone calls make it overwhelming to figure out genuine interest.  It excites me to see my friends get offers, but it also makes me nervous. Although I am sincerely proud of them, I can't help but wonder if or when an offer will come. It frustrates me because I want to stay upbeat and encouraging, but sometimes I find it difficult to get over my self-doubt. And while I recognize that coaches may have their reasons for not being clear or open about where a recruit stands on their recruitment list, it's tough for us student-athletes. I believe it's reasonable to ask a coach for a clear idea or answer if they're interested after attending a camp or two. As these delays in not getting a response or clear answer make it harder to find the right fit and leave us feeling stuck.

This is why I feel there needs to be more transparency for student-athletes going through the recruitment process. Like most of us student-athletes, I've been told to maintain a top-20 list of colleges so that I may swiftly move on to the next if a school declines my offer. But even that advice doesn't take away from the emotional toll that uncertainty brings. When a school I had high hopes for chooses another goalkeeper, it stings. However, I've found that I deeply appreciate it when coaches are upfront about their decisions. While it's hard to hear, it's far better than the silence that leaves me guessing.

Transparency allows student-athletes to reassess their options and refocus on schools that are a better fit. In one case, a school I was in contact with explained their decision not to recruit me, but they also provided feedback on areas I could improve. It was tough to hear, but I valued the honesty. It is a school I will continue to follow as I have so much respect for how they handle the recruitment process! Knowing where I stand is critical for my growth as an athlete, and it's far better than being left in the dark.

Talking to people I trust such as my club coach, my parents, and organizations like Female Footballers and Girls Soccer Network has also been a huge help in keeping things in perspective. Hearing from others who have gone through similar challenges is showing me that this journey is going to be more than just getting an offer. It will be about growth, resilience, and finding the right fit for me, both academically and athletically.

My advice to myself and others is to keep pushing for follow-ups and clear answers, especially in the recruitment process. I wanted to follow up on my first guest blog post because I believe it's important for student-athletes to advocate for transparency. Coaches are busy, and decisions are hard, but we deserve transparency. If enough of us advocate for it, coaches will hopefully recognize that we need clear answers to navigate our futures with confidence. Transparency isn't just a courtesy, it's essential!