student-athlete
I am a Student-athlete. I am a student-athlete. Although many are called by this name, few are actually both. I pride myself on being able to call myself a true student-athlete. It has not been easy and it will only get more difficult, but the sense of accomplishment that comes with it is worth the struggle. This is due to the fact that in today’s high school sports venue, being a true student-athlete has become a very cumbersome task. I guess I’m not what you would call a “star” athlete. I’m the guy that is forced to rely solely on academics to succeed in life. In our culture, professional athletes have been placed above society. They are viewed almost like gods among us, and this idolatry even occurs in high school. In high school, star athletes are “above society” and its rules. It is impossible for them to be in trouble because they are viewed as too important to winning. This gives them the mindset that they can do whatever they want whenever they want to. However, if an average student-athlete does something wrong; then the wrath of a coach, dean, and/or teacher is felt. Obviously, this is very unfair and students that are not “stars” all agree that everyone should be susceptible to the same punishment. However, since the focus of sports has switched to winning this has become a major issue. I have noticed in recent years, a subtle but noticeable change in all sports at the high school level. Sports are less about having fun and building character, and are more focused on winning. In the past, sports were keen on building character and developing the athlete as a person. Sports today are quite the opposite. Although they preach it, few actually practice it. Sports also used to be focused on having a good time, learning important life lessons, and having experiences you can share with your future children. This focus instead has slowly shifted to winning games. This has led to longer practices and more time spent on sports than ever. In order to win