Student Athlete

                          Playing college tennis

As many of you know we barely make it to half of our classes when we’re in season, which is not something to be proud of, but  these are the circumstances, and today when I’m flying back from Arizona, one of the many trips we had this semester, I thought about sharing some of the things we are facing as college athletes. 

First of all, this is our job, and just like in everyday’s life, our coach is our boss and if you don’t do your job right, you are fired.Monday through Friday, I wake up at 6:40 to get ready for practice, eat breakfast, prepare my tennis bag, get mentally ready for a good, productive practice. 

8-10:30 Practice and then rushing back home to take a shower, getting dresses, grabbing something to eat and riding my moped like I am in Fast and Furious 7, because class starts at 11:50. Great!School finishes around 5-6 everyday, and then I head back home, all tired and ready to relax somewhere, or eat in peace, but guess what ?!I have 3 assignments due tomorrow and I’m freaking out. 

Thursday comes and I’m already packing for the next day, because we have a flight at 8 in the morning and seven matches in six days, which doesn’t sound like fun, but I’m mentally getting’ ready to kick ass, even though I have others things on my mind. “I hope my professor still passes me”, “I’m missing so much school”, “ Crap, I missed that assignment”, “What time is it in Hawaii now?”, “My body is tired, but I can’t let that affect me”, “C’mon Lorena, you got this!” And so on… We are all there, stressing out and trying our best.  

After a 6, 8, 10 hour flight, depending on where we’re going , we arrive at the hotel, most of the times we look like some zombies, and we’re ready to knock out because we practice tomorrow morning for our first match. (But oh fudge, I have to read Chapter 6 and study for my quiz)And here comes the match day, we wake up early, go to the courts and there we are,  until late afternoon,  sweating, running, playing, fighting and screaming from the bottom of our lungs “Let’s gooo Sharkkks!!!!”  

That happens, everyday, for 6-7-8 days, when we come back to Hawaii and we have 5 days until we’re flying again for the next tournament. 

But at the end of the day, I smile… Because this is the greatest thing that happened to me. Having the opportunity to play college tennis in Hawaii! Jesus Christ, Lord and Jesus again,  I would’ve never imagined in my life.. haha Tennis is teaching me everyday how to push my limits, when I feel like I can’t do it anymore, to realize that there is no shortcut to any great thing in life and that you always have to take the stairs in order to be successful and to be a strong person.