Inside Scoop: CSG Student-Athletes

morning swim practices to afternoon weight room sessions, the time spent at school often outnumbers her time at home.

The responsibilities of a student-athlete are often underestimated Whether it's spending long hours in the pool or continuously running new volleyball plays, the notion of finishing homework and other activities after can be daunting. To gauge how CSG athletes master the art of balance, I interviewed students on their after-school routines. Maddy Wood, XI, is not only part of the swim team, but she also rows for Upper Arlington High School. From

“During the swim season, I usually only have time to do homework before I’m exhausted and need sleep.” The cycle continues from the weekdays until the weekend, along with long swim meets on Saturday. Although Maddy doesn’t have a lot of balance in her routine, she enjoys a busy schedule noting that she “needs the structure.”

I also talked to Emma Kim, XII, who played golf during the fall while also balancing homework and college applications. Her after-school routine is similar to Maddy’s -- with only time to practice, eatdinner,andfinishhomework before going to sleep. Planning ahead, Emma knows that if she has a fun event on the weekend or a big test coming up, she’ll use her study halls productively: frequently meeting with teachers to not stress out about homework later that evening.

“Don’tgetmewrong,” Emmasayswhilelaughing,“I’ve hadsleeplessnightsoverschoolwork, while having so many other things going on.” Emma’s advice is to use free time at school well while meeting with teach-ers will set you up for success. When asking others about a strong example of a student-athlete, several mentioned Yori O’Neal, XI, for her dedication as a three-sport athlete while also being a top student in the classroom. When asked about her routine, Yori says after coming home from practice, she doesn’t need to do any homework.

“Usually, I’m efficient enough during the day, utilizing my time at school to get most of my work done.” For example, when Yori has an important history test coming up, she’ll listen to a history-related podcast on her way to school, while also reviewing any last-minute notes.

“Just to be clear,” Yori begins, “I haven’t always been this productive. My wake-up call from procrastination was my PCA class, where I left everything to the last minute.” Since then, she’s learned to plan, not procrastinate, through making a to-do list with online app Notion. Now, Yori even has time to hang out with her friends at least once during the weekend. Through these three different examples of studentathletes, you can see that every person has a unique routine. The most successful balancing acts are when students can find schedules that work best for them, whether that’s maneuvering a hectic schedule or planning ahead at school.