“Can you make it to the bonfire this Friday?”

“Sorry, I can’t. I have a game.”

For an athlete, this is a typical response to opportunities to hang out with friends. Weekend plans must be made around games and meets, which can be frustrating. There is a balance between sports, social life, academics, and sleep.

Being an athlete can be difficult at times, and finding a happy medium takes some work. This is an opportunity for students to rise to the occasion and give everything they’ve got to living a healthy lifestyle.

Enjoying the little things, like sleeping in an extra hour or spending an off mod with a friend, is great for athletes. We can sit back, pause, and take a break.

A huge component of an athlete’s well-being is sleep. With a 2-3 hour practice each day, a good night’s sleep is vital. Between homework and other activities, students often choose to sacrifice sleep and deal with the sleep deprivation. Time management is key in order to be well-rested enough for practice and still complete schoolwork.

Additionally, making healthy food choices affects the performance of a student athlete. Breakfast is essential. A quick bagel and a cup of tea to go is enough to prepare me for the day. A healthy lunch gives the dose of nutrients needed to get through the rest of the school day and practice.

Dinner, on the other hand, is a totally different story. This is the meal where your body recovers and refuels for the night of homework ahead.

Along with school, practice, and clubs, there’s one thing that most students add to their list: a job. Some students choose to work during the week or just on weekends. A part-time job is a great opportunity to learn responsibility and about life in the working world.

The life of a high school athlete is demanding. You are expected to give it your all at practice to work towards improvement. Teachers hold high standards for their students to put their best work forward.

Some bosses require you to work a certain amount of hours each week. Friends want to spend quality time with you.

You are always moving and there is always something that needs to be done. As stressful as life can be for a student athlete, the time management skills, the discipline, and the hard work will pay off in the long-run.

Amanda Spaeth is a Sports Columnist for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.