A university student’s day varies depending on their course-load, volunteer and extracurricular commitments, part-time work, etc. Student-athletes juggling school, training, weekends away, rest and a social life face some serious time management pressures.
Anne Deweyert, a fourth year student on UNB’s track and field team, has been a part of the Reds since her first year. Although Deweyert is no longer competing, she lived the busy life of an athlete her first three years of university.
For Deweyert, a typical day during the sports season:
7:00 AM – Wake up, eat breakfast, get ready
8:30 AM – Go to class
5:00 PM – Finish school day
6:00 PM – Practise in Oromocto
8:00 PM – Finish practise
8:00-11:00 PM – Have supper and finish up day’s work
11:00 – Bed
Deweyeert likes to utilize her time between 8 and 5 to get her school work done. She says her approach to school is “treat it like a job”.
“When things get overwhelming I start using management skills like to do lists. Once those are checked off I can feel better about what I’ve got accomplished.”
The track and field season begins at the end of December and continues to the end of February, with meets happening every weekend.
Typically after a long, tiresome season Deweyert likes to take March off to chill and recover. However, the break doesn’t last too long, with summer training starting in April.
Deweyert says the most challenging thing about being a student athlete is time management and finding time to socialize.
“You want to have a social life and so you rely on your teammates and connections you make through class to make your social networks.”
Just like any student going through the stresses of university, Dewyert explains the importance of not only taking time for school but also taking time for mental health and self care.
“Our coaches push the importance of school comes first. Everyone is good about supporting each other and understanding if you have to miss practice and that the next day is a new day and you can try again.”