Day in the Life of a College Athlete

College can be an extremely stressful time for some students. Between assignments required for full credit and hours spent studying for quizzes and tests, being a college student is no simple task.

On top of that, college athletes must not only focus on their academics but also ensure they perform at their best in their sport. However, these students push themselves because they’re doing what they love most.

Daniel Carpenter, a freshman at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, is an Exercise Science major with a minor in Marketing. He is also a runner for Seton Hill’s track team.

“I’ve loved running since I was 8,” Carpenter said. “I couldn’t imagine going to school without competing because practice has become such an integrated part of my life.”

During the season, Carpenter’s typical day begins at 5 a.m. Despite the early start, he finds energy from gummies and oranges, which help him power through his 6 a.m. practice.

“We usually practice for about two and a half hours,” Carpenter said. “Afterward, we do static stretching and have breakfast as a team. Then I have three classes every day, followed by a team lift for an hour, where we do full-body workouts two days a week.”

Even with a busy schedule, Carpenter makes time to put in extra work.

“I train on a high-mileage six-day cycle, with an active rest day,” Carpenter said. “Since I have three seasons, we go year-round with no breaks. I have two workouts a week, two easy mileage days, and a long run. During the cross-country season, we have meets every other weekend, and during indoor and outdoor track from December to May, we compete nearly every weekend.”

One of the most difficult aspects of being a college athlete is staying on top of schoolwork. Unlike many athletes, Carpenter makes sure he doesn’t fall behind.

He uses his rest days to complete assignments and review material for tests and quizzes.

“It’s a good and healthy method to relax and calm my mind,” he said.

He also mentioned his professors are very understanding of the demands on student-athletes.

Despite his love for the sport, the pressure can be intense at times. Carpenter said the expectations can feel overwhelming.

“My coach has very high expectations and holds us to our best,” Carpenter said. “Sometimes it’s hard to overcome a bad day and then have to face a conversation about failing. On meet days, everything is much more serious and intense.”

Despite the challenges, Carpenter doesn’t let adversity get the best of him. He keeps reminding himself why he loves what he does.

“The best part of being a college athlete is being surrounded by people who want to be there,” Carpenter said. “In high school, a lot of people did it just because their friends did, but in college, we all want to compete at this level, and we know we need to be serious about it.”

It’s clear that Daniel Carpenter has his priorities straight. Despite the difficulties he faces, he continues to drive himself to be the best student-athlete he can be.