People often ask what it’s like to be a college athlete, and the truth is – it’s a lot. Being a student-athlete at college means wearing multiple hats every single day: student, teammate, competitor, friend, and more. Balancing school, hockey, and a social life isn’t just a challenge – it’s an everyday grind that teaches you discipline, time management, and the importance of staying grounded.
Let’s start with hockey. It’s not just a sport – it’s a full-time commitment. Practices, lifts, games, team meetings, travel and more. The schedule can get intense. You learn quickly that there’s no such thing as “free time.” Weekends often mean road trips and game days that you have to be physically and mentally present for your team – no excuses.
Then there’s school. Professors don’t ease up on student-athletes, nor should they. Papers are still due. Exams still come. Sometimes you’re taking quizzes on the bus or submitting assignments from hotel rooms. Communication becomes key. You have to plan ahead, stay organized, and sometimes make sacrifices.
And in the middle of all that, there’s the social side of college – the part that keeps you sane. Making time for friends, grabbing a coffee, watching a movie with teammates, or just taking a breath outside of the rink or the classroom – it all matters. Those little moments are what make the experience whole. They remind you that you’re not just a player or a student – you’re a person, too.
The juggle isn’t always pretty. There are days when you’re running on three hours of sleep, when your body aches from practice but your brain has to push through a late-night study session. There are moments when you feel behind in one area no matter how hard you’re trying. But through it all, you grow. You get stronger, more focused, and more resilient.
Being a student-athlete means learning to prioritize, make smart choices, and ask for help when you need it. It means realizing that “balance” doesn’t mean doing everything perfectly – it means doing your best with what you’ve got and learning to enjoy the chaos.
At the end of the day, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. The schedule is tough, but the experience is unforgettable. Because every sprint, every study session, every laugh with friends, it all adds up to something bigger. Something that teaches you how to handle life – on and off the ice.
By Lilly Corso
Lilly Corso is a junior business student at Endicott College, majoring in marketing. Beyond the classroom, Corso is a member of the Endicott’s NCAA D-III women’s ice hockey team, having developed teamwork, discipline, and leadership skills both on and off the ice.