As the seasons change and school begins, the classic balancing act of scholastic and extracurricular activities returns to plague the lives of students. With both varsity and intramural sports beginning at Bishop’s University this fall, I took the time to chat with a student-athlete on the topic of what it’s like to be both a student and a participant of a competitive sports team. 

Tiana Irvin of the women’s rugby team, when asked about her experience in the sport, commented that “one of the biggest values of the rugby team is the family-oriented idea, we’re all there for each other when we most need it, on and off the field.” Having this immediate family/friend group draws on the benefit of meeting people who you wouldn’t normally be acquainted with, since people from all walks of life come together in association with a sport and Bishop’s University itself. Though the family-oriented feeling is welcoming and tempting for newcomers to the university, the importance of this support system cannot be overstated. Regardless of being on or off the field, the tight-knit nature of these team dynamics is invaluable. 

Irwin also said, “Don’t get me wrong, being a part of the team is amazing, but it also takes a lot of hard work and dedication to practice rugby and responsibly manage your schedule as a student.” Through the lens of a newcomer to Bishop’s University, this could potentially provide life lessons to new students by teaching first years to adapt and balance academics with non-academic activities. These skills very clearly translate well beyond the scholastic setting and will be precious when balancing work, family, and hobbies. Having a healthy relationship between schoolwork and varsity-level sports may be easier said than done, but could prove to be worth the effort given the reward of playing a sport you admire while in pursuit of a degree.

“The pros of having a dedicated team more than outweigh the cons that can be solved through responsible time management,” shared Irvin.

Overall, the conversation with Irvin about being a student athlete proved insightful. If there’s one major takeaway from this conversation for first-year students, it’s that university is the perfect time to take extracurricular activities. It will enrich the individual’s university experience, build a strong support network, and teach valuable lessons about time management.