As the sun sets on Baldwin’s campus, the lights remain on in the Athletic Center. While every student has both academic and extracurricular commitments, student-athletes in particular experience a layer of responsibility that extends beyond the school day.

Charlotte Grant ‘28, who swims both in and outside of school, shares her daily routine. 

“If I have morning practice, I wake up at 4:30 a.m., get in the car at 5 a.m., swim from 5:30 to 7:30 a.m., and I then go to school,” Grant said. 

She isn’t alone on this demanding schedule either. Many student-athletes wake up painfully early to complete a full training session before arriving at school, where they are expected to perform academically as well. 

Then, after the last class, the second “shift” begins: training and conditioning that can last several hours. For Grant, this means doing most of her work in the car and arriving home as late as 10 p.m. 

“I have to have really good time management and I have to keep my priorities straight,” Grant said. 

Getting home late and being mentally and physically exhausted can affect how students do their homework and study for tests. Further, the lack of sleep can affect focus and performance, creating a constant balancing act that requires discipline and responsibility. 

Vera Jain ‘29, a squash player, details the challenge of balancing both academics and athletics. 

“If you have tournaments coming up, the pressure is on you to practice and do well, but that also takes time away from focusing on your academics,” Jain said. 

Especially during the winter season, the demands of competitive sports don’t always align neatly with the school calendar. 

Because of squash tournaments, student-athletes like Jain have to leave school early or miss whole days of school in order to participate in and travel to competitions. These absences add yet another layer of responsibility to catch up on material and assessments. While traveling can be an exciting part of the athletic experience, it also creates more need for organization to maintain academic performance. 

Meeting these demands requires resilience as student-athletes manage stress while maintaining their mental health. Achieving a balance often comes with sacrifices, whether it be time for studying or social life. 

Despite these high-stress challenges, student-athletes face, their athletic experiences help to develop skills beyond the court, field, or pool. In a study done by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, former student-athletes reported stronger long-term well-being, particularly in areas like physical health, social connections, community, and purpose. Ultimately, the positive impact of athletics highlights the complex considerations involved in being a student-athlete, requiring individuals to weigh both the benefits and the costs.

So with all the sacrifice, sleep deprivation, and perhaps one too many protein bars, one question remains for the student-athletes of Baldwin: is it worth it?