Nico Chiappetta:

Playing sports is a huge commitment no matter what level you play. As people get older and physically capable of doing more, the competition rises as well. Continuing to play at higher levels becomes a huge challenge. There are too many factors that come into play while balancing sports and college;  because of this, not playing sports in college is the right decision for me.

A commonly misinterpreted idea of college is an excessive amount of time. In reality, college students have very little time, especially for sports. Studying and doing homework for classes eats up most of student’s’ time, leaving little for other activities. I believe those other activities should partake in finding job opportunities for your future career, like finding an internship or a job that relates to your future plans. If someone is in a sport, time to do homework is significantly reduced. Student-athletes are then forced to miss practices, copy a friend’s work or just not do homework at all. These disadvantages lead to poor grades and falling behind in classes. If a coach notices a player is failing classes, they can hold them back from playing games until their grade is back up. If not, the player can be kicked off the team.

Another reason I’m choosing not to play sports in college is because of the amount of work I will get from classes. College has a heavier workload than high school does. Students taking AP courses constantly complain about the workload or how fast paced the class is, but that is exactly how college classes are. When taking notes, professors will fly through their presentations and will not really answer questions; students will have to come in after class or join support groups with other classmates to better understand the class material, which takes up more of students’ personal time.

  Season after season can get very exhausting, especially after eight or nine years. I played baseball for eight years before coming into high school. When freshmen year rolled around, I was too gassed from past years that I didn’t want to play anymore. The game wasn’t fun at that point, it was so boring and slow-paced. If I were to play football in college it would end up the same way as baseball; I would lose the love for the sport. I gave everything to it, but now I’m sick of it. Plus, I don’t think I can play at a professional level, so I don’t really find a reason to play anymore. I’ve accepted that fact, and I want to focus on more important things that are beneficial for me and my future.

I will never grow away from sports. Choosing not to play doesn’t mean I won’t follow it at all. I’m still going to support my favorite teams and boo the ones I hate. There are still club and intramural sports for people to join that aren’t as time consuming. What I’m looking forward to most in college is finally taking a step back and becoming a super fan.

Monica Wilhelm:

From a young age, we are asked a question that defines us for the rest of our life: what do you want to be when you grow up? Some of the most popular responses involve ideas that spark from the endless imagination that resides within a child’s mind.

A princess.

A superhero.

An astronaut.

The President.

From the first time I was asked that question, and still to this day, my response has remained the same: a professional soccer player.

When I first touched a soccer ball, I was always thinking a step ahead. After realizing how high I set my bar, I decided to make goals that will come together to fulfill an end result. In elementary school, it was making the boys travel soccer team. In upper grade, it was making the girls “A-Team” at my new club. At the start of my freshmen year, it was making the varsity soccer team and becoming a starter all four years of high school. As a senior in high school, I have finally learned to stop skipping steps in my life. I decided to focus on the here and now as I finish my last season as a Sequoit. As well as, the near future as a Big Ten goalkeeper for the University of Iowa.

Soccer has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember and has become more than just a game, but a way of life. I can truthfully say that it is and will remain a part of me for the rest of my life. It has not only taught me how to develop into an athlete, but as a person as well. Soccer has showed me the ropes of life with a ball at my feet and gloves on my hands. I was fortunate to find something early in life that taught me what true happiness was. I knew I wanted to play Division 1 soccer when I knew that I couldn’t live without the sport.

Playing soccer at the collegiate level is not just another goal to check off my list. It has been a journey that I have been waiting to be a part of since the day that I had started the recruitment process. I chose to continue my career because I have always wanted to play at the highest level possible. For me, playing Big Ten soccer was the answer.

I have always been obsessed with the game. Whether its watching, practicing or playing, I just flat-out love being around the sport every chance I get. There is no other feeling like the adrenaline that rushes through your body before and during every step taken onto that field. I play for the pressure that puts the excitement in the game. I play for the passion that sparks the flame in an athlete’s heart, mind and soul. I play for the love that found a young girl years ago; that love is named soccer.