How is reality compared to the expectations?

Runners2
Thu, 23 Sep 2010 15:57:26 +0000

Our S is a junior at an Ivy, so in his 3rd year of participating in his sport at his university. He has loved his experience. For him it offers a great combination of what he needed - in terms of rigorous academics with participation in DI athletics, though not at the level in which athletics dominated the academics (not saying that would be wrong for some other athletes, but for ours professional sports were not in his future, so we and he wanted academics to come first). His teammates have become his closest friends and the team gave him an instant social group; however, he has other friends from outside of his sport and frequently sees them both socially and in study groups. He has had to adjust to not always being at the top of the heap athletically, in terms of his individual status as well as the status of his team. In high school, he and his team stood out from their peers athletically, while at college he’s enjoyed success within his team (e.g. been a competitor in championships since freshman year), he’s probably not going to be an All-American and his team is not going to win National Championships, but that’s ok too - he’s adjusted well to that reality of life We’re all happy that he’s had the opportunity to pursue the sport he loves while studying with lots of bright, motivated kids who inspire him to do his best academically - truly the best of both worlds for our student-athlete.

p.s… I agree that texting has become our friend! We text often and if I need to talk with him I text to say call me when you have a chance - and he does, on his time frame. We hear from him regularly for brief contacts and for a lengthier conversation probably once a week.