My life as an international student athlete. My alarm goes off at 7:50 am, just enough time to get ready and make it to my 9:00 am class. Some days, I feel like a zombie, but once I’m out the door, the day takes off. From 9:00 to 11:00 am, I sit through lectures and take notes; Math on Tuesdays and Thursday, and English on Wednesdays. Although I usually don't have the energy to do math so early in the morning, having my teammate by my side makes a difference. That way I don't feel alone and we often help each other and handle the math problems together.
As soon as class ends, it’s a quick turnaround because basketball practice starts at 11:00 am. No time to waste. I grab a snack, change into my gear, and head to the court.The next two and a half hours are intense, running, drills, plays, conditioning, scrimmages, etc. Coach is demanding, but he pushes us for a reason. He wants to see us grow and be better every day. By the end of practice, we are completely exhausted but there’s no time to rest because we head straight to the weight room. We usually follow a certain routine, in which we alternate between upper body and leg workouts. Wednesdays are our “rest” day in the gym, which is a relief for sore muscles.
On top of school and basketball, I work a few days a week. Tuesdays through Thursdays, as soon as I’m done with weights, I rush to work. Balancing school, basketball, and work isn’t easy, but somehow, it all fits into the schedule. The exhaustion is real, but the experience is worth it. It’s all about time management, which is basically code for “how much can I do before I fall asleep standing up?”
Finally, after a long day, I head home, make some food, and do homework. Some nights, I have the energy to focus, other nights I struggle to keep my eyes open. But no matter how tired I am, I make sure to get my work done. Being an international student and an athlete means every day is packed, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. It keeps me moving, keeps me motivated, and reminds me why I’m here, to grow, compete, and make the most of this experience.
Editor’s Note: Lisa wrote this blog post during her final quarter at LCC. She has now graduated and transferred to another university.