Student-Athlete All While Coaching her OWN team; Also an Interview With Student-Athlete Grace Kaler

Kate Palmer
(Photo Credit: Kate Palmer’s Facebook Page)

Kate Palmer is 27 years old, has cheered for 19 years and has coached for 9 years. Kate attended Holy Cross College in Indiana for 4 years and during her time there she started a cheerleading team. She started the team at the beginning of her junior year and coached and participated on the team for her last 2 years of college. After graduation, she continued to coach the team for 2 additional years. This is where Kate’s expertise will come into play.

During those 4 years Kate learned a lot about time management. She was going to college full-time, coaching a team and was simultaneously participating on the team.

Kate is my older sister and she has always taught me to put my best effort in to all that I do. She always taught me that punctuality is key, but more importantly, she always said “stress will always get the best of you so don’t let things pile up. If you take care of them when you get them you won’t ever have to worry about doing a million things at once”.

When I called her about this assignment she had a lot of good things to say about the struggles of time management and the stress it can cause you.

She said “obviously I wasn’t planning on starting a collegiate sports team when I went off to college but I couldn’t stay away from cheering. I had cheered my whole life and my college did not have a cheer team. So I started by asking around the campus and found out what I had to do to get a team started”.

She went on to explain how it was really stressful and time-consuming in the beginning because she had to recruit people who wanted to cheer for the school, set up informational meetings, hold tryouts and organize and run practices all while being a full-time student.

She has told me time and time again how wonderful this experience was for and how the only thing she would do differently would be that she would have started the team sooner.

When I asked her what this taught her this is what she told me “I learned a lot of valuable skills through this experience. I learned that procrastination will be your worst enemy. I struggled with that when the team was starting out but I came to the realization pretty fast that other people were relying on me as their coach now so I had to have things done on time.”

This just goes to show you that you truly can do it all if you balance your time!

Below this is video is an audio slide interview with Grace Kaler. She is a junior at Rowan University. Grace is a student athlete and runs both track and cross-country. In the interview she talks about what she has learned over the years as a collegiate athlete and what tips she has taken away from this time management blog. Enjoy!!

So long For Now

Hopefully so far this blog has been helpful along the way to those out there struggling with time management. This blog was started for my online journalism class but I picked this topic because I felt like it was something a lot of people could relate to. Almost everyone struggles with time management, even if your not balancing a sports team on the side. I hope some of my tips were helpful. But as I said I started this blog for my class and this is my “farewell” post to you and all my readers.

So for this post I want to link back to what I think was my 5 best and most  helpful posts. The first one I would like to reference is Been There Done That. This post was one of the early ones and it was mainly explaining my background and how I speak from exprience.

The 2nd post I would like to reference is Getting To Know A Student-Athlete.  This was a Q&A with Grace Kaler who runs track for Rowan University. She brought a lot of things to light that I hadn’t even though about.

The 3rd one is Effort Is All It Takes. This was a more indepth look of Grace Kaler’s interview. Her helpful tips were explained more in depth.

The 4th post that I thought came out really well was a multimedia post about the Outlook on the Upcoming Rowan Men’s Basketball season .

The 5th and last post was an Extra Credit assignment but I think it had alot of helpful tips in it.

Overall I hope this blog was helpful and I hope you can take away something from it. Goodluck with everything you do and always remember that everything is possible if you manage your time!

Helpful Tips to Manage Your Time

Time Management is something that can be hard to get the hang of. But that’s why I’m dedicating this post to an article that offers some helpful and easy tips to learn how to best mange your time.

According to Study Guides and Strategies there a lot of key components that go into managing your time. This website is all about small but important things that help you out in the long run. It goes through the process of breaking down where to start.

The article starts off by saying “One goal is to help yourself become aware of how you use your time as one resource in organizing, prioritizing, and succeeding in your studies in the context of competing activities of friends, work, family, etc”.

It goes on to talk about how the first thing you have to do is once you get your schedule for the semester is sit down and plan out when you are going to do your homework and study. You must make a place that is completely free from distractions.

“No cell phone or text messaging!  where you can maximize your concentration and be free of the distractions that   friends or hobbies can bring! You should also have a back-up space that you   can escape to, like the library, departmental study center, even a coffee shop   where you can be anonymous. A change of venue may also bring extra resources.”

The article goes on to explain that it is important to have “weekly reviews” even when you don’t have tests. Keeping up on all of the assignments and notes you have for class helps you stay on top of your deadlines for your classes.

It is always important to prioritize your assignments. Make sure you always do your hardest assignment first. “You’ll be fresh, and have more energy to take them on when you are at your best.”

Prioritizing your assignments also means that you need to wait to do things that are not crucial for the time being.

“This can be the most difficult challenge of time management. As learners we  always meet unexpected opportunities that look appealing, then result in poor  performance on a test, on a paper, or in preparation for a task. Distracting  activities will be more enjoyable later without the pressure of the test,  assignment, etc. hanging over your head. Think in terms of pride of  accomplishment. Instead of saying “no” learn to say “later”.

Even though it might sound like a great idea to to go out with your friends you need to get your work done first becasuse you are in college to get an education.

So in the end the most important thing is to plan ahead, prioritize, and postpone unnecessary acivities. These things will all contribute to a well balanced schedule and a healthy lifestyle with less stress. YOU CAN DO IT ALL, IF YOU MANAGE YOUR TIME.

Rowans Men’s Basketball Undefeated

Rowan Men’s Basketball team has gotten started off to a great start. As of tonight they are 6-0.

They have had some pretty close games but every time they have pulled out the win. Something that has helped them a lot as a team is hat they know how to play hard until the end. The team as a whole does not let up until the clock buzzes.

But these wins have not come without hard work.

After the past few games I have talked to a few of the key players on the team and i asked them what has helped them stay focused as a team during the games.

Kendall White a senior and captain of the team said “We have to come to practice ready to practice. If I have a huge paper due the next morning that I haven’t started yet then I know I won’t be able to give my 110% in practice because I’ll be distracted.”

White went on to talk about how being organized really helps. “I know that for me personally, I always pack my bag the night before a game. It helps me to prepare myself mentally and physically. Its the same thing you would do for a test, you study ahead of time so when it comes time I’m not freaking out trying to get ready.”

White is right.

Time management is not only about a schedule but being prepared ahead of time. Being prepared ahead of time makes it much easier to not stress out over your assignment. It will leave you more time to get yourself and your assignments together.

Having things done when they need to be done helps to avoid rushing things to get them in. also allowing yourself  enough time to do your work assures you that you will do your work to the best of the ability.

Also if you want to give your team the effort they deserve from you then its best to go to practice ready to practice with a clear head.

Overall, you need to work hard for you and your team. You are in college to learn, get an education, and get a degree. But you have to work hard for your team too. They need you just as much as you need them. So work hard, manage your time and be prepared.

EXTRA CREDIT

College is a time to meet new people, have fun, and learn new things. Sometimes all those things can be a lot to take in. When you are starting off in a new place it can be hard to learn how and when to make time for certain things, especially when you are an athlete. College athletes struggle with all the same things as every other college student but they have a little more on their plates. With practices and classes it can be hard to find time for anything else. Just because their athletes does not mean they do not want to go out and have fun with their friends. It just means they have to work twice as hard to make sure they have free time to go out with their friends.

 

In Arthur Luebber’s article, he gives helpful tips on how to best manage your time as a college athlete. He says that a sports team can be compared to a full time job, I agree with this statement 100%. With team meetings, practices, and games, it can be hard to find time for anything else. When you leave practice, or come home from a game you are physically and emotionally drained. Its tough to sit down and do hours of homework after all of that. Luebber says that you should try to keep your schedule as simple as possible. Try and cut out unnecessary time wasting things, like taking a long time to get ready in the morning because little things like that can free up a lot of time for whether it be studying or just some free time to spending hanging out with friends

 

In another helpful article, written by Xenia Stewart, she explains that a establishing a schedule is crucial. You will have to base it around your practice and class schedule. Stewart also happens to be a senior guard for the Pittsburgh University women’s basketball team, so she speaks from experience. She goes on to tell the readers, “Keep in mind, though, there will likely be team rules about missing classes, being late for practice and workouts, etc. It would be wise not to try to squeeze things in at the last minute.” So you really do have to stay ahead of the game (literally and figuratively).

 

Overall, the most important thing for a college athlete to stay on top of their game is to have a strict schedule, and STICK TO IT. If you set your schedule and always make sure you have time to study and do homework you will always be able to do what you want in your free time and won’t be stressing over what assignments are due. YOU CAN DO IT ALL, IF YOU BALANCE YOUR TIME!

 

 

http://www.helium.com/items/659496-time-management-tips-for-college-athletes k

Outlook on the Upcoming Rowan Men’s Basketball season.

Jason Sofman is a junior at Rowan University and plays forward for Rowan Men’s Basketball team. The team is already 3-0 with their win against Montclair State in their home opener last night. They won 73-71 in the last 8 seconds of the game. The team hopes to beat Ramapo who eliminated them last year. This video gives a quick outlook on the upcoming season, what their strengths are this year as opposed to last year, and what goals the team hopes to accomplish throughout the season.

Kristen Molinelli Gives Helpful Tips on Time Mangement

 

Kirsten Mollinelli smiles becuase she is stress free!
photo taken By: Anne Palmer

Kristen Molinelli is a junior at Rowan University. She has sturggled with time management and along the way has learned a few tricks and helpful pointers that she wishes to share. Kristen was a three sport varsity athlete in high school and beacuse of it she has learned a lot and now can better manage her time. Below is the link to hear her story.

http://soundcloud.com/annepalmer/kristen-molinelli

Until next time, I’m Anne Palmer.

Homecoming

Everyone loves homecoming weekend but it can be hard to prepare yourself for it. A lot of hard work goes in to homecoming weekend at Rowan. It starts of Friday night with a pep rally. Also on friday night, this year Rowan hosted its very own ROglow. Roglow is kind of a take off of the DAYGLOW: World’s Biggest Paint Party Tour. And everyone knows homecoming is nothing without a homecoming football game. And the Profs went on to win the game today against Morrisville State. Heres three pictures from the weekend, one from each event I just spoke about.

 

Ashley Marie Monica at the Rowan Homecoming Pep Rally

ROglow : Homecoming Weekend

 

Rowan Homecoming Football Game

Effort Is All It Takes

It is hard to find th balance in your life especially for student athletes. Not only do collegiate athlete struggle with finding balance with school and friends but they also have to factor in practice, team meetings, and games. It can be hard for student athletes to find the perfect balance. As in my last post I talked about how time management is a problem but the other problem is the effort.

Time management is a hard thing to cope with in college. You have classes, friends, and school work to juggle. When you throw in a sport it can get even tougher.

Being on a collegiate sports team is kind of like having a full-time job. When you have practice  everyday and workouts with the team every morning its hard to find time for everything else. Sometimes you have to say no to going out and make sure that all your school work gets done. But last week when I interviewed Grace Kaler, she brought to my attention that it is not always so much of a balancing problem but more of an effort problem.

Grace talked to me about how when it comes to running she gives it her all, 110 % percent, no matter what. But when it comes time for to classes and school work she usually only gives about 70% percent. She said it is hard when it comes time to do school work to giver it her all. She said because she it so exhausted from practice or a meet that it is a struggle to sit down and due three hours of homework afterwards. She said she struggles with this a lot and if she could just put a little more effort in to her school work she would probably be a straight A student.

Here a few things to take away from this…

• Make sure to always get enough sleep
• Try to do work ahead of time so you are not pressed for time
• Make sure to always eat well because it’s a good healthy energy boost

Until next time, I’m Anne Palmer.

Getting to Know A Student-Athlete

For this post I interviewed Grace Kaler. Grace is a junior at Rowan University, she runs for both the track and cross country team. The point of this Q&A is to hear all about the struggles of being a student-athlete from someone who knows it best. Grace is going to fill us in how to manage our time, be better prepared for what life throws at you, and some overall great advice

Q: What obstacles have you faced as a student-athlete?

A: The standard answer would be that I don’t have enough balance between my homework, classes, practices, and meets but that’s not really an issue for me. In fact, I think being an athlete improves my time management. However, my real obstacle is how much heart I put into my schoolwork. I put my heart and soul into running whereas with schoolwork I don’t put nearly as much emphasis into it. o\On the track I always give 110% but with schoolwork I only give about 70%. If I tried harder on schoolwork, I’d definitely be doing better.

Q: What have been some of your highs/ lows?

A: highs are definitely our wins, winning for every sport is a main goal. There is no better feeling than celebrating great accomplishments with your team, every race we try our absolute hardest to go out and win it. personally, my lows are dealing with injuries. I am currently sitting out this season of cross country due to a health issue, it kills me to not be racing but at the same time i have to remember how truly blessed i am to still be a part of my team and am still able to support my girls. Regardless of my injury, i was able to obtain a captain spot this year, being able to lead my girls despite not racing is a great feeling. I am so honored that i still have the respect and opportunity from my fellow teammates and coach to have this spot.

Q: Has there been anything that has surprised you, anything you felt you weren’t prepared for?

A: the health issue I just mentioned is something I wasn’t expecting in the least bit. I found out 10 weeks ago that I have a type of arthritis, which is unfortunately a disease so I will be most likely battling this for the rest of my life. The arthritis developed in my knees, which runners relay on heavily. I am on intense medication so I hope to be able to come back and finish my last 2 years of NCAA eligibility.

Q: Do you have any stories that epitomizes your career as a student athlete?

A: Not as a student-athlete, but as a future professional. This year has taught me more about running than any years prior. I now get to see what goes into the sport of running besides the actually running part. I get to see my team through another set of eyes now that I’m not racing. I am leading, as well as helping my coach out in all ways possible behind the scene. I feel as though this year has taught me more about what it means to be a runner than any other year

Q: And lastly, what advice would you give to freshmen student athletes who are just starting out their college careers?

A: My advice to freshmen coming in is to always always keep your head held high, it will prevail in the long run. The sport of running is rather frustrating because not every race will be your best race, which can get extremely discouraging at times. However, if you keep working and staying positive, chances are, you will be better than you ever were before.