The Student-Athlete Community Anonymous

“Hey, dude! Bet you can’t run a 5k,” goaded my friend.

He was the track all-star at school. The student-athletes would joke about the rivalry between us, as I’m a competitive swimmer. So, I took up his bet and registered for the Dublin Distance Fiesta, a 5k fundraiser to raise funds for my school’s track team.Our student-athlete community across my high school is so tight-knit, that we have 2000 athletes show up for the fundraiser, from volleyball setters to basketball point guards. We all feel unified to represent Dublin High and carry our school’s legacy.

I take pride in being part of this athlete community because we understand the physical challenges that athletics pushes us to overcome, alongside maintaining a rigorous academic balance. We feed off each other’s strength and power because we deeply understand the importance of hard work and persistence. All sports had twice daily practice for Sectionals. On top of that, we were expected to keep our grades up. By virtue of this, we learned the importance of grit and persistence. These shared values created camaraderie, and we athletes bonded.

The student-athlete community also reinforces values I’ve learned from my family: diligence and dedication. I grew up in a family that...