Education Chat: The Balancing Act of Student Athletes

Being a student is difficult enough, but what happens when you put a physical commitment on top of it? This is the reality that student athletes must face daily; a delicate balancing act that is required in order to become the best that they can be. In this jam-packed season 4 finale of Education Chat, your host Natalie Hinton learns what it takes to be a successful student athlete both on the field and in the classroom.

To truly understand the lives of student athletes, Natalie sits down with four students enrolled at California State University San Bernardino. Each person has their own major and their own sport they are dedicated to, and that level of devotion comes with their own unique experiences. Two seniors (Tereise Tosi, John Kim) and two graduate students (Jaida Jackson, Alexandra Ackerman) are featured on Education Chat to discuss their commitments and how they manage their busy schedules. The stories that each of these student athletes share highlight the discipline and determination it takes to succeed in both arenas.

Adding depth to the conversation, Shareef Amer, the Director of Athletics at CSUSB, joins Education Chat to discuss the vital role of institutional support. As someone who works directly with these competitors, Amer knows better than anyone what struggles they face and what they need to be supported. From academic advising to mental health resources, explore how universities in the Inland Empire are helping student athletes thrive both on and off the field. 

Even if you are not a student athlete yourself, you can still gain insight on the extraordinary lives of student athletes and learn from the lessons they teach us. All students with commitments of their own have to overcome their own balancing act. From having a job, an internship, a family, and more, these student athletes provide tips and tricks that can inspire other students, parents, and educators to lead productive lives of their own.