Balancing It All: The Reality of Being a Female Student-Athlete
Dr. Lauren Young
Owner & Founder of The GRL Initiative, empowering female student-athletes. Assistant Executive Director at VPA, advocating for equitable, inclusive, and educational-based athletics.
Hey GRLs,
I see you. I see the early mornings, the late nights, the constant juggling act of school, sports, home life, work, and friendships. Being a student-athlete is no joke. Some days, it feels like you’re crushing it. Other days, it feels like the weight of expectations—your own and everyone else’s—is just too much.
As the founder of The GRL Initiative, I want to remind you that you are not alone in this. The path you’re on is tough, but it’s also shaping you into a strong, resilient, and unstoppable force.
The Hard Days Happen—And That’s Okay
Some days, you’ll ace the test, kill it at practice, and still have energy to be there for your friends and family. Other days, you’ll feel like you can’t catch a break—maybe you bombed a quiz, had a rough game, and feel exhausted trying to keep up. These moments don’t define you. What defines you is how you keep going, how you ask for help when you need it, and how you show up for yourself even on the hardest days.
Finding Balance in the Chaos
Balancing all the parts of your life isn’t easy, but here are a few things that might help:
You Are Capable. You Are Enough.
This journey isn’t just about winning games or getting straight A’s. It’s about learning how to navigate challenges, advocate for yourself, and build a support system that lifts you up. You’re growing into a version of yourself that is powerful beyond measure. Keep going, GRL. You got this.
MBA Candidate @ Rome City Institute
1 周I relate to this! Finding balance is hard and figuring out what works for you specifically involves experimenting. What has worked for me recently, because it is ever changing, is 10 minutes of meditation as soon as I wake up!