A new chapter: giving up athletics in college

Giving up athletics in college after being a very involved athlete in high school can be a difficult transition for many students, like junior communication studies major Christopher Aguirre (pictured). Photo courtesy of Christopher Aguirre

College is a transformative experience for most people. They are exposed to new things and environments, all while trying to find themselves and being their professional, adult careers. 

It can also be a challenging time especially for those who are transitioning from being full-time high school student athletes to now only being solely students. 

The Panther spoke with former high school student athlete Christopher Aguirre, a junior communication studies major, about his transition away from athletics full time. 

“Soccer was pretty much my entire life growing up,” Aguirre said. “I had been playing it six or seven days a week since like second grade.” 

Sharing the same sentiment but with basketball and volleyball is Kylie Papadopoulos, a senior psychology major. 

“I think it was really difficult because with sports like you have that schedule and you have routine and then you come here and you don't have routine anymore,” Papadopoulos said. “So you have to learn how to build your schedule and manage your time, as well as find new ways to work out and still feel like mentally fine.”

The mental toll that shifting from the sport can take on you was expressed by both Aguirre and Papadopoulos. 

“It was difficult emotionally because well, I'm a really extroverted person,” Aguirre said. “So with soccer and being on two teams, it was a lot of my social life and I got a lot of my energy from being with my teammates and my coaches and anybody that I played soccer with.” 

Papadopoulos also shared a stark realization she had about her relationship with playing athletics with her mental health. 

“Looking back, I didn't realize how much my mental state relied upon me playing sports and being active,” Papadopoulos said. “Because sports in high school were very ‘go, go, go.’ The second I stopped doing that. My mind was like, ‘Oh, you're taking a break.’ Then because of that, my mind started to not shut down, but I realized how it was affecting my mental state.”

To get through these tough times, both students relied on structure and other activities to guide them along this new chapter.

“You find structure to get through that period,” Papadopoulos said. “I really tried to focus on classes and try to get involved in clubs. I found a workout routine that worked for me and being able to incorporate was good, along with picking up photography and working at Target.”

Aguirre took a different approach by staying involved with the sports he played so much but from a different point of view. 

“I play for the Panther recreational soccer team and just with my friends,” Aguirre said. “I was also able to start watching my favorite soccer teams play here in the U.S. or in Europe. I got to watch more professional competitions. I think just staying on top of that and having a topic to talk with my friends about was another thing that really helped me out through that time to that transition.”

They both also shared that the time in their sports taught them lots of valuable life lessons that they carry with them now. 

“I realized how negative sometimes my team situations would be,” Papadopoulos said. “I take how I got through it and learn how I navigated through those situations then and how they impact how I go through situations now. Also, just the whole ‘you can't determine every single play’ mentality relates to the idea that you have to kind of live in the moment and see what works, see what doesn't work.” 

Aguirre shared how his sport applied not only to life but academics as well. 

“I mean, soccer applies to everyday life as well,” Aguirre said. “I think just working hard and staying on top of schoolwork, just as I did with soccer because I'm not playing soccer all the time.”

Both Aguirre and Papadopoulos also reflected on words of advice they would give to others going through the same type of transition. 

“Find more hobbies because you're not defined by your sport,” Papadopoulos said. “You have many identity traits and you're not defined by a sport. You're in college, try new things, because everything could be an opportunity for you to awaken a new part of your identity and don't get upset at yourself for things not being the same from athletes to or athletics to non athletics.”

Aguirre took a different approach with telling athletes to keep up with their former sport and not to give up on it.

“I think the main thing I would say is get involved with your former sport or sports,” Aguirre said. “To completely stray away from the sport when you've been so active in it for the last 10 to 15 years of your life is hard. Try to play with friends, or, you know, if you go to a school that has a club team or a recreational program, I'd say join that. Do your own drills if you have to, but whatever you do, just stay on top of the sport and don't stray away from it completely because it'll be harder in the long run.”