NCAA Student Athletes: Why You Need to Attend the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum (And What Will Happen If You Don't)

By allisonchandler9

  • Freshman year

    Freshman year
    Trying to fit in with your team. Have a few non-athlete friends but develop strongest friendships with teammates. Trying to make time for other interests but this proves difficult. image: "2012 SFU Football" (CC BY 2.0) by SFU - University Communications

  • Sophomore year

    Sophomore year
    More confident in team dynamics. Spend most time on sport. Athletic identity increases and student identity decreases. Become totally immersed in your sport. image: "LR300B-8301.jpg" (CC BY-NC 2.0) by millsjpg

  • Junior year

    Junior year
    Friends outside sport drop off. School and sport pressure increases but you are much more worried about your sport. Planning to go pro and don't think anything else is an option. image: "Coaching" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Gerry Dincher

  • Senior year

    Senior year
    Still planning to go pro. Barely complete easy degree just to remain eligible. All focus is on your sport. image: "NBA Draft Board" (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) by pursuethepassion

  • 1 year post graduation

    1 year post graduation
    Realize going pro isn't going to happen, which leads to a severe identity crisis. You don't know who you are anymore. You have limited job prospects. image: "Losing" (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) by danielfoster437

  • 5 years post graduation

    5 years post graduation
    Reminiscing about college days while living in your parent's basement. image: "Head in Hands" (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) by cellar_door_films

  • Freshman Year

    Freshman Year
    Trying to fit in with your team. Have a few non-athlete friends, but develop strongest friendships with teammates. Trying to make time for other interests but this proves difficult. image: "Sierrah Soto Assistant Coach" (CC BY-NC 2.0) by James and Deb's WVU Tech Photos

  • Sophomore Year

    Sophomore Year
    More confident in team dynamics. Spend most time on sport but attend NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum since it is advertised and widely available. Realize that you do have time, and should include other interests. image: "IMG_9892" (CC BY 2.0) by arnybo

  • Junior Year

    Junior Year
    Balanced athletic and student identity. Work hard at your sport but realize you won't go pro, and are okay with that. Involved with multiple non-sport organizations on campus. Because of this, score an awesome internship related to your major which is Sports Medicine. image: "Emily Geldbach Assistant Coach" (CC BY-NC 2.0) by James and Deb's WVU Tech Photos

  • Senior Year

    Senior Year
    Focus is balanced on sport but also on future outside of sport. Graduate with a degree in Sports Medicine, use your experience as a student athlete, as well as campus involvement to get hired for a job working with athletes. image: "Volleyball Player Graduates" (CC BY-NC 2.0) by pennstatenews

  • 1 Year Post Graduation

    1 Year Post Graduation
    Working a job you love in the sports field. Strong sense of self and purpose. No post graduation identity crisis. image: "Sports Injuries & Physiotherapy" (CC BY 2.0) by durrah03

  • 5 Years Post Graduation

    5 Years Post Graduation
    Working as an athletic trainer for a professional sports team. Think back fondly of college days but focused on the future and building your already successful career. image: "Sports Injuries & Physiotherapy" (CC BY 2.0) by durrah03