Being a student-athlete at Omaha South High School isn’t easy, but for girls soccer players Azul Agraz and Ashley Rodriguez, it’s something they stay committed to every day.
Rodriguez starts her day early, waking up at 6:30 a.m. and getting to school by 7 a.m. During the day, she focuses on her classes and schoolwork. After school, she heads straight to soccer practice or a game.
“Once I get home, I do homework, eat, shower and get ready for the next day,” Rodriguez said.
Agraz said staying on top of school is important, especially with such a busy schedule.
“I try to get my work done before practice or games,” she said. “Sometimes I ask my teammates for help too.”
Both players say time management is a big part of their lives. Rodriguez uses any free time during the day to finish homework so she doesn’t feel as stressed later.
Even with good planning, being a student-athlete can be challenging. Agraz said it’s hard to switch between focusing on school and sports.
“The most challenging part is balancing my two different mentalities,” she said.
Rodriguez added that it can be stressful trying to keep up with everything.
“It’s hard staying consistent and giving the same effort to school and soccer,” she said.
When things get tough, both athletes find ways to stay motivated. Rodriguez focuses on the positive and leans on the people around her, like teammates, coaches and family. Agraz said she takes deep breaths and depends on her teammates for support.
The sport also comes with sacrifices. Both players said they give up a lot of their free time for soccer, including hanging out with friends or relaxing. Agraz also mentioned dealing with injuries.
“Pretty much my body,” she said. “I get injured a lot.”
To stay healthy, she eats clean and uses ice baths to recover.
Even though it’s not always easy, both athletes say it’s worth it. They encourage others to try being a student-athlete but to be ready for the challenge.
“You just have to keep pushing no matter what,” Agraz said.
Rodriguez agrees.
“Stay dedicated and manage your time,” she said. “It really helps everything feel easier.”
For these Omaha South athletes, balancing school and soccer takes hard work, but it’s something they’re proud to do every day.
