A Day in My Life as a Student Athlete
by Ryan F.
My name is Ryan and I’m a Business Administration major and a member of the Men’s Swimming and Diving team at CMU.
On a typical day, I wake up around 7:30 a.m. and go for a run through Schenley Park for about an hour (if swimming is in season, replace the run with a morning practice). Schenley Park is a hilly, tree-filled park right next to campus and has several different trails (It's also a great place to sled ride!) After my morning workout, I eat breakfast at Au Bon Pain — my favorite breakfast spot out of our 35+ eateries on campus — before heading back to my dorm. After a quick shower, I head out to class.
On an average day, I have four classes, starting around 9 am and ending around 1 pm or so. I set up my schedule that way so I have a block of free time in the afternoons. These classes can be either a lecture, a recitation or office hours, depending on the day. My classes are in different campus buildings, so I have a chance to get some fresh air as I walk between them. After classes are over for the day, I head to Hunt Library to study and work ahead on homework for the upcoming week, typically while eating lunch from De Fer coffee shop on the first floor.
After spending a few hours hitting the books, I head back to my dorm before heading to afternoon swim practice and lifting session. If there is no team practice scheduled, I grab my tennis racquet and play for an hour or two with one of my good friends (it’s usually pretty easy to find an open court on campus).
After practice or tennis, I pick up dinner on the way back to my dorm, and then enjoy a night in with my roommates - either playing video games or watching sports on one of the big-screen TVs in our dorm common areas. Before heading to bed, I catch up on any emails and make sure that I’m up to date on homework.
And that’s a typical day in my life as a student athlete — thanks for coming along for the ride!