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Being A College Athlete- The Most Challenging & Rewarding Both- Says Emma Whitner!

    Being A College Athlete- The Most Challenging & Rewarding Both- Says Emma Whitner!

Karen Carter

Press Release

Media Contact: 513-226-5542

Being a college athlete is one of the most challenging, yet most rewarding things a person can do. You practice 20+ hours a week and there is certainly no skipping practices (except for illnesses, injuries, or emergencies of course). Besides practicing and competing, you must also take on a full course load and maintain a good enough GPA to keep your place on the team.

Any high school athlete who is thinking about college athletics must prepare themselves to not only excel in their sport, but in their education as well. College is a whole different ball game than high school (pun intended). However, people who work that hard to reach their goals in athletics are typically just as dedicated in all aspects of their life.

While playing a varsity sport in college can be challenging, it is also extremely beneficial. You learn responsibility, time management skills, tenacity, and great leadership skills, to name a few. Of course, I cannot forget to mention the potential of receiving scholarship money. Additionally, it never hurts to have college athletics listed on your resume when it comes time to apply for a job after college.   

Emma Whitner is a sophomore varsity diver at the University of Florida. Emma set a goal to dive in college while she was in 8^th grade and she worked hard enough to achieve that goal. In addition to diving, Emma maintains a near-perfect GPA, is a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, held a summer internship position this past summer at a real estate company, and outside of college life, she is a debutante. Emma says she has diving to thank for her outstanding college career thus far.

“Being an athlete my whole life has taught me how to set goals and achieve them. It has also driven me to be the very best person that I can be.”

Emma diving during the 2018 SEC Championship meet

If you have the option of participating in a sport in college but you are on the fence, you will have to decide if it’s right for you. If you know that you can handle the course workload along with long hours of practicing, then you should consider the positive impact it can have on your future.

Learn the experience of being a college athlete from the Emma Whitner Florida- A UF Diver!  She says being an athlete my whole life has taught me how to set goals and achieve them. It has also driven me to be the very best person that I can be.”