Should I Quit Cross Country?

I am a senior who is likely to be the valedictorian at my high school (120 people in my class). For the last 3 years I have done Cross Country despite my love for the sport fading. I joined the team three years ago because of some advice I heard about being well rounded. I am not super athletic and have ran JV each year with no real shot of making Varsity. I hesitantly signed up for Cross Country this year because I had such a poor season last year-I ran bad and was extremely sore every day to the point where getting out of bed was somewhat painful. So far, I have went to three practices this year and have consistently been the last one finishing runs. Not only that, but the soreness/pain I experienced for the entire season has returned and will probably not go away. To this point, I have lost all love I had for the sport and am seriously considering quitting. Over the past three years, Cross Country hasn’t really affected my academics, but it is such a serious time commitment and I could really use extra time to work on my applications and essays.

The only concern I have with quitting is how it will look on my application. I do other more enjoyable extra curricular activities, but none are close to the time commitment of Cross Country. I am a member of two bands at my school, the youth ministry program, and NHS. A few years ago I co-founded a Science Olympiad club with one of my friends, but unfortunately it didn’t run last year because no one signed up. I also am a co-religion teacher at my local Church, teaching 7th graders with my Mom. I work two jobs, but Cross Country would make me quit one and severely reduce the hours on the other.

I feel like four years of a tough sport like Cross Country would really complete my application, but I could really use some extra time this fall. I took the SAT and ACT once each, getting a 1460 and 33, respectively and would like to at the very least, take two SAT subject tests this fall, if not a whole new test. I plan on applying to some Ivy League schools, and am unsure if I should continue something that makes me physically and mentally miserable. I have little to no direction for what I want to do in college and I feel like some free time would certainly help.

It is fine to stop track. Unless you are a recruited athlete (which it seems you are not);doing a sport counts the same as any other EC – so you may as well focus on things you enjoy.

Go ahead and end your cross country career. You have plenty of other activities and as I read your post, you can consider stopping due to injury. If you don’t love this and are in pain every day, go ahead and rest your poor legs! I feel badly that you feel under such pressure to continue something you don’t love that puts you in physical pain. What are we doing to kids that they think they must do this to have the best possible options for college?

Quit. Part of leading a balanced life is choosing what to do. And what to NOT do. You gave this a fair shake.

Hopefully, it has given you perspective on your classmates who are slaving academically and not getting the results you are.