Tough Situation --> Please Help!!!

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>I’ve run spring track freshman year and cross country sophomore year. As a rising junior, however, I’m faced with a dilemma.</p>

<li><p>Cross country practice is 6 days a week, monday through saturday. I am attending Columbia SHP on saturdays, so that’s one practice missed.</p></li>
<li><p>On wednesdays, I have to work from 3-7 at Kumon, so that’s another practice missed.</p></li>
<li><p>On thursdays, I have table tennis lessons and a training session starting in the afternoon, so that’s a third practice missed (I’m nationally ranked and a junior olympic gold medalist, and I train 3-4 times a week).</p></li>
<li><p>In addition, my local community center has offered me a volunteer opportunity to teach table tennis, most likely on tuesdays.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Last year, I was able to balance all this because I didn’t have Columbia, Kumon, or the table tennis class, and my coach let me miss practice once a week on thursdays. Now, however, I feel overwhelmed.</p>

<p>I love running, but there’s only a slight chance that I’ll make varsity this year. It seems to me that by doing cross country (and dropping numbers 1, 2, and 4), I’ll be wasting precious opportunities for other things, not to mention grades and SATs and what not. My coach, who also happens to have been my history teacher sophomore year, is a really cool guy. On top of that, there’s a good chance I’ll have him for history again junior year, so I do not want to damage our relationship.</p>

<p>My parents have told me to quit cross country, but I have yet to think of a nice way to break it out to my coach. I think this is what I’m really faced with. After typing this entire entry out, I think I’m leaning even more toward quitting cross country, but tell me what you think.</p>

<p>Thank you in advance!</p>

2

<p>As a die hard CC runner...I say keep running. A sport can be very good for a resume, and cross country is one of the best.</p>

3

<p>If you like to run then do cross country. It all depends on which is more important to you. Either way you will just have to learn how to manage your time but I wouldn't worry too much about that. Just do what makes you happy.</p>

4

<p>I say quit because you have all these other opportunities that would be really good. And your guts says quit. I think that would be best.</p>

5

<p>Thanks for the replies!</p>

<p>Falcon, I love cross country too, but I already have another sport which I'm much better in -- table tennis.</p>

<p>kk, I like running, but I think I have to sacrifice it for more different opportunities.</p>

<p>GreenDayFan, that's along the lines of what I was thinking....</p>

6

<p>Why don't you just tell your coach what you told us? Maybe he'll let you run JV if you can only come to some of the practices. Your resume will look even better with all your activities as well as a sport.</p>

7

<p>mw05, he won't let me do that. I talked to him before about the possibility. He says he expects everyone, not just varsity, to come to every single practice unless in emergencies. I also do not want to overload myself with activities, especially junior year. Finally, I play table tennis, which counts as a sport?</p>

8

<p>bump...........</p>

9

<p>Well, it depends on whether you like cross country more, or Kumon, table tennis, and Columbia SHP combined more. I'd probably pick the latter if I were you.</p>

10

<p>is it really important to be on varsity? maybe you can work something out..</p>

11

<p>Hahah I work at Kumon too - but in Plainsboro/Princeton/Lawrenceville. At first I was thinking of who you could be, but then I realized we're open 4-7 on Wednesdays, not 3-7.</p>

<p>Anyway, quit Kumon - it's stupid :P.</p>

<p>The sports coaches at my school allow athletes to miss up to two practice per week for clubs and stuff. I don't know how your school's system is.</p>

12

<p>at my school you can't even miss one a week on a regular basis. Only if you have a note and it's just an occaisonal thing. And if you miss the practice before a game/meet/whatever you can't play. But anyways, do what your heart says. Which would be more enjoyable?</p>

13

<p>Hey theoneo, what town do you live in?</p>

<p>Also, I think I'm quitting cross country and going for the others. Thanks for your input!</p>

14

<p>do what you love. You always have to make these decisions, and you can't have regrets. Everything happens for a reason.</p>