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34 // SEPTEMBER 2023 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM Make Time for a Social Life The term "burnout" is heard a lot in the hockey community. Lessons, mini- camps, and extra showcases come at a cost—friends outside of the rink. Remember to make time for school dances, birthday parties and sleepovers with your classmates. Attempt to get involved in various clubs and different things at school. Maybe it is student government, a media organization or e-sports. Don't be nervous to dedicate some time to other hobbies and interests beyond playing hockey. Hockey can certainly be a big part of your life, but if you allow it to become the only part of your life, you will look back and wish you would have done things differently. Practice those time management skills and get involved in something outside of hockey that interests you. It will help you grow into a more well-rounded person. Don't Be Afraid to Take a Breather Sometimes, your body will flat-out tell you, "I am tired, and I need some Netflix." Listen to your body! You don't need a stick in your hand or your nose in a book all day long. It's OK to take a few hours to decompress. It's good for you. Trust that you know what you want to achieve in the classroom and on the ice and that your work ethic and grit will get you there. Even the hardest workers on and off the ice need a day to binge the latest season of their favorite show. Take it! Trust that Your Teachers Understand One of the easiest ways to stay on top of things is turning to your teachers and letting them know you play hockey. You will be surprised how invested they become in your success on and off the ice. The key to getting help is simple. Don't be afraid to ask for it. Teachers want to see you do well, and when you struggle, they want to help you turn it around. Create a rapport with all of your teachers, so that when you do hit a bump in your academic journey, (and all student-athletes hit bumps) approaching them isn't something to worry about, but rather, just another daily conversation. Balancing a sport as demanding as hockey with school is a challenging task. It takes motivation, determination and a lot of late nights. However, the rewards are endless. The balancing act will teach you life skills like teamwork, physi- cal endurance, perseverance, commitment, and time man- agement that will translate into college and your career. When you feel overwhelmed between what needs to be done on the ice and in the classroom, take a step back, look at the big picture, set small goals, plan, and start grinding. Will it be easy? Doubtful. Will it be worth it? Absolutely. P Erin Schollaert, a hockey mom of three, has spent 17 of years with the Seneca Valley School District, a district outside of Pittsburgh, as a middle school English and a high-school business teacher. Even the hardest workers on and off the ice need a day to binge the latest season of their favorite show. Take it! 4 5 6 Back to S C H O O L , Back to H O C K E Y