What is life like outside of Academics and Athletics in the USA?
Author ~ Cat Albuquerque
Being at college in the United States is a unique experience, and is very different to what most student-athletes would experience if they were to attend university in their home countries. Despite your main focus being academies and athletics at university, there are so many opportunities for you to take part in outside of this, whilst still performing well in the classroom and in your sport. Some activities include: exploring different cities in the US, taking part in events at your university, tailgating with friends at an American Football game, and watching the NFL Superbowl game at a local sports bar. There are so many must-do’s in the States, and there is also plenty of time to take part in a lot of them.
Some of our CSUSA/Keystone Sports interns have spoken a little about their experiences outside of school and athletics. Here is what they had to say:
What is your favourite city inside/outside the US, that you have visited whilst in college?
Inside the US it has to be Miami. It is a city that has absolutely everything: weather, cleanliness, amazing people, shopping, beaches etc. Outside the US it has to San Pedro, Belize. This is where I had my spring break in 2022. It is a country with a lot of poverty – very different from Norway – which is what made it so special. I learned a lot from seeing a city like San Pedro, as it showed me how grateful I am for what I have, and made me more appreciative of all the smaller things in life. It is a place I will never forget!
What sort of activities do you enjoy doing outside of school and athletics?
I love to be social, hang out with friends, and just do whatever we feel like doing on that day. I am the type of person that lives by: “it is not the place that matters, it is the people.” But one thing we usually do is drive to Tampa, which is like 30 minutes away from campus, and we have lunch, grab coffees, and just enjoy the Florida weather!
Is there anything else/other experiences you would like to share with student-athletes thinking about attending college in the States?
I just love being over there [in the States], hanging out with good people in a warm climate every single day. It is something I do not take for granted. Every day I wake up feeling blessed for having such an amazing opportunity, and I think having that feeling every single day is a sign in itself. I recommend everyone to do the same, or at least try it for a year or two. If you do not try it, you will never know if it was for you. Get out there, outside your comfort zone, and you will definitely grow as a human being!
What sort of activities do you enjoy doing outside of school and athletics?
During my time in college, my roommates and I started picking up golf as an activity to do when we had a day of practice. That helped us a lot to be able to get away from focusing on soccer.
What advice would you give student-athletes when it comes to doing things outside of school and athletics?
For me, one of the most important things is to make some American friends! If you have American friends, you will be invited to many cool American traditions. Also, talk as much English as possible – even with people who understand your native language! That allows people that don’t understand your native language to join in with your conversations. Doing this will lead to making new friends and being invited to many more activities you would not have considered yourself. You can be exposed to many more cool things if you create a good social network at your school.
Is there anything else/other experiences you would like to share with student-athletes thinking about attending college in the States?
One memory that stands out is after I visited my roommate’s family and gave them a bottle of Norwegian Akevitt. They started to bring a Norwegian flag to all of the soccer games they watched, and when my name was announced before the game, they waved the flag.
What is your favourite city inside/outside the US, that you have visited whilst in college?
My favourite city that I’ve visited during my time in college, was Miami – Chicago is also up there. I attended a university in central US and going to Miami was a big change in environment. The best things about Miami were the weather and the beaches. It felt like I was in the movie Baywatch, with all the palm trees. It was also cool to see all the supercars and other luxuries, and I would consider Miami the East coast version of LA. The activity and nightlife were awesome and it went on all day, usually until around 3am. It was also a great place for me to go and get some time off from everything that was going on in school, and just relax a bit more.
What cool things have you done with friends on a free weekend at college?
I’ve done a lot of cool things during weekends, from going to the lake, to an International Soccer Friendly, to the Mardi Gras Parade in St. Louis. I have also seen a college football game, however, I have never had the opportunity to go to a DI football game at a school like UCLA or Alabama State. I’ve been to several home games at my school, and it was still a very good atmosphere with lots of people, and an overall great experience with friends. Usually, good weather and me and my friends would have a great time, cracking jokes, and just enjoying the game and the energy.
What advice would you give student-athletes when it comes to doing things outside of school and athletics?
My advice for student-athletes is to be spontaneous and open to do things they haven’t tried out. School and athletics are obviously important, however, you need balance in life, and you get that from being socially active and doing things for fun, because that also creates good memories, stronger bonds with your friends, teammates, and other people around you. However, don’t feel pressured to do things you don’t want to do or that you’re not comfortable with, because you have got to do what’s right for you, which does not necessarily involve jumping on the bandwagon. You should also strive to find your purpose in life (the reason you wake up in the morning), which is easier said than done, however, if you do, you’ll achieve more fulfilment than most.
No matter what sport you play, there is always free time that you can spend exploring and participating in events that you would not otherwise have the chance to in your home countries. This is one of the many perks of attending college in the States. Whether you spend your spring break in one of the 50 states with friends, take a day trip to a new city to watch a DI college football game, or spend the day at the beach; you will have the best time and make memories that you will remember for the rest of your life.
Playing our sport and getting a degree is why we decide to take the leap to attend college in the US, however, it is these incredible experiences that keep us going back to the States every year!