What’s a Studlete?
I went to a school that demanded mastery in 2 very “different” areas of life. On the one hand we have school and on the other we have sport.
School required full attendance, extra-work when no body was watching, networking with peers, discipline, time management, communication, development and mastery.
On the other hand, we had… let’s stop right there for a minute. Go back to the last paragraph and replace the word school with the word sport.
Unfortunately, like my former self, many kids think school and sport are very different. So many young kids pour everything they have into their sports careers and leave whatever time/energy left to deal with school. In reality, kids should be integrating these two very “different” roles in order to become the best they can be.
Now, why do so many kids look at sport and school as two completely different roles?
Boys and girls who play organized competitive sports that are sponsored by educational institutions are labeled as “student athletes.” Kids are taught that student athletes are supposed to balance the roles of being a full-time student and the roles of being a full-time athlete. However, being labeled a student athlete, automatically trains kids to think 
that these are two completely different things. Not enough educators and coaches work together to let kids know the role of a student and the role of a athlete are similar in so many ways.
Without even noticing it, kids are using concepts, ideas and lessons learned in school and applying them to help them in sport. On the flip side, kids are utilizing concepts, ideas and lessons learned on the field and applying them to help with school. A kid who understands that athletics and school can coincide to help foster development in both areas is what we at FLG like to call a studlete.
Studlete :: noun :: one who uses integration to create competitive separation.
A studlete understands how preparation for an exam can carry over to the way one prepares for a game. A studlete understands how having the internal patience to figure out a problem will carry over how one figures out a rival opponent. A studlete understands that having respect for your coach & your teammates will carry over to how you respect your teachers and peers. A studlete understands that how one overcomes adversity on the field will carry over to how one responds to a poor grade on an exam.
Please, do not look at school as irrelevant, second choice or unimportant. Look at school as an opportunity to discover, ask questions and generate ways to become better at all phases of life. On the flip side, take the lessons learned on the field and apply them to becoming a better person, student, family member and friend. Think outside the box, be well rounded, integrate and separate yourself from everyone. It’s not too late to start!
Are you a studlete?
