Post-Season Life: It's Here

I'm not sure if you have been following Tufts sports teams, but the end of winter season has finally arrived. There have been so many accomplishments by several different teams, including Hockey's NESCAC upset of #1 ranked Trinity, Swimming & Diving crushing it, Men's and Women's Track & Field teams breaking records, including National Champion Mitchell Black in the 800 meters! Granted, all of this season has concluded, but I hope the Tufts community takes advantage of the "warm" (weird, I know) weather to support our spring teams!

"Go Bo's!"

As a member of the Tufts Women's Basketball Team we were fortunate to have a very successful season, achieving our goal of defending our NESCAC Championship as well as returning to the NCAA Final Four in Grand Rapids, Michigan for a second consecutive year. We couldn't have done any of this without the support of the Tufts community, dedicated TUWB fans, and our families! So, a big thank you to everyone who supports Tufts Athletics, and Roll Bos'!

"Baller!"
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As winter athletes, we participate in the longest season and often have the most conflicts with scheduling classes since the season spans both the fall and spring academic semesters. I covered this in a previous post about how to practice good time management skills, and I included several career resources for student athletes. However, in this post I want to cater to those athletes who are now out-of-season. Believe it or not, there is a transition back to semi-normalcy when you are out-of-season. Below are some tips for the transition to "post-season life" to ensure you are taking advantage of free time, as well as resources available that you probably were unable to take advantage of in season.

Free Time!
We thought this day would never come. After practicing, lifting, getting treatment and having film sessions almost everyday, you have probably forgotten what it's like to not go to the gym 6 days a week. It's pretty exhausting to think of how many hours you've dedicated to your respective sport, but guess what? You've made it! Now it's time to heal up and rest your body so you can be ready to attack next season's goals.

One of the biggest changes in your schedule is the amount of free time that you are experiencing. Usually varsity coaches give their winter teams a few weeks off before beginning post-season practices, which are often very flexible and lighter than in-season. With all this free time it may be tempting to go on a Netflix binge and catch up on the shows you've missed. But, to be honest, now is the best time for you to catch up on coursework, meet with your professors, and focus on career development. (Don't worry -  you may still find time to start a new Netflix show.)

"Mad Men is my new show!"
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Registering for Fall Classes
Choosing courses for next year is extremely important, especially if you're a junior (yikes, senior year is approaching!) Touching base with your major advisor to make sure your distribution requirements will be met is extremely important. You can also see your assigned advising dean: they know everything and are super helpful. Ask questions! You don't want to reach senior year and then realize you have to take another class!

If you planned everything correctly, then you might actually be able to take classes with Tufts renowned professors in topics that you weren't able to get into because of late registration times. Ask around campus; current seniors will definitely let you know what class you MUST take before you leave campus. Check out this Tufts Admissions post on the most popular classes at Tufts. Don't be afraid to try something new!

Assistant Athletic Director Branwen King is setting up an Athlete Liaison Advising Program for each Tufts athletic team; the goal is to have a faculty liaison that athletes can access for questions about majors, classes, and career advising. If you have any input into which professors you feel would fit with your team, contact your SAAC rep!

Extracurriculars
Playing a varsity sport is the ultimate extracurricular activity at Tufts. But, of course, as a Tufts students, we have several other interests as well. It's unfortunate that due to time constraints, many Tufts athletes aren't able to experience student groups and professional clubs on campus. Well, now is your chance! Since this post is mostly catered to career development, here are a few professional clubs at Tufts that will help you gain experience in an industry before you graduate:

• Imaginet
• Tufts Financial Group
• DevTech
• Tufts CEEO (Center for Engineering Education & Outreach)
• Tufts Democrats/Tufts Republicans
• Tufts Pre-Law Society
• Tufts Pre-Health Society

There are so many clubs! Ask around or check out the student organization directory. Now is the time to take full advantage of your free time! Don't hold back, try new things!

Carpe Diem,

Nicole Brooks
Class of 2016

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The Transition: "Pre-Season to In-Season"

November is here. I repeat November is here. For many of you this month may not have that much significance, but for NESCAC winter athletes, November 1^st is the day that we can finally begin official practices for our respective seasons. The transition from out of season to in season is a big jump, especially since November 1^st occurs right after midterms. Being in season can alter your entire schedule. For winter athletes, practices and games spill over from the fall semester into spring semester, limiting the classes we can take and when we can take them. Hello, 8 am classes - how I have not missed you!

"Early morning classes, after morning practice"
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This post will focus on the skills required to survive this transition, self-care tips like in Kelly’s upcoming post, and resources available to make this transition as smooth as possible.

Registering for Classes

For winter athletes, scheduling is a major concern as the winter season spans both fall and spring semester. This can be a source of stress for many, as availability for classes is narrow. Sometimes athletes are unable to take classes they need for their major, due to the timing of the class or it’s popularity coinciding with an unlucky registration window. For those struggling with scheduling for next semester don’t be afraid to schedule more meetings with your major/premajor advisor, career advisor, or even your assigned academic advising dean (don't know who your advising dean is?  check it out here). I have found speaking to my academic dean to be particularly de-stressing.  My dean is a great person to talk to - she has great insight into how to help students with time-constraints and course selection. If there is a conflict don’t be afraid to talk with your coach. The beauty of the NESCAC is that it's a Division III league aiming to be significantly focused on academic success. After going through the process I’ve also learned about which classes work for me within season. Whether it’s morning classes in the spring or harder classes in the fall, finding out what’s best for you is key towards success both in the game and in the classroom.

Time Management

As I mentioned in an earlier post on the advantages of being a student athlete, good time management is key maintaining sanity during the season. Since the new shift in time constraints can be a source of particular stress it is important to plan ahead in order to have a smooth transition. I know this will sound old school but planners and calendars really do help. Especially if you use a tool like iCal, you can sync your school calendar with your game and practice calendar, both on your phone and computer. This ensures you never “double book” yourself, and you know what’s coming up - team commitments, work, study time, papers, exams - it's easier to plan when you can see everything that's coming up. According to Positivity Blog, the act of writing down all your upcoming events makes you more likely to remember them. So plan ahead now!

Travel

Another large shift during in-season is the travel. Location, location, location. Traveling can take a toll, not only on your body, but on your mind. Look for the best places to study at Tufts as well as places to study when you are on the road. I’ve found some places that are ideal for prime studying. Whether on the bus or in a hotel, you have to get crafty in finding spots suitable for studying and completing homework. Let’s beat procrastination together!

"A lot of travel time"
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Communication

Make sure that you are on the same page with your professors. Identifying yourself as an in-season athlete and let professors know about your time constraints and travel commitments. And communicating this earlier, rather than later, will make it easier to reschedule exams and papers.

Careers & Internships

While the time available for updating your resume, finishing applications and preparing for interviews may seem limited, there are still opportunities for athletes to take advantage of career resources while in-season. For winter athletes who come back to campus during winter break, the Career Center is open regular hours! Winter break is a great time to schedule a career advising appointment  - fewer students schedule appointments during this time, so you'll have a career advisor all to yourself! The Career Center is also open during spring and summer breaks (Who would have thought?). Make sure you take advantage of these valuable resources.

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As we come to the end of these tips for the in-season transition I have to reiterate the importance of time management and self care.  It is important to make sure your body and mind are in sync and healthy in order to be successful (For more on this, stay tuned for Kelly's post). If you need to take a break, don’t be afraid to. Being a student-athlete can feel like working two jobs, so making sure that you are healthy in both mind and body is very important. Don’t forget to “Treat yo self”

Carpe Diem,

Nicole Brooks

Class of 2016

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