The Student-Athlete Subculture Within the day-to-day scheme of academics, there are a variety of subcultures that exist within the student body. One such subculture is that of student-athletes. The student-athlete group is made up of individuals who play sports while attending classes at a college or high school. A common goal that unites them is the determination to give their best in their sport and to help the team they are part of achieve the highest goal it can achieve. These students must dedicate many hours to practicing and practicing their chosen sport alongside others who are their teammates. The intensity and hard work of this effort creates a kind of tight bond between the other athletes. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay As a result, much of their social life outside of sports is interconnected as similar friendships and interests form. This subculture exists primarily in college and high school, although it likely begins in elementary school. Sport and school are essentially synonymous, as is the presence of student-athletes. Fellow students either love or hate sports and express similar respect for those who play them. The existing controversies are the result of strong stereotypes that athletes are given good grades, easy classes, and a free academic ride so they can play sports, has created great anger among non-athletic students. The other common stereotype is that male athletes are popular athletes who are rude, arrogant, ignorant, and condescending. These stereotypes create an even greater distance between student-athletes and non-athletic students. Surprisingly, there are a number of studies that point to these stereotypes as false. In a 2015 Time Magazine article, a researcher who is also a university professor found the opposite to be true. His findings and personal experience found that most student-athletes cared a lot about their academics and getting good grades. When students misbehaved, it was linked to a phenomenon called pluralistic ignorance, which is where a group acts a certain way because of their perception of what they believe others in the group believe. In numerous cases, student-athletes say they hate school because they believe their peers hate it and decide to take easy classes because they don't want to be seen as exhibitionists. Most of the group doesn't know that most of them actually care about academics, so they continue to behave in a way that prevents them from standing out. What follows is a self-perpetuating cycle of actions that is continually based on false beliefs. (Piazza, Zocalo Public) It is relatively easy for knowledgeable and committed people to enter and become part of this subculture. Skill and hard work are widely respected among student-athletes who look for people who have a good team mentality and are committed to working together towards the common goal of winning. The lives of student-athletes are challenging. According to a newspaper article about the student-athletes, their schedules are very demanding. The full class load combined with practice, play and other responsibilities leaves them with an average of only 4.5-6 hours of sleep per night. Traveling to play wreaks havoc on trying to keep up with schoolwork and maintain a good GPA. (Zak, Sean) With such a demanding schedule, there is little tolerance for people who don't have a similar commitment. My friend Daniel is onestudent-athlete who has been playing sports since he was in sixth grade and has always loved sports. In an interview I asked him what it was like to be part of that subculture. He was excited to talk about this aspect of his life and how the love for it led him to play sports in college. As a student-athlete, he has found that it is a small but dedicated group of people who work hard to balance school and life. He routinely trains more than 30 hours a week in addition to the time spent competing. This means that a large part of his life is absorbed by this subculture. Being in this group has had both positive and negative effects. One benefit he appreciates is having top priority in class selection to avoid missing them due to scheduling conflicts. However, the most significant benefits are on a more personal level, such as the long-lasting, deep and meaningful friendships established with teammates. Experiencing the euphoria that comes from winning after so much hard work is another benefit. On the negative side, he found that there are definite stereotypes associated with being an athlete that make his interaction within the student body more difficult. A widely held misconception is that athletes are not interested in academics and are essentially ignorant athletes. Student-athletes isolate themselves due to the misconception that they only want to socialize with their own peers. Being part of this group, he says that most of the time these stereotypes are not accurate. Daniel says he knows several student-athletes who are intelligent and very interested in academics. Furthermore, they are polite and would gladly include others in their group, but due to the extensive bond with their fellow athletes, they naturally form closer bonds with their teammates. The college he attends has a large sports focus, so there are quite a few athletes on campus, which allows for a wider range of friendships. (Interview with Daniel)When Daniel reflects on the level of commitment he has in playing sports, he likes to see it as a hobby because it is an activity that he enjoys doing. Like any hobby to become proficient, spend at least 3 hours a day practicing. His running schedule is 7 days a week and 3 to 4 days a week he doubles his running. Occasionally he will have to miss a class due to a meeting. There is little free time and he recognizes that it takes a lot of time, so it is also a lifestyle. (Interview with Daniel) Being a student-athlete is something my friend highly recommends to anyone interested in sports. Playing sports is a great way to get fit, meet new people and be active in the community. Creating friendships that will last forever is a lifelong benefit. Having to face and overcome obstacles and difficulties has developed a strong work ethic. Athletes can work hard and perform well in school and in sports. The challenge is great and time consuming, but it is worth it, especially if you truly love your sport. The sports industry market is expected to reach an unprecedented $73. $5 billion by 2019. (Heitner, Darren) Sports, in addition to being a popular pastime for many around the world, is a great money generator. Professional teams will continue to look for new talent. As the industry continues to grow, more and more money is made available in the form of scholarships for student-athletes. The first recorded Olympics date back to 760 BC and their popularity has only increased. (Wood, Robert) This suggests that we can confidently say that sports and student-athletes are here to stay. The student-athlete subculture is subject to strong negative stereotypes regarding.