Paw Print Writer: David Cardenas
Much of my life as a student-athlete has been defined by the structure of training and competition, striving toward some type of athletic goal. I've spent the last six years putting energy into cross country and track, breaking down my ambitions into a routine that gave me a clear sense of purpose, something to work toward, and a way to measure my progress. Now, as my collegiate running career closes, I'm seeking a new direction. Moving on from something so central to my identity is thrilling and uncertain. This article discusses how being a student-athlete has shaped my understanding of purpose and how I navigate this transition from the structured world of athletics into finding what is "greatness" in life beyond the track.
Rarely do I feel lost or that time is being wasted when I am working towards something much greater than myself. Setting small goals for myself to become a faster runner in four seasonal segments was very helpful during my six years as a cross-country/track collegiate athlete. The first season is summer; that is when I build my base mileage to prepare for the next phases. Then, I do cross country, when I hit the highest mileage of the year to build my long-distance stamina. Indoor track follows, then outdoor track. It gives me purpose, focusing me on the small steps that lead to a larger goal. Now this is very broad, there are usually smaller goals and challenges in between, but this generally keeps me determined and on track when I toe the line at a race.
Knowing this is my last year of running in college, I often find myself pondering exactly what it is that is next to come after. The rest of life is not going to be structured around seasons. That want for greatness remains, though. "Greatness" is something different to everyone, but to me, it is about striving towards goals that push me to be better. As I go through life, I keep searching for what my next "greatness" will be. But as a student-athlete, a sense of purpose far exceeds that which can be derived from athletic accomplishments. It speaks to something personal growth. Those endless training hours, the physical exhaustion, and the mental discipline it takes to compete at such a high collegiate level will teach you so much about resilience, focus, and time management. These qualities are instrumental in helping me on the track but have also bled into other parts of my life, including my academic pursuits and personal relationships. It's when you're part of a team that goals get bigger than your improvement; you're working toward something with others, sharing highs and lows, victories, and setbacks. That bond makes you responsible and, in the process, builds character.
These last years as a runner taught me that sometimes success is not just about how fast you run or how high you place, but the lessons you take away. Some of the hardest moments in training or competition have taught me the most. I could recall races where I wasn't doing as well as I had hoped, or practices where my legs simply wouldn't behave the way I wanted them to. I had doubted my ability back then, but all it took was to push on, and I soon realized that with every passing day, I was learning more about my threshold levels and how to surpass them. These moments of self-discovery have been critical in defining who I am and what I value: persistence, dedication, and the willingness to accept challenges.
Now, with my collegiate athletic career coming full circle, I am faced with the sobering reality that my life no longer centers on training schedules, competitions, and team camaraderie. It has been a sort of bittersweet transition because running really was such a big part of my identity. While the thrill of crossing that finish line is going to be something I miss, I know the opportunity to explore these new paths and some of the skills I have developed as a student-athlete are going to serve me well in whatever comes next.
I think this is quite common among athletes once their competitive days are over, but I'm trying to change my framing. Instead of viewing the end of my running career as a loss, I've tried to view it as a shift. In the same way that I have divided my training into seasons, so too does life, and each new season brings new opportunities to grow and learn. My next season will not include cross-country meets or track spikes but different challenges that test me in other ways.
The sense of purpose that running gave me isn't about the sport itself but about the discipline, focus, and self-improvement that running requires. Moving on, I know the drives will find other ways to channel themselves. Whether through my career, relationships, or personal hobbies, this desire to set and reach goals is there. The purpose isn't lost, just evolving.
In many ways, the life of a student-athlete has been somewhat of a journey into self-discovery: what motivates you, how you handle pressure, and how you get up after falling. While the destination may change as life shifts from one phase to another, the core of who you are remains. Being ready to take what you have learned from your college years and apply it with confidence to the next challenge, knowing that the pursuit of "greatness" never truly ends; it just finds new forms.
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