From practice every day and games, meets, or tournaments every weekend to getting out of class at 12 pm and no plans for the end of the week, transitioning from being a student-athlete in high school to just a student in college can be difficult. Especially for those of you like me who dreamed of being a college athlete, feeling like only a student leaves you yearning for something more than grades and partying. But when those thoughts of I am “just a student” get you down here are some important things to remember.

You are not just a student

You are so much more. Being a D1 athlete is not the only way to be successful in college. Don’t get me wrong student athletes are incredibly disciplined and motivated people, and I so admire their grit. But you do not have to be racing or playing in your school colors to have that same discipline, motivation, and grit. You are not less important than the student-athletes at your school. When you are no longer a student athlete you do not have a coach down the back of your neck forcing you to keep your grades up, eat healthy, and exercise. You have to develop an intrinsic motivation to manage your time well and take care of your body. You also have more time to focus on things other than just sports. There are many clubs, organizations, and causes that you can get involved in now that you have more time. So don’t think for a minute being just a student is a bad thing, use this new chapter of your life to make a difference.

You are still an athlete

Don’t let anyone tell you differently, and don’t let yourself think otherwise either. An athlete is not defined by a person who plays a sport through their school. You create your own definition of what it means to be an athlete. You can continue the sport you’ve always played by joining a club or intramural sport or try something new on your own. You don’t have to have a set schedule or championship on the horizon to set goals and attain them. The seed of intrinsic motivation was planted in you by growing up playing sports, and now it can blossom on its own as you continue staying active throughout your life. Graduating high school does not end your athletic career it simply turns the page to the next chapter.

You are still you

While being active and playing sports is fun and beneficial, it is not the end all be all. A lot changes when you go to college, and when you are missing the familiarity of the sport you’ve always known sometimes it is tough to feel like yourself. Your teammates are not there to fall back on at the end of the day anymore, and sometimes it can get lonely. I get it. But not representing your school on the field anymore does not change who you are. Your identity is not in the scores, times, or records of your past years. Whether you are a student athlete or just a student, you are still you.

And don’t you forget it.