Being a collegiate athlete is hard work. It requires a certain amount of sacrifice from different aspects, such as a social life, or being able to have a weekend to yourself. Despite this, there are many advantages of being an athlete. Here are five of the best advantages:

1) You'll stay in shape

Let’s face it. You are probably going through two practices a day, for however long your season is. It's always good to stay in shape, even when you need to eat your stress away during finals week.

2) You get to eat a lot

With all of the work that you’re doing, you burn more calories meaning you get to eat more. Athletes can eat more or less whenever they want to, and not worry about their weight. Although, you do probably want to eat a bit healthier to enhance your performance as much as possible.

3) You will have more school spirit than anyone else you know

You own more sweatshirts, hoodies, and t-shirts with your school’s logo on it to wear than you know what to do with. Granted, this a minor advantage, and probably insignificant, but it’s still pretty cool that you are representing your university.

4) Your grades will stay up

You are required to keep your GPA at or above a certain percentage, and it has been proven that people focus better after exercising. Keeping your grades up should take priority over your sport, but that doesn’t always happen so it’s good to practice right before class to help you focus.

5) Your teammates will become your family

It's the absolute best part of being an athlete. You already spend countless hours with these people, and they eventually become your best friends. Following that, they become your second family, and they will be there with you through every victory, and loss.