Being an athlete in high school takes hard work, perseverance, teamwork, and ultimately, dedication.
While being in sports creates tight friendships and unforgettable experiences, it does not come without a price. Early morning workouts and tiring after school practices and games all add up. To say being an athlete in high school is difficult would be an understatement, but for some of the graduating seniors, high school athletics are just the beginning.
This year over 35 seniors are getting ready to take on collegiate level sports. Glenbard West is proud to send athletes, ranging from NAIA to Division 1, in soccer, swimming, softball, baseball, cross country, track, volleyball, field hockey, lacrosse, basketball, tennis, football, wrestling, and gymnastics.
Collegiate athletics take the commitment and the idea of hard work to the next level. As academics become more challenging, the pressure increases.
The NCAA is comprised of only the elites; being considered for this level is quite an honor and deserves to be recognized. The stakes have risen for these prospective students, but they have used their four years to prepare. After all, the additional benefits of being a part of an extracurricular activity in college outweigh the stresses that come with it.
These bright students will gain instant friendships, wise mentors, extra academic assistance, and ultimately, a job resume boost. Trying to maintain their composure and attendance at practice will be hard enough, let alone juggling their school work and keeping up with a social life.
At the end of the day, however, these students have worked so hard to get to this point. They have put in the hours of conditioning, drills, scrimmages, and sets, even when it seemed mindless.

After training for this moment for what seems like their whole lives, it is time for the seniors to embark on another four-year-long journey that will give them memories that will surely last a lifetime.
Good luck next year, seniors!