The Student-Athlete Subculture in the daily curriculum of academics, there are a variety of subcultures existing within the student body. One of these subcultures is student-athletes. The student-athlete group is made up of people who play sports while taking 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 a part of achieve the highest possible goal. These students must dedicate many hours to practicing and playing their chosen sport with others who are their teammates. The intensity and hard work of this effort creates a sort of close bond between the other athletes. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay As a result, much of their social lives outside of sports are interconnected as friendships and similar interests form. This subculture exists primarily in middle and high school, although it probably begins in elementary school. Sports and school are essentially synonymous, as is the presence of student-athletes. Other students either love or hate sports and express the same respect for those who play them. The existing controversies are the result of strong stereotypes, according to which athletes receive passing grades, easy classes and a free academic route to be able to play sports, have created a lot of anger among non-athlete students. The other common stereotype is that male athletes are popular jocks who are rude, arrogant, ignorant and condescending. These stereotypes create an even greater distance between student-athletes and non-athlete students. Surprisingly, various studies indicate that these stereotypes are false. In a 2015 Time Magazine article, a researcher, also a university professor, found the opposite. His findings and personal experience revealed that most student-athletes cared greatly about their studies and getting good grades. When students performed poorly, it was linked to a phenomenon called pluralistic ignorance, in which one group acts a certain way because of its perception of what it believes other members of the group believe. In many cases, student-athletes say they hate school because they believe their peers hate school, and they decide to take easy classes because they don't want to be seen as exhibitionists. Most members of the group are unaware that the majority of them actually care about academics and therefore continue to behave in a way that will prevent them from standing out. What follows is a self-perpetuating cycle of actions, continually based on false beliefs. (Place, Zocalo Public) For knowledgeable and committed individuals, it is relatively easy to enter and become part of this subculture. Skill and hard work are widely respected among student-athletes and they look for individuals who have a good team mentality and are committed to working together for the common goal of winning. The life of student-athletes is demanding. According to a newspaper article about student-athletes, their schedules are very demanding. Full course loads combined with practice, play, and other responsibilities leave them with an average of only 4.5 to 6 hours of sleep per night. Traveling to play games creates havoc when it comes to keeping up with homework and maintaining a good GPA. (Zak, Sean) With a jobIn such a demanding time, there is little tolerance for people who lack similar commitment. My friend Daniel is a student-athlete who has been playing sports since he was in 6th grade and has always loved sports. In an interview, I asked him what it was like to be part of this subculture. He was excited to talk about that aspect of his life and how that love led him to pursue sports in college. As a student-athlete, he found it to be a small but committed group of people who work hard to balance studies and practice. He regularly trains over 30 hours per week in addition to his competition time. This means that a large part of one's life is absorbed by this subculture. Being part of this group has had both positive and negative effects. One benefit he enjoys is having priority in course selection to avoid missing classes due to scheduling conflicts. However, the most significant benefits come on a more personal level, like the lasting, deep, and meaningful friendships formed with other teammates. Feeling the elation that comes with winning after so much hard work is another benefit. Negatively, he found that there are specific stereotypes associated with being an athlete that make interacting within the student body more difficult. A common misconception is that athletes are not interested in academics and are essentially ignorant jocks. Student-athletes find themselves isolated due to the misconception that they only want to socialize with their own people. 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 studies. Additionally, they are polite and would happily include others in their group, but because of the close bonds they have with their fellow athletes, they naturally form closer bonds with their teammates. The university he attends has a strong interest in sports, so there are a number of athletes on campus, which allows for a wider range of friendships. (Interview with Daniel)When Daniel thinks about the level of commitment he has in playing a sport, he likes to think of it as a hobby because it is an activity he enjoys doing. As with any hobby to become proficient, he spends at least 3 hours a day practicing. His running schedule is 7 days a week and 3-4 days a week he doubles up on his running. Sometimes he will have to miss a class due to a meeting. There is little free time and he recognizes that it is extremely time consuming, so it is also a way of life. (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 in shape, meet new people and be active in the community. Forming friendships that will last forever is a lifelong benefit. Having to face and overcome obstacles and difficulties developed a strong work ethic. Athletes can work hard and succeed in school and sports. The challenge is great and time consuming, but the rewards are worth it, especially if you truly love your sport. The sports industry market is expected to reach an all-time high of $73. $5 billion by 2019. (Heitner, Darren) Sports, in addition to being a popular pastime for many people around the world, are a major source of money. Professional teams will continue to look for new talent. As the industry continues to grow, more and more money is being put into.