Many college athletes miss classes due to training, competition, and exhaustion. For these reasons, advocates argue for exempting athletes from class attendance policies. Others argue that college athletes receive a scholarship to attend college to play sports. Rather, the goal of colleges is to educate students. So the question is: should college athletes be exempt from class attendance requirements? The answer is no and here's why. First, athlete education comes before recreational activities. Secondly, it is unfair for athletes to receive preferential treatment and thirdly, exempting athletes from this policy does not allow them to develop time management skills. For these reasons, college athletes should not be exempt from regular class attendance policies. Educating college athletes is a crucial part of the college experience. College athletes receive a scholarship and believe they are in college to play and win games. As a result, some people have lost sight of the value of education. Student-athletes are students first and athletes second. Despite their extraordinary athletic abilities, these skills cannot overshadow the college's goal of providing education to students. Focusing on the athlete's academic success will prepare them for tomorrow's future. It is true that education expands knowledge, promotes critical thinking, increases potential and teaches discipline. Critics' misconception that athletes should focus on winning matches is a dissatisfaction with their development. They often don't recognize that athletes must maintain a college-required GPA (GradePoint Average) to remain eligible for the team. Failure to keep ...... middle of paper ...... balance. When building teamwork, athletes must understand the value of a well-rounded individual. Failure to maintain a balance can lead to academic failure. Based on the evidence, it is clear that student-athletes must learn. The controversy surrounding student-athletes not attending classes remains an issue that many people have opinions on. Debatable or not, colleges must fulfill their mission by helping student-athletes achieve their academic and athletic goals. Regardless, college can prepare athletes for a short-lived professional sports career, but a solid education is a lifetime achievement. Athletes who maintain their grades are not removed from teams. Many former athletes can't find jobs because they haven't taken classes and aren't academically ready. Student-athletes must attend regular classes.