Ever wonder how Dean’s List student-athletes balance hours of practice time with strenuous daily studies? It is a lot of hard work, according to junior accounting major Bailey Lindner and senior biology major Steven Embry. The volleyball and football players were named to the Capital One All-Academic Team two weeks ago, qualifying them for the chance to be an Academic All-American. The Collegian caught up with these two stars to discover their academic secrets.
What is your typical day like during the fall season?
Lindner: I go to class in the morning, then typically straight from class I go to practice. Depending on the day I might have an hour between, or class and then a lift, but normally if I do have an extra hour I try to get something easy checked off my list. After practice I go straight to dinner and after dinner I normally stay up the hill and go to the library. I study best at the library.
Embry: Wednesdays (in season) are without a doubt the toughest days for members of the football team to get through. Although I will admit that as a fifth year senior, I currently have a very light class load, in the past I would frequently have quite a few classes on Wednesdays. But, I’ll give you (senior captain) Brett Pasche’s schedule who is sitting next to me: lifting at 7a.m. — which I might add is not nearly as bad as what time other teams, including the baseball team, have to lift at in the morning — class at 9, 10, and 11, football film at 2:15 p.m., then practice until 5:30, a quick meal followed by class from 6-9 p.m. and then working in the (Grewcock) Student Union until 3am.
Walk us through your studying routine.
Lindner: I like the von Mises room in the library, the one with the glass window downstairs.The first thing I do when I get to the library is open my planner. I keep all my assignments, tests, and projects in there. I look and see if I have any big projects due first that would take the most time and be most important. I mean it’s kind of a mixture of knowing what daily assignments I have to do and once I’ve finished those, what is the next big project or big exam.
I expected Hillsdale to be really hard and expected to stay up late working and it’s gotten to the point where I feel guilty if I go to bed before midnight. I feel like there’s always something I should be working on. It’s just a habit. I don’t like the feeling of having things hanging over me. No one does. I’ve always been willing to put in an extra couple hours at night. Even if I don’t like it, I’m grateful in the end.
Embry: My study habits are probably a little different than most. When I really need to get a paper done or study hard for a midterm or final, I can usually be found in the far back corner of the basement in the library drinking a Monster and listening to loud techno music. Those nights would usually happen a few times a semester, but most of the time I like to start a few days in advance and do a little bit each day — maybe outlining my notes — and then study very hard the night before. How I study changes class to class but I have found the real trick to be study versus sleep time the night before the exam. The night before a hard exam I know going in that I am going to sleep for four hours that night. I was told that amount by Dr. VanOrman as a freshman and I have always taken his advice. Study as much as you can, but make sure you get four hours of sleep.
For the sake of boredom, I have studied in a different location each semester. As a freshman it was the basement of the library, then it became the second floor, then Lane classrooms, then AJ’s, and now it’s my recliner in my room. … But I will admit that when it’s crunch time, like I already said, I prefer solitary confinement in the basement cubicles in the library.
What advice do you have for other student-athletes?
Lindner: I think something that’s really important is having short-term goals along with long-term goals. As an athlete it can be overwhelming to look at everything I have to do in the coming weeks, and it causes me not to focus on short-term goals. You just have to keep it simple and stay focused on the task at hand, and not get overwhelmed by all the things you have to do at once. Also, being willing to put in those extra hours freshman year is going to be something you’ll be grateful for by the time you’re my age, a junior. I didn’t really have that much fun freshman year but now I’m glad because I can have more fun now.
Embry: My advice to freshman: Get help early and get help often. Hillsdale is hard. Being an athlete is hard. But the college and upperclassmen are awesome at giving assistance to those who ask. Use the writing center, go see your profs, seek out a teammate — it makes all the difference. My other advice for young guys is to remember what you’re here for. Every one of us is so blessed to be able to receive a Hillsdale education and to play the sports that we love. Enjoy it! That being said, my advice to younger and older student-athletes is just to remember the platform you have been given. Each of us has a unique opportunity to positively affect the community around us and many people look up to you. Always strive to be that positive role model in all aspects of your life.
