Indiana University Athletics
A Day in the Life - Lauren Fabbro
5/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Academic Services
May 19, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - From time to time, IUHOOSIERS.com will provide a venue for a student-athlete to relate a day in their life - in their own words. This edition's Hoosier is senior goalkeeper Lauren Fabbro.
My name is Lauren Fabbro and I am a senior who plays soccer for Indiana University, or I should rephrase that to say I used to play soccer for Indiana University. The fall was my last season and it definitely upsets me to think my days of being a student-athlete are over. Of course, that's one of the main reasons I am hanging on to the last remnants of that part of my life and staying involved through organizations like Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
I'd like to spend a few minutes describing a typical day in the shoes of a student-athlete, and I'd like to tell it in the form of a story:
The alarm rings. It buzzes and buzzes and does not stop. Although I am just now hearing it, I know it has been going off for at least a whole minute. I open my eyes, sit up, turn it off. Barely awake, I perform my daily morning rituals, change into running clothes and get in the car. The clock reads 5:41. I drive in the dark, in the cold. Make my way to Mellencamp Pavilion, where my destiny awaits. My teammates meet me inside. My coaches arrive just a minute before the worst begins. I still haven't woken. So I still haven't spoken. I just run. Run. Run. And run. I puke. It ends. I smile.
I'm back in the car; the clock reads 7:08 a.m. I drive home, shower, eat, and change into the typical student-athlete uniform: sweatpants and the red adidas fleece. I walk to campus for an 8 a.m. class. I sit in front. I focus. I learn. I realize the importance of my education. I know why I'm here. That is why I focus. I learn. I ask questions. I learn. The classes go well; I try to speak with each professor before or after class. I try to build a bond. I want their support. Their understanding. The classes go well and they end at 12:30 p.m.
I walk home, eat lunch and start some studying. I have an exam tomorrow, so I utilize my time. I make certain priorities are taken care of. I study. The clock turns. I wish I had more time. But I study. After studying, it is time for practice. I'm in the car again. The clock reads 1:46 p.m. I drive to the U-school. I practice. I give my best effort. I want to be the best. I want to achieve. I want to succeed. My teammates and I. We want to win. We want to be Hoosier Pride. So we practice. We learn. We focus. We ask questions. We practice. We learn. For two hours, we sweat and play and compete. It is what gives me joy. The competition is what makes me whole. To prove to others what I can do. To show them how to believe. It is what I love.
After practice, I'm in the car. The green clock glows 4:43 p.m. I drive to Memorial Stadium. I walk down the big staircase and dread walking back up. Into the weight room. I get to work. I pound the lifting out. I want it to be over. I'm ready for dinner. So I lift efficiently. Our coach gives analogies about being stronger. I lift efficiently. And it is over. I smile. My teammates and I walk across the football field. It is dinner time. We eat and laugh and talk and spend time with other athletes. Training Tables. It is a glorious time. It is dinner time.
I make it back to the car. Now the clock says 6:29 p.m. I get home. Shower, change, start studying. I have a test tomorrow. I focus. I learn. I study. I learn. My mom calls. Says she can't deposit money until next week. I say okay. I wish I had a job. Wish I had time for a job. But I know why I'm here. To learn. To study. I play soccer to make that happen. And I love soccer. But I learn, focus, study, learn. And soccer makes that happen. That is why I play soccer. That is why I am a student-athlete. To learn. To be the best. I finish studying and complete my homework. I spend a little time with my roommates and watch a show on TV. It is now 10:17 p.m. I get ready for bed. I set the alarm. I sleep. Tomorrow is test day. And tomorrow is travel day for the weekend games! I smile. And then I sleep.
I hope I was able to depict to you a day in our life. I hope it gives you all a little understanding. And I hope it encourages you to make your way out to a game, meet or match sometime this year or next. We would love to have your support and encouragement. It means more than you'll ever know. We love being athletes. But we love being Hoosiers more.
