Photo Courtesy of AUM Athletics
By: Jordan White
MONTGOMERY, Ala. –– Student-athletes have two sides to themselves just like a coin. Being the same person, but having to flip perspectives between school sports and their social life can be challenging. Auburn University of Montgomery (AUM) junior soccer player Lauren Akemon gave helpful insight into the dedication it takes to be a student-athlete. Her friendly attitude is matched by how determined she is on the field.
According to the AUM Athletics website in 2022, Akemon helped AUM earn a draw with Lady Flames playing 477 total minutes on the year. She previously went to Reinhardt University in Georgia before finding a home at AUM. The transition from one state to another was not hard because of the previous school she went to also not being in her hometown Rome, Georgia. Akemon always dreamed of playing in college. Her supportive family members pushed her even more to play at the collegiate level.
Juggling classes and playing a sport is no easy task and it takes dedication to succeed. “I struggle a lot because I am a huge procrastinator. It’s a day-by-day struggle, but at the end of the day, I get it all done,” Akemon said. Factors like perfectionism and fear play significant roles in procrastination and even can be carried over into athletics. According to UPMC HealthBeat, the most common feelings student-athletes feel are exhaustion, anxiety and depression. Around 38% of women in sports feel mentally exhausted than 22% of men as said by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Performances are constantly on the minds of athletes because this is essentially how athletes are weighed among their peers, she said. Student-athletes have a lot of weight on their shoulders to be standard for their peers. Feeling like a failure can be detrimental to student-athletes as the fear of failure can hinder their ability to succeed, she added.
“ I think I am a super determined person, I think it makes me a stronger athlete,” Akemon said regarding her athletic strengths. Akemon also recognizes she should not be too hard on
herself if AUM happens to lose. Losing one game just helps her figure out how to approach the next game more efficiently. “My biggest weakness is myself. I get in my head and sometimes beat myself up,” she added. Just like other students, Akemon shows that student-athletes also struggle with self-doubt. She has been working on how to stop feeling guilty and how not to be so sensitive to outcomes she cannot control.
Another aspect that helps her get through every day is her women’s soccer teammates. “ I do like to listen to music and dance around with friends hours before a game. Just to get super excited and it brings in a lot of energy,” she said. Akemon added that having a group of people support you and be there to lean on is an immense help.
Lauren Akemon is a prime example of how student-athletes are like the rest of AUM students. AUM athletes have standards they must set and follow, but they are just like the average student who fights against procrastination, has a support group and has something they love doing daily. Akemon continues to show how determined and competitive she is as a player for the Lady Warhawks.