Megan Starnes on Being a Student Athlete

Being an athlete at King’s is about being both a student and an athlete. Refer to this interview with alumna Megan Starnes (Class of 2018) to find out her advice for incoming athletes…or for any incoming student, in our opinion.

With move-in day for athletes quickly approaching, we want to give you the inside look at what it’s like to be an athlete at King’s. Who better to ask than Megan Starnes, Class of 2018, who was selected as the athletic graduate of the year for her class. See what Megan has to say below, which is pretty great advice for any incoming student.

Student Success: What was it like to be a student-athlete at King’s?

Starnes: Being a student-athlete at TKC is a challenge. Managing practices and games with a full course load, plus a ton of extracurriculars and internships is no small feat. Practices usually are in the mornings, two to three times a week. At the peak of the season, you might have three games in one week. This can seem like a lot, but it really helps that most of our games are played at fields and courts in the city. Also, coaches are very understanding that academics are the priority of King’s students, and you can find some really great teammates who will even help you with your class work. I worked in groups and made massive finals study guides with my co-captain on the basketball team. Even with all of the things we had going on, we managed to ace our final exams!

Student Success: What were some of the challenges and the highlights?

Starnes: The obvious challenge I have already spoken to is the time commitment. Practices and games take up time that you could be doing homework. However, I found that I always had plenty of time to complete my assignments, show up to House events, hang out with my friends, and have an internship. Of course, I had to be diligent with my time and not goof off. Being an athlete at TKC means that you are dedicated and committed to your team and to your studies.

The highlights of being a TKC athlete are all of the great people you get to interact with, from your teammates to your coaches to athletes from other teams. I always found the culture of my team to be so uplifting. We supported each other on and off the basketball court. And there was also a bond with all TKC athletes. Like I said, a TKC athlete is special because of your commitment and dedication so there is a mutual respect between athletes. It also great to see the student body come out to support you at big games, like when we play our rival, Cooper Union. You really can’t beat the feeling of watching the Men’s Basketball Team beat Cooper Union by a last-second shot TWO YEARS IN A ROW!

Student Success: What advice can you give to our new student-athletes as they prep for the fall? 

Starnes: Never sacrifice your studies. You are here first and foremost to get an education. While playing basketball at TKC was a huge part of my personal growth and character formation, I would not have been as well-rounded of a person if I had not been simultaneously engaging and learn from the big ideas in the classroom. No doubt my studies in the classroom actually made me a better player on the court. So get your study habits settled early on, never slack, and do good work. You will feel like a champ.

Student Success: What is one strategy, skill, or habit that was critical to your academic success at King’s?

Starnes: Your first year of college is a social time. You meet tons of new people in your classes and in your house and from your team. It can be really easy to start studying with your new friends. I caution you to be hesitant when deciding to do homework or study with friends. For some people, it is really helpful to process things and bounce ideas off of another person, but for others, this can be a huge impediment to their success in the classroom. Find out which type of person you are. I found myself to be a mix of the two. If I had a lot of reading to do or a paper to write, I wanted to work by myself, and crank it out. Other people would have slowed me down and distracted me from doing those assignments well. On the other hand, for exams I typically found it helpful to work with a small group of people, whose work ethic I trusted, to come together to make a study guide. Still, after I worked with my group of trusted pals, I would always go back through everything on my own so that I could internalize everything.

Student Success: Do you have any additional advice for first-year students? 

Starnes: Make class attendance a priority. If you don’t you will miss out on hearing and learning from our world-class faculty, and your grade will also suffer if you are not in class. Take advantage of having office hours with your professors. They are some of the kindest and caring individuals you will ever meet. They genuinely care about your well-being.

To learn more about athletics at King’s, refer to their webpage at http://tkc.prestosports.com/landing/index.