College Football
Balancing sports, study quite an act for Bienemann

By Troy Bienemann
Special to The Seattle Times

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Since the first day of my high-school career, I have been constantly learning how to better overcome the obstacle of balancing academics with athletics.

In high school, I had my parents to encourage me to perform well not only in the athletic arena, but in the classroom as well. When I wouldn't reach my potential in school, I had my parents to answer to at the end of the day.

Now that I am on my own, I have only myself to answer to. How one attempts to embark on the challenge of balancing academics with athletics lies completely within the individual.

Some athletes think they are in college to play first and learn second. However, it has always been instilled in me that academics come before athletics.

The support staff that all student-athletes have here at Washington State is incredible. From the first day I stepped on this campus, I've had people work with me that are determined to help me graduate on time. They assist me with scheduling and make available to me every resource that I need to succeed in the classroom.

When I say succeed, I am talking about learning as much as possible. I've always been taught that success is not measured by grades, but by how much you take away from a class.

When I walk away from WSU, I want to be able to say that my experiences in the classroom have shaped me just as much as my time on the field. Without a balance between athletics and academics, I won't be able to say that.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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