Among the Ateneans who stroll around campus hours after class are students in sports gear rushing to their training sessions. For these students, the first part of the day is going to class. For the second part, it’s off to practice. They are the student-athletes among us who carry the name of the Ateneo.

These Ateneans are committed to their sport and to the school, going beyond the usual routine of the average student. They spend hours of practice in school, stay up late for academics and they find ways to squeeze in every bit of extra-curricular activities to boost. They live up to the creed of mens sana in corpore sano or having a sound mind in a sound body.

Committing to the spot

Most of these athlete’s careers as Ateneans started with a simple call, as they were first offered the option of scholarships. And given the resources and the overall state of the Ateneo sports program, a lot of talented athletes are attracted to compete for the school.

This holds especially true for Ateneo High School graduates who have learned to love the Ateneo sports program after being part of it for so long. Ateneo High School alumnus and Blue Trackster Miko Perez says, “Not only do I love studying in Ateneo, but I also enjoy competing for Ateneo.”

But to keep up with the level of competition of the other University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) schools, Ateneo must also recruit athletes from other schools. Blue Booter Carlo Liay’s reason for accepting the offer was influenced by how much he enjoyed the school. He also adds that the university’s credentials in the country and the courses offered appealed to him.

With the added financial security of Ateneo’s athletic scholarships, these top athletes are more convinced to eventually don the blue and white. For Perez, a philosophy and history double major, “If I didn’t have a discount in Ateneo, then it would have been out of the question, because my parents wouldn’t be able to afford it.” He adds that he’s willing to make the most out of his Ateneo education: “I’m going to study something specific for four years, so [I] might as well study something that I enjoy, something I wouldn’t mind studying.”

Although Perez was not included in this year’s UAAP lineup due to the increase of competition at his level, he’s confident that he’ll bounce back stronger in the upcoming season. “I could very well match the level of my competitors and I could actually contribute,” he shares, as he’s willing to extend another year to pursue his master’s degree.

The full package

Aside from the educational opportunities that the Ateneo offers, extra-curricular activities and other opportunities outside school are also available.

Blue Trackster JB Capinpin shares, in a mix of English and Filipino, that an athlete can balance more than just academics and athletics. “I feel that it’s a big thing to be exposed to work-related stress in preparation for, or in tandem with, the kind of stress you experience with academics,” he says.

Given the amount of schoolwork, and the occasional stint at campus organizations, student-athletes tend to master self-discipline and time management. Liay, for example, an athlete since elementary, has been able to manage his time and garner additional football exposure. “I had to deal with the balancing of training and academics. It was everything but easy. Football clubs in Italy are independent entities from the schools. Therefore, no excuses are accepted by teachers for any sport event,” explains Liay, who grew up in Italy, where football is a largely celebrated sport.

Capinpin, who is known for heading the Ateneo Freshman Orientation Seminar Layag in 2013 and Blue Roast 2014, shares that his experience at his job internship is comparable to his life as a student-athlete. He says, in a mix of English and Filipino, “I saw the parallelism of stress in track and in my extra-curricular activities: Managing my time, the discipline and the desire to be of service to other people.”

Life after varsity

Although these athletes show that they are capable of balancing their time, one thing that poses as a challenge to them is the ambiguity of the future.

For star UAAP or national team athletes, financial security after college is almost a sure thing, especially for popular sports such as basketball and volleyball. The Philippines gives fair financial security to national team athletes for them to compete and be prepared for future international meets. Also, the media and some private companies provide a level of financial security by signing athletes to sponsorship deals.

Liay shares that he’s open to pursuing a career of post-college football. “The original plan was to graduate and go back to Italy to look for a job there. However, I do not exclude the option of finding a good job here in the Philippines. I would happily stay in the country and why not—maybe besides working—also play for a [United Football League] club and the national team.” He is on his way to his possible goal, as he is currently a player for the Under-23 Azkals National Football Team.

On the other hand, for those who aren’t star players, national team members or for those who compete in sports that don’t hold a strong reputation in the country, future financial security becomes an overwhelming concern. Despite these realities, Perez shares, in a mix of English and Filipino, that it’s all just a matter of one’s inner strength: “A lot of people have been saying that if you want to be successful outside of school, the course helps, but what helps more is your willingness to learn and your connections—that’s just the reality of it.”

At the end of the day, the Ateneo student-athlete is focused on getting what he or she wants and making the necessary steps to do so. They’re aware that they not only carry the name of the school, but also the ideals for which it stands for. Perez adds, “I guess that’s the whole thing with Ateneo, with Lux in Domino, Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, and all these things—the more in magis—is you’re not doing this just for yourself, you’re doing this for your team, your coach, the family who supports you and for the school.”