Hi, my name is Jack Paweski, and I am a junior at the University of Dubuque. I am from Hartland, Michigan and majoring in Business and Accounting. Over my time here, I have learned how important it is to take care of both my physical and mental health, not just on the ice or in school, but for the other times in my life. I have realized that mental health is something that everyone should pay attention to, especially when dealing with the pressures of college and being a student-athlete. With everything that student-athletes have going on, it can be easy to put your mental health to the side and focus only on getting everything done. Through these experiences, I learned that taking care of my mental health is just as important as taking care of my body. When you are mentally healthy, you can focus better, handle challenges better, and perform better both on the ice and in school. Being a student-athlete can be challenging because there is always something that needs to be done. Between practices, games, workouts, classes, studying, and trying to have a social life, it can be hard to find time for yourself. Mental health can also have a direct effect on athletic performance.
Confidence can affect mental health, and it can be difficult to play your best when you are constantly worrying or putting too much pressure on yourself. Being mentally healthy can help athletes stay confident, learn from mistakes, and not let one bad practice, game, or test affect the rest of their day. It is important for student-athletes to understand that struggling mentally does not make someone weak. It takes a lot of strength to self-reflect and to learn how to put in the work to address your mental health, but the long-term benefits are worth it.
