In this edition of The Journey From Campus to Competition, we had a chance to interview soccer player Shane Rodger and take a look into his life as a student athlete and how he manages to balance it all alongside his academics.
What got you into soccer?
“I was never into soccer really, it took one of my best friends to get me into it. The story of me getting into the sport was a special one for me. I was with my friend one day, and he wanted to play with me. We got a couple of friends, and I just played; it was horrible obviously, but it was fun. But playing for the first time, I was really into it.”
How do you stay motivated to play?
“Motivation has never been a struggle for me. I don’t play the sport because I want to be the best, those dreams are gone. Now it’s more for enjoyment, of course the sport is fun, but the best part is connecting with these other cultures, and the diversity that this sport brings is truly a great experience.”
What are your goals for soccer?
“I don’t have a necessarily set goal like I used to. Right now, it is definitely just making a statement, playing well, playing my heart out for the last season, and just to keep going wherever it takes me. My goal right now is probably to just end very well next year.”
Do you do anything outside of soccer training?
“I just really put all my energy into making sure I’m a good student. I like to better myself as a person, I always stay active, and I don’t like to lay in bed and play video games all day. I just really wanna be out there and be a better person.”
How do you balance all of this with school?
“You know, balance is a really hard thing to get in life. A lot of people, including myself, don’t really understand how to keep things balanced in life because a lot of times, people are really just living double lives. A lot of people have a different life at home, or at school, and they don’t know how to let it mix. But if you’re to ask me for advice, I’d say don’t be too hard on yourself and just accept that not everything will be perfect.”
Do you have any advice for upcoming student-athletes?
“Never be too scared to make a mistake, those mistakes make you who you are. Everything you’ve done, you shouldn’t regret. If you’re too scared to go out and make a mistake, you will never be the person you want to be. You’ve got to go out there and make mistakes and remember that things take time. Rome was never built in a day.”
