A Day in the Life of Villanova Women’s Water Polo Player Anna Painter
By Anna Painter
Packing a bag, boarding a plane, and heading across the country for a tournament sounds like a dream. The thrill of competing at the highest level, spending time with teammates, and playing in new cities makes being a Division I water polo player an incredible experience. Between team dinners, exploring a new place, and the adrenaline of game day, the travel experience can feel like a reward for all the hard work put in at practice.
But behind the excitement lies a harsh reality: Falling behind in school. Missing multiple days of classes, trying to keep up with lectures through recordings, and scrambling to finish assignments on the road is exhausting. Professors are understanding, but coursework doesn’t slow down just because we’re on the other side of the country. The stress of balancing school and athletics is constant, and by the time we return home, we’re not just physically drained from competing, we’re mentally drained from catching up.
The life of a student-athlete is demanding. It’s waking up early for weights, squeezing in homework between practice and travel, and often sacrificing social time just to stay afloat. Time management isn’t just helpful, it is vital to excel in and out of the pool. Without it, the workload becomes overwhelming.
Being a Division I athlete is an incredible privilege, but it’s also one of the hardest things a student can do. The commitment, discipline, and sacrifice required go far beyond the pool. While the experiences are unforgettable, the pressure is real. And for every moment of glory in competition, there’s an equal, if not greater, challenge waiting in the classroom.
Anna Painter is a Division I water polo player at Villanova University who has firsthand experience balancing a demanding athletic schedule and classwork.