Most students would admit to being busy. But you don’t know busy until you’ve lived the life of a student athlete. Twenty year-old junior, Brooklyn Goodell, from Woodstock, Georgia, knows busy. In fact, she practically has a degree in it.

The business administration major is not only taking on a full load of classes, but she is also a member of the Lee University women’s tennis team and active member in Sigma Nu Sigma, a social service club on campus. Also she and her boyfriend of one year, Jared Gaston, student assistant coach of the baseball team, share a miniature terrier Jax with a mind of its own.

Goodell holds the number two slot in singles and the number one spot in doubles for the Lady Flames. The Lady Flames practice daily 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. not to mention the countless traveling and match hours. As a junior, Goodell is just now settling into her difficult classes, an arduous balance with her hectic tennis schedule.

In order to understand the demanding schedule of a student athlete, analyzing the day-to-day activities of Goodell could help clarify.

Monday, March 17

9:00 a.m. - Goodell attends her first class, Business Statistics, in the Walker Building, followed by another class at 10:00 a.m. Normal Mondays for Brooklyn consist of classes at 11:00 a.m. and noon before heading to practice at 1:00 p.m. However since the team has a match on this day, Brooklyn only attends her first two classes before heading to the courts.

“Balancing tennis and school gets really complicated. Now that I’m in my junior level classes its important that I’m there but in season I have to miss a number of classes for matches,” Goodell said.

11:01 a.m. - Goodell and her team meet at the courts for a warm-up before their match against California Baptist at 12:00 p.m. The team traditionally meets an hour before matches for a thorough warm-up. At noon, opponents are announced and the girls shake hands with their individual competitors. Goodell and the team then circle up for last second strategy and prayer. The No. 6 California Baptist Lancers go on to defeat the No. 20 Lady Flames 8-1.

3:13 p.m. - After a tough lost against California Baptist, Goodell and the team decide to grab a late lunch at Moe’s. The team talks about everything from “Lost” to work to where they want to go shopping later to who’s dating whom. The group interacts more on the level of girlfriends than team mates.

“I love the girls on my team. They have really become more of a family to me than a team,” remarks Goodell.

5:54 p.m. - Goodell along with a few of her teammates roll up to Olympic Field to watch the Flames baseball team play against Trevecca. The girls bundle up together and watch and, of course, joke around for most of the game. Going to baseball games is a common event for Goodell. Not only is she a baseball fan, but her boyfriend is also one of the student assistant coaches.

“I attend a lot of the games because Jared coaches and I want to be there to support him, but also to support Lee and the other athletes,” Goodell said.

8:57 p.m. - The weekly meeting for Goodell’s service club Sigma Nu Sigma is normally 9:00 p.m. on Monday nights at the Walker Building. This week the club decide to move it to Goodell’s apartment. Both Goodell and her two roommates are part of the club.

“Sigma gives me a chance to walk away from tennis and classes and just have a break. It gives me a spiritual outlet as well as the chance to help serve,” Goodell said.

11:45 p.m.- The last member of the club has left, and now Goodell has a chance to focus on her schoolwork. Goodell still has a couple hours of work to do before she will her head meets the pillow. But that’s the sacrifices she makes as a student athlete.