I never had really paid much attention to what goes on outside the field or off the court before and after a game until recently. Upon arriving at a game my mind is usually more focused on getting the best photos possible and making decent notes during the game I can use once I get back to the office. For me that in itself requires a fair amount of attention and sometimes it's not as easy as it sounds.
As I have become more settled, I recently noticed more and more young athletes doing homework before and after games while in the stands. Most arrive early enough to get a head start before the game starts. I guess I was always naïve in thinking most schoolwork was done at school with the occasional book brought home from time to time.
Keep in mind before I say this, I am not talking about a book and a calculator. What I have witnessed over the last several weeks, especially among high school students, are stacks of books. There are stacks and stacks of books and the calculators have turned into tablets and laptops. How does one focus enough energy to concentrate in a noisy gymnasium often with a raucous crowd.
It is amazing to think about the rigorous schedule of all the after-school practices and game after game these young athletes put themselves through week after week. Then they are faced with the daunting task of keeping up with all the schoolwork they didn’t get done in class, or in the car on the way to their game.
Kudos to these kids for keeping up and staying ahead of the game. For many kids, just the thought of homework will bring a very disgruntled look of displeasure. Times are changing and I guess like most everything out there you have two choices. Keep up or get left behind.
I am just glad most of these young athletes have the drive and determination to push through. Honestly I loved sports when I was young but I did not want to put in all the time and effort required to play.
Basketball at the park with my friends was more fun to me than running endless amounts of down-and-backs. We called them suicides back in the day. And the best part of playing at the park, we called our own fouls.
 No telling what I could have done if I had taken the other road and showed some of that same determination shown by athletes today. Just showing up on game day was not an option back then and as far as I can tell, it is not an option today either. Right on.