Athletics take up a large portion of student athletes’ time while they are completing their studies at Bluffton. Some of these students quit for many different reasons, and some of the most heard reasons are the time commitment and inability to participate in other activities while also taking care of themselves.
Students who have made the decision to quit the sport that they have loved and played for years before coming to Bluffton have been able to find other things that they love and are involved in now with more time available in their schedules.
Former athlete of Bluffton Football, junior Communication major, Travon Mason. Photo taken by Elizabeth Rockwell.
Travon Mason
Travon Mason is a junior communication major and theatre minor. He played football for two years and part of this season.
“I quit because I felt it was my choice because of the way things were going with the program,” Mason said. “I felt like I would have more stress off my back not playing football. Now I’m able to do my homework in the daytime. With that, I’m also able to have a job and make money as a college student. I was also just in a play a couple of weeks ago. That was something different and fun. I wouldn’t have been able to do the play if I played football.”
AJ Johnson
AJ Johnson is a senior exercise science major. He played basketball for his first two years at Bluffton, quitting the team at the beginning of his junior year.
“I had already had previous thoughts of quitting after my sophomore year,” Johnson said. “But just not being in the shape that I was in was the final nail in the coffin. I’m still cool with all of my teammates, especially the juniors and seniors. I am on the residence life staff still. I also go to multicultural events every once in a while. I’m also currently looking for internships.”
Johnson had some advice for other students who may be thinking of stepping away from their sports.
“When it comes to making that final decision to quit definitely weigh the pros and the cons. You’ll know when to quit when you kind of stop having fun. Once that fun factor dies down, maybe that’s when it’s time to give it up. But try to stay as active as possible. You are going to have a lot of free time when you stop playing your sport. Try to do something with that free time.”
Dontez Rash
Dontez Rash is a senior nutrition and dietetics major. He played football for his first two years at Bluffton until COVID-19 changed the season.
“I was definitely leaning towards not playing football,” Rash said. “But I probably would have still played because of the peer pressure of the environment. I feel like COVID was an easier decision for me to opt out and start my life. I started doing things for myself. Being on the team, you aren’t working on yourself as opposed to being out of school and working on yourself and getting to that next step.”
Rash spoke on finding the things that served him best in what he wanted to do for fun.
“I know playing an organized sport is something that people to do feel a part of a group,” Rash said. “It’s okay to be an individual. It’s okay to do your own thing. It’s okay to find out what you like on your own.”
Being a part of a group is something many students long for when they come to college, and playing an organized sport is one of the easiest ways to find that group. But there are also many students who are only playing their sport to find this group. There are other groups to get involved in on campus. Visit https://www.bluffton.edu/studentlife/involvement/index.aspx to find out information about groups you may want to be a part of.
