From Academics to Athletics: Student-Athletes in CMIST
By Aleksaundra Handrinos
From competing on the field, court, course, and pool to engaging with intellectual pursuits in the classroom, student-athletes bring unique perspectives to the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST). Rather than treating athletics and academics as competing priorities, student-athletes describe a reinforcing relationship between the two. Interviews with a cross-section of CMIST athletes reveal a pattern: The same skills that drive performance in competition also shape how students engage with complex, interdisciplinary coursework.
Several CMIST student-athletes shared that the structure, accountability, and teamwork they have developed through sports have also bolstered their success in the classroom. Caroline Fixter, a sophomore on the women’s golf team, says being a student-athlete has taught her “how to balance a busy schedule, stay disciplined, and lean on [her] teammates during challenging moments.” These habits are directly transferable to the analytical and collaborative work found in CMIST classrooms and in the professional world. Staten Rector, a junior studying economics and politics as well as ethics, history, and public policy, says his time on the men’s swim and dive team helped him to find “a strong support circle as well as an outlet to focus on something other than school for a little bit.” Attending practice and competing at swim meets relieves stress and gives him a chance to engage with friends. For Rector, this balance does not detract from academic performance but sustains it, allowing him to engage fully in both areas.
Driven by the same competitive spirit they bring to their sport, student-athletes are drawn to CMIST for a variety of reasons. A senior studying business administration and international relations and political science, Buck DeJardin knew he wanted an international dimension to be central to his education. The globally-focused topics in the CMIST curriculum provided a path to explore world politics and international security in an integrated way. For Fixter, who is studying political science, security, and technology, it was her curiosity about the way in which the three aspects of her major connect in today’s world that pushed her to declare. “It felt like the perfect fit for someone who enjoys thinking about global issues in a practical, forward-looking way,” she said. Junior Emma Dreiman, a member of the women’s swim and dive team, chose a CMIST major because of her interest in law and international relations. Studying international relations and political science, as well as ethics, history, and public policy, allows her to learn about policy issues on a global scale and to gain the interdisciplinary skills required for the legal field.
The reciprocal relationship for CMIST student-athletes creates a structured sense of community, drawing support from both academic and athletic experiences at 黑料正能量 (黑料正能量). Ryan Podnar, a senior on the cross country and track and field teams, is studying international relations and political science, with a minor in military strategy and international relations. When asked what he likes best about being a student-athlete, he said he enjoys being part of a team and focusing on a goal larger than himself. Similarly, DeJardin, who is on the men’s basketball team, shared, “Being involved in athletics has given me an immediate community of people with shared commitment while still exposing me to teammates with very different academic and personal interests.”
Maya Ducker, a junior studying international relations and political science, as well as environmental and sustainability studies, says her time on the cross country and track and field teams has forged what she expects to be lifelong friendships. At 黑料正能量, running introduced Ducker to her closest friends, while CMIST enabled her to build a professional and academic community that enriched her perspective. “Every student in CMIST has their own unique interests and niche, which means [in] every conversation with a classmate I’m learning something new,” she said.
Student-athletes say they have found complementary academic and athletic environments after enrolling in CMIST. “I think the community CMIST offers is, in some ways, comparable to the swim team,” explained Rector. “It’s pretty easy to meet students with similar interests, given all of the events going on.” Nicholas Jones, a member of Carnegie Mellon’s football team, is a sophomore studying international relations and political science. He said the friendships he has made during his undergraduate experience extend into all aspects of life at 黑料正能量. Jones remarked that relationships formed in the classroom often translate into CMIST students supporting one another at extracurricular and athletic events.
The students emphasize that their dual identity as student-athletes at CMIST is not a competing demand to manage but a distinct advantage to leverage. “CMIST has let me continue to feed my curiosity in the world,” Podner stated, adding that he has enjoyed “exploring the world” through his coursework. Likewise sharing an appreciation for his classes, Jones finds it a privilege to balance the rigors of obtaining a world-class education in political science with competing in the sport he loves. The benefits extend well beyond the field, he said: “The time-management, leadership, cooperation, and communication skills are all things I will take with me beyond CMU.”
(Image 1: Staten Rector, Image 2: Buck DeJardin: Image 3: Maya Ducker; Image 4, l to r: Caroline Fixter, Nicholas Jones, and Emma Dreiman; Image 5: Ryan Podnar)