Balancing sports and academics productively is a difficult task many high school students struggle with. Karas Dirnberger is a perfect example of a well rounded student that could inspire students, but how does she do it and what can be learned from her strategies?
Dirnberger is a dedicated student and athlete; she has been doing track since she was five years old and is currently a junior. Alongside her dedication to her sport, she also keeps good grades and puts a lot of time and effort into her classes. Her schedule requires a lot of discipline, organization, and resilience. This makes her a standout example of commitment.
Track has been a part of Dirnberger’s life for as long as she can remember. It started as a sport she did as a little girl that has developed into a passion that has progressed into her high school years.
“My mom put me into club track at five years old,” Dirinberger says. “It’s difficult, but if I don’t do well at a meet, I still know that my training has paid off.” For her, track is more than movement, its motivation and expression. Despite the physical exhaustion that comes from doing track daily, Dirnberger always shows up and does her best. Injuries and stress and all parts of doing track, however, she has learned to persevere. Track has taught her so much, from endurance and discipline to goal setting and resilience; which are all very important skills to have.
As well as doing track, Dirinberger also takes school seriously and puts effort into all her assignments. She has even taken on some AP classes which require much more effort and time. Most students have at least one academic challenge, even when succeeding in school. For Dirnberger, testing and procrastination are more challenging. Testing holds a lot of pressure, especially when timed, however, there are strategies to work through test anxiety. Studying and being confident that you know the information always helps. Dirinberger thinks that advocating for yourself, preparing, and prioritizing are the keys to success in academics.
Procrastination is another struggle Dirinberger has. “I think people would be surprised by that, but sometimes I use the morning to cram and finish assignments before school starts,” she says. However, she usually selects a certain period of time to study and does it all in that time period. “Understanding as well as earning good grades are both important,” she says, “ What’s the point of getting good grades if you don’t understand the information?” This way of thinking is something more students should take into consideration. Most try to achieve the highest grade even if they don’t understand the information, but Dirinberger knows that understanding is more important than a score.
Having people recognize the work Dirinberger does helps her a lot as well. Her peers describe her as hardworking, smart, fast, and determined. Advocating for yourself to peers, teachers, and coaches is very important and Dirinberger understands this. She knows that communication is such an important factor in life especially when it comes to success.
Although her schedule is packed, when she does have free time she enjoys hanging out with friends and doing art. Prioratizing tasks is very important to Dirinberger. “Track and school come before my personal life, I finish work before I hang out with friends. Sometimes I have to pass on events so I’m not burnt out.” She breaks her life into three separate areas: track, school, and her personal life. This helps her balance everything so she is fulfilled in all areas.
Dirinberger plans to go to the University of Montana to study education so she can teach middle school math. Being an educator requires expertise in the topic you are teaching. Having these future goals helps motivate her because she knows all the effort and skills she is building is going toward something she wants. Doing track her whole life has even made her consider coaching it one day. Knowing what you want in your future so young is very helpful; everything Dirinberger does is for her future and will only make it easier for her to succeed.
Dirinberger says she wouldn’t trade her lifestyle for the world. Balancing school and track has helped her become a driven and responsible person who understands the importance of discipline and education. Her ability to handle track and school serve as a big inspiration to her peers who feel stressed or overwhelmed about their own responsibilities. Through hard work, Dirinberger has learned that discipline and advocating for yourself are amazing skillsets that lead to success.
