OPINION: UConn Student-Athlete Offers Perspective

Editor's note: This essay concerning the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on student-athletes was written by Julia Silverman, a graduate of Hall High School in West Hartford and a junior on the track and field team at the University of Connecticut, studying physiology and neurobiology. It is being published by Patch with her permission.

Hey everybody. I, like most of the students my age have returned home for the rest of our spring semester. I am also a UConn track and field athlete who has lost a season of her sport and has had to witness incredible athletes retire prematurely due to this pandemic.

I would really like to address the high school athletes who are angry and frustrated about winter sports getting cancelled, most likely entire spring seasons will follow. I am aware that there was a large group of athletes who protested outside of the CIAC building. My message to you is, and I apologize if this is too harsh for your ears, but get over it.

I know it hurts, I know it sucks, believe me, I am living it too. However, we have a duty much bigger than ourselves, much bigger than our sports, to keep our families, our communities, and the whole dang world safe. And I know it might seem like an overreaction to be told that you can't run in a track meet or play in a baseball or softball game for something that has been portrayed as "not that bad" for people our age, but we could be up against much worse if we do not make the change right now. We are not currently in control of this situation, so we have to do what we can to better it.

Perspective is the best thing to have right now, especially for the younger athletes out there. For my high school seniors, I know it hurts and I know it is not the way you wanted to go out, but try to remember that this is much bigger than yourselves. You are not alone in this!! And to my other college athletes, especially my seniors who are unable to return for another year of eligibility, my heart genuinely hurts for you. But let's try to make this all worth it, be smart and safe in the decisions we make starting two weeks ago because we are behind.