Whitworth junior Clara Todd has spent her college years mastering the balance between academics and athletics as a member of the women’s tennis team. For Todd, being a student athlete has shaped not only her routine but her identity.
“It depends on your priorities,” Todd explained. “My priorities are academics first, and then sports come after. I try to do my best in creating time to spend on my classwork, and then the rest of my time can go to athletics.”
While the balance may sound manageable in theory, Todd admits it comes with challenges. “I think that balance is probably the biggest challenge. Overcoming it is just about getting your priorities straight and making time for what you need to make time for,” she said.
Beyond time management, Todd highlighted mental health as a significant challenge that student athletes often face. “College students are already at risk,” she said. “So, when you put another thing on top of that, which is athletics, that can be difficult.” To manage the pressure, she leans on several healthy outlets. “I try to do a lot of self-care, be involved with other things outside of school and sports, spend a lot of time with my friends… rely on my faith, yeah,” she said.
Being an athlete impacts her academic performance, especially during the spring season when tennis intensifies. “I have a lot less time for things that I truly enjoy,” she said, “But my coach does an excellent job of allowing us to do homework on trips and giving us that extra time.”
Despite the stress, Todd said being a student-athlete has only enhanced her experience at Whitworth. “I don’t think I could see it any other way,” she said, “I’ve been a student-athlete all growing up, so it wasn’t a complete shift to come to college and do both. It’s given me a great community and a lot of friends.”
Tennis also serves as an emotional outlet. “Whenever I have a rough day in school, I can go to the tennis court and kind of release that by playing,” she said, “It can also go the other way around — if I’m struggling with my identity in my sport, I can rely on academics. I just try to have one build up the other.”
Todd credits discipline as a major reason she’s been able to manage her dual roles. “Discipline allows you, as an athlete, to get better,” she said, “Being disciplined in the time you spend on everything is very important.”
She also leans on her support systems — teammates, friends, coaches and family. “My coach, Rachel Aldridge, is amazing. She does a great job of checking in on us and reminding us that our identity isn’t rooted entirely in athletics or academics,” Todd said. “My friends Paige Oliver, Audrey, Rylee Lupton — many of them are on the team too, which helps. My parents, Steve and Jill Todd, are super supportive. I call home a lot to check in,” she added.
Looking back on her journey so far, Todd offers advice to incoming student-athletes. “Give yourself grace. You’re not going to be perfect. A lot of student-athletes come into college at the top of their skill level in high school and then it’s like you have to start from the bottom again. So just find the reason you’re competing and stick to that,” she said.
With discipline, faith and a strong community, Clara Todd continues to thrive at Whitworth on the court and in the classroom.
