In My Own Words: Sophia Angelopoulos

As we move forward through this current period of uncertainty, Wright State Athletics has continued to live our P.S.A. model and transform the lives of our student-athletes: First, as People; Second, as Students; and Third, as Athletes. With those principles in mind, we have opened the floor to our student-athletes, and our Raiders have opened up and written first-hand accounts of how their daily lives have changed in this new series "In My Own Words."

This letter is from Sophia Angelopoulos, a senior on the women's track & field team and a 2019-20 team representative for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

--
When I first heard about our season being canceled, I - like many of my teammates - was extremely disappointed. We had all been in the midst of our training and were just getting ready to start our outdoor track season, which is much more competitive than our indoor season. We had been anticipating this season and its upcoming meets, as we all had goals we were hoping to achieve.

It was very difficult to grasp that my time competing in track, a sport that I had devoted so much time to over the years, was over just like that. I know many seniors were feeling the same way about their unfulfilled seasons. Not only has it been difficult for the seniors, but also for the underclassmen, as they now have to work to maintain motivation and fitness in what has become essentially an extended off-season. All around, it has been challenging not being able to spend time with each other like we had previously been accustomed to.

This past month, we have been adjusting to the many changes in living situations, classes, future plans training, and socialization. Some of my teammates have moved home, and they are still adjusting to that and the different responsibilities that are accompanied with it. Many of us had labs or other classes that would be challenging to complete in an online format, so we were concerned about those. However, people have been very flexible and understanding lately, which has been a huge blessing. Many labs are operating using sample data and most classes are using some form of video calling to allow for minimal changes to class structure. Even though it is not quite the same, we are all grateful that our classes and graduation timelines have remained intact. In regard to future plans, many of us are disappointed that our summer internships and jobs have been canceled. This is something that we are still working on handling and helping each other through as we look for other opportunities.

As far as training, many of us have been struggling to stay motivated, since we are no longer at practice and don't have any meets to train for. However, it has been nice that we have had more flexibility in the times of day that we can run. Also, I live with some of my teammates, and we have been coming up with core routines to do together, hiking, and trying out other sports as ways to stay in shape; we've really enjoyed the chance to explore other interests outside of our sport. We have all gotten creative in other ways, especially when it comes to socialization. Video calls have been a lot of fun, and we have even done calls involving multiple teammates, as a way to watch movies together, share a meal, and to play games. This form of communication, while not the same as face-to-face, has really helped us stay connected and upbeat during this time of uncertainty. In fact, I can see us using this strategy to stay in touch post-graduation, and it is something that we may not have thought of otherwise.

Now, many of us are fairly used to this "new normal" and are getting better at being flexible in this very fluid situation. All of us will be better prepared for times of uncertainty, which are bound to occur again during our lives. Most of our days are spent attending classes and doing homework, but it has been nice that we can be more flexible in that we can wake up when we are ready and take breaks to exercise and enjoy the outdoors when needed.

From this situation, we have been given time to realize that there is more to our identity than simply, "a runner." We have been able to find or rediscover other hobbies and interests. Ironically, through isolation, we have made stronger bonds with friends and family as we have realized how much we value those relationships and how often we had taken them for granted. From this unfortunate situation, we have actually gained valuable insight: we have realized that it is necessary to take a step back from our busy lives and refocus on the truly important things in life.

Sincerely,
Sophia Angelopoulos

Players Mentioned

Sophia Angelopoulos

Footer