A scholarship for a young athlete should feel like a lottery ticket, a chance to receive a free education and advance in their sporting career. But behind their smiles lie their silent struggles, as they strive to maintain good grades, stay fit, and prove their worth.

In the UK, scholarships do not come with the infamous spotlight like the US, no full-ride rides, packed out stadiums, or brand deals. They are instead built around balance. They reward you based on your discipline and work ethic, not just your talent. The financial aid, mixed with the academic flexibility, is something any university student would wish for.

At the University of East London, student athletes receive up to £6000 per year alongside physiotherapy sessions and access to the sports dock training centre. The opportunity sounds like something anyone would desire, but often, the early morning gym sessions, lectures, match days, and assignments would feel like living two lives at once. The scholarship may fund your living, but it’s at the cost of your time, sleep, and mental strain.

There are hundreds of student athletes in the UK that benefit from sport scholarships each year; considering the number of athletes that compete in academies, it’s a dwindling number. They receive between £1,500-£6000 each year, with only a few having everything covered for them. The British Universities & Colleges Sports (BUCS) say the students suffer from heavy amounts of stress and fatigue during the year, which should be considered, considering the responsibilities expected from these students, with 47.8% of the student athletes raising concerns about their ability to function with this workload. For the majority, it is a constant test of endurance at all levels.

For these student athletes, the weight of pressure eats them away. Both in classrooms and the field, the never-ending struggle to keep their levels to a high standard is unfair to say the least. Some athletes, through this process, lose touch with what gave them the joy to play their sport; they are now burdened with endless hours of training sessions and studying that eventually leads to exhaustion. There are others that do thrive through these challenges, pushing through the fatigue and stress as they feel like these are the years that define them as a person, which inevitably builds their character as a person.

A scholarship is more than just scouting the lost talented players; it’s a representation of trust from the university to represent their sports institution at the highest level available, the belief from coaches, and expectations from teammates will always be there. Behind all the media photos, highlight reels, and interviews, a student is struggling to meet deadlines for assignments. Scholarships open doors, but they do expose the realities of what it takes to make it in life for whichever career path you choose. Those who endure the hardship don’t just leave with trophies, medals, and a degree, but resilience to make it through the toughest of times, which makes them a stronger person.