It's always nice to see a day in the life of a college athlete, especially as a recruit–it helps give you an idea of what you're signing up for. Plus, it's interesting because each sport, athlete, and college operate a little differently. Today, we are going to look at Utah Tech volleyball player Abigail Shaffer's typical day. 

6:30-9:30 am

This is when Abigail has practice. She normally wakes up around 5:30 to get up, get dressed, and be in the locker room by 6. Then she eats her breakfast that normally consists of a toasted bagel with peanut butter or a breakfast sandwich with egg, sausage, and cheese so she can feel fueled for her 3-hour practice. 

10:00-11:00 am

On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday the team has lift after practice at 10. 

11:00-11:45 am

After the lift, Abigail goes back to her room, showers, and gets ready for her day. Monday, Wednesday, Fridays Abigail has a full class schedule so she packs her backpack with her laptop, books, and notebook. During this time she generally eats lunch as well in the cafeteria. She tries to eat some kind of meat like chicken and vegetables or a tuna wrap so she can take on her classes on a full stomach.

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12:00-4:15 pm

Abigail is a marketing major and so the classes she takes consist of Retail Management, Business Calculus, and Sales Management. Her favorite is Sales Management because she really loves her professor and the hands-on experience they get in the class. 

4:30-5:30 pm 

Right after her last class, she heads to the cafeteria for dinner and meets some teammates. She normally eats pasta, mashed potatoes, or sometimes steak and vegetables for some protein. 

6:00-9:00 pm 

After dinner, it's time to study. At Utah Tech, all athletes have to go to a specific room and clock in for study hours. Abigail spends about 3 hours here so she can get all of her work done so she can get a good night's sleep. 

9:30-10:30 pm 

This is when Abigail relaxes. She just got done doing homework so she can unwind her mind and get ready for bed. Since they practice at 6:30 am every morning she is normally in bed by 10:30 pm. 

Image Credit: Utah Tech University Athletics

What's a day in your life like? Share your Daily Grind at [email protected]

* Originally published on October 12, 2022, by Anna Garrett