Major challenge

The friends they gained during their stay in the dormitory would surely occupy a special place in their hearts for the rest of their lives.

Our 12-day training in Japan went well as expected and we flew back to Manila over the weekend to have a brief rest before embarking on another tournament — the Philippine Superliga Super Cup that starts on Tuesday.

Actually, we were supposed to land just in time for the All-Saints’ Day, but because our flight got delayed, I wasn’t able to join my family in the memorial park to visit our departed loved ones.

Usually, we go to Bulacan to visit our departed relatives in my mother’s side and in Parañaque to visit those from my father’s side. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to join them this year.

But it’s okay. They understood my situation and they knew that it was something beyond my control.

Anyway, some of my friends and other people I know — most of them are student-athletes — were also not able to join their respective families in the province to observe All-Saints’ Day. Some of them were busy while others opted to simply stay in their apartments or dormitories, thinking that it’s a waste of money since it was just a brief vacation.

Well, not just All-Saints’ Day, but they also opt to stay put during other important holidays like Christmas, New Year and Holy Week.

That’s one of the major sacrifices student-athletes have to go through.

Sometimes, they have no choice but to stay alone in their dormitories because they don’t have time and they have obligations to fulfill for their respective schools. And instead of flying or sailing to the province, they would rather use their time to rest and recuperate for the hard training or games in the next couple of days.

Living in a dormitory is really challenging.

When I was still a student-athlete at De La Salle University, we were required to stay in a dormitory, especially during UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines) season.

Our team was renting this huge apartment near the school where everybody had to stay under the guidance of an assistant coach. It was Ate Car (Carissa Gotis) who was looking after us. Later on, Ate Chie (Saet) took over.

According to our head coach, Ramil de Jesus, the main objective of living in a dormitory, or what they call as “quartering,” was to foster camaraderie and develop our chemistry inside and outside the court. I think it was very effective as we were quite successful in the UAAP and other collegiate leagues while developing a friendship that remains solid up to this day.

Like me, I live in Manila area so I never experienced staying in a dormitory. I was afraid. I have fears of being alone and standing on my own, especially with all the responsibilities that would be given to me.

I find it hard staying in a dormitory to balance my academics, athletic duties and household chores.

Also, I was still spoiled to Mama that I was often requesting home-cooked meals every time I was craving. I also had a hard time doing the laundry because I prefer my clothes to smell like the detergent soap we use at home rather than that from the coin laundry (LOL!).

After five years of quartering with my teammates, I got used to it. Sure, I got to go home every once in a while or have my family visit me — but what about those who came from far provinces? What about those who have to take a plane or ride a ship just to go home?

Seeing them live away from their families really hurts.

But that’s one of the challenges of being a student-athlete. Living on your own, being independent and developing solid bond with your teammates are parts of what they signed up for.

It isn’t easy staying in a dormitory with your teammates. But the beauty behind this setup is that they get to forge a solid alliance and they eventually become your family.

Some of my teammates from the Visayas, Mindanao and abroad even used to spend important holidays in the houses of our teammates, coaches and managers. They told me that their families welcomed them with open arms that planted the seeds of a beautiful and tight relationship.

They also said they felt that they are also part of the family and even if they are not related by blood, they feel that they have somebody to run to when the situation gets tough.

True enough, for a young student-athlete, staying in a dormitory is very challenging.

But behind this challenge is an opportunity. It’s a chance to get to know yourself better, forge a solid bond with your teammates, develop a beautiful friendship with other people.

Time will come and these student-athletes would also go back home to their respective families.

But the friends they gained during their stay in the dormitory would surely occupy a special place in their hearts for the rest of their lives.