In recognition of their athletic and academic achievements, Neel Phaterpekar (pictured) and his brother Kiran have been named two of the University of Alberta’s 2020 Academic All-Canadians.
Managing your time, seeking support, and, of course, having fun have been the keys to success for student athletes Kiran and Neel Phaterpekar. And in recognition of their athletic and academic achievements, the Phaterpekar brothers have been named two of the University of Alberta’s 2020 Academic All-Canadians.
Kiran and Neel are both part of Golden Bears Tennis and the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Science.
“Being an athlete on top of studying in the Faculty of Science can be difficult, but with time management it is possible to make the experience great,” said Neel, who graduated in Spring 2020 from the undergraduate honors physiology program. “It is crucial to know when those busy times in the year are, making sure you give yourself adequate time to prepare and perform your best—whether it be in school or on the court.”
When asked his advice for fellow student athletes, current undergraduate student Kiran emphasized the importance of having fun. “Not everyone gets the opportunity to represent their school in both academics and sport, so enjoy the ride even if it can get bumpy at times.”
Hear more from Kiran and Neel Phaterpekar.
Tell us about your experience as a varsity athlete.
Kiran: I am on the Golden Bears Tennis team. Managing athletics on top of academics is definitely stressful at times, but having a supportive network around me has helped me get through challenging periods. It can be hard to balance both of these activities at times, and some days you feel like giving up, but it's important to persevere through these days and find creative ways to de-stress yourself if you feel too overwhelmed. In order to excel in both your sport and your academics, it's important to have a positive mindset, so even on the bad days you can bounce back and still perform at a high level in competitions or at an exam.
In recognition of their athletic and academic achievements, Kiran Phaterpekar (pictured) and his brother Neel have been named two of the University of Alberta’s 2020 Academic All-Canadians.
Neel: I was part of Golden Bears Tennis. Being an athlete on top of studying in the Faculty of Science can be difficult, but with time management it is possible to make the experience great. After four years at the University of Alberta, I realized the key to maintaining a good school-sport balance was to determine which parts of the school year would be the most hectic. Balancing the sports season along with exams can be tough. It is crucial to know when those busy times in the year are, making sure you give yourself adequate time to prepare and perform your best—whether it be in school or on the court.
What advice would you give to your fellow students?
Kiran: The advice that I would give to scholars that are interested in becoming a student athlete is to prioritize activities. Prioritizing your activities is a powerful organizational tool that can not only help you better manage your time, but it gives some structure to your days and can help you feel less overwhelmed. In addition to this, just by organizing your day, you are less likely to fall behind and this helps you stay on top of your work.
Have fun in your experience as a student athlete. Not everyone gets the opportunity to represent their school in both academics and sport, so enjoy the ride even if it can get bumpy at times.
Neel: My advice would be to communicate with your coaches and professors, and do so early. Don’t be scared to let your professors know that you are a student athlete, most will be enthusiastic and will want to accommodate. Conversely, give your coach a heads up if you foresee a busy school period coming up. Everyone at the school wants you to succeed; the key is to not be afraid to reach out to get the support.
What makes UAlberta a great place to study, work, and play sports?
Kiran: The atmosphere at the University of Alberta is always positive. From my experience, all of my professors were enthusiastic about supporting varsity athletes and I even had professors that would keep up to date with my scores. On the flip side, my coaches have also provided tremendous support for my academics throughout my time at the university. This environment has made it very easy to balance school and tennis. In addition to this, there are many study spots on campus that are close to the LRT station, and this has made commuting to tennis practices very convenient.
Neel: I love how close to campus everything is. I lived in residence all four years on campus. I found that having my classes be so close to where our team trains made it very easy to transition from school to sport on the daily. Saville is an awesome space to relax with my teammates and study together.
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