John Pelin and Kathryn McMahan talk about balancing school and sports—and how athletics help students grow in confidence, focus, and leadership.
Student-athletes face a unique challenge: maintaining high academic standards while committing to rigorous athletic schedules.
In this episode of Sparking Genius, host Dianne Drew sits down with John Pelin, Head of Athletics at Dwight School New York, and Kathryn McMahan, an 11th-grade student who competes on three varsity teams: soccer, swimming, and softball. They talk about what it takes to balance sports and school life, the challenges student-athletes face, and what kind of support really makes a difference. You’ll hear about time management, motivation, dealing with pressure, and the impact sports can have on leadership and mental health.
This conversation gives a real look into how athletics shape students—not just on the field, but in how they show up in class, with their peers, and in the bigger picture of their education.
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Presented by the Dwight Schools Global Network