Besting the Time: Nursing Student-Athlete William Siejas Challenges Himself on the Track and in the Classroom

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR SPORT?

I embrace how it is an outlet for me. When I am out there sprinting and testing myself and my body it clears my head. It also challenges me to be at my best all the time. I need to get proper sleep, nutrition, and rest or it shows.

WHAT WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE ABOUT YOUR SPORT AND HOW YOU PLAY IT?

I transitioned from a high school hockey player to a full-time sprinter my junior year of high school. Then once gaining acceptance to the Villanova nursing school, through my diligence and hard work, the coach saw me and gave me an opportunity to prove myself. It is a team sport, but also an individual sport because you can challenge yourself every time you race to better your time. There is so much camaraderie on the team that many times my teammates celebrate each other more than we celebrate our accomplishments.

WHAT MAKES YOU MOST PROUD?

I am the proudest of my personal and physical growth since freshman year here. I have learned to handle the high stress of being on a big stage at a high level of competition. I learned to translate how I handle the stress of being on the track to being in the classroom… and in the hospital. Also, I have also been able to improve my times every year since freshman year. As far as the team goes, I enjoy using my experience to help the newcomers handle the difficult task of managing classwork and athletics.

DESCRIBE THE COMMITMENT

Every week for me is a grind. I have learned the importance of time management and utilizing free time. Practice is built into my schedule during the week, so my day usually starts with an 8:30am class. It is broken up by practice from 1pm-4pm. Then resumes once I get back to my room or have that dreaded class after practice. Clinical rotation every Wednesday tests my commitment. My day starts around 5:30am and ends in my room around 7pm. I then have to get to the track and makeup the practice I missed during the day, so I do not fall behind.

WHAT CHARACTERISTICS DOES ONE NEED TO BE A SUCCESSFUL NURSING STUDENT-ATHLETE?

I found the number one characteristic one needs to be a successful nursing student-athlete is discipline. My days are set up in chunks of time. It is up to me to stay disciplined, and not waiver from my schedule.

My second characteristic is fearlessness. Some days you may feel like you did not achieve a time you wanted, or a grade you worked for. But the discipline to keep trying and the fearlessness of never getting discouraged or down is vital to success. With tomorrow, there will be another opportunity to do better and be better.

WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES AS A NURSING STUDENT-ATHLETE?

My biggest challenge as a nursing student-athlete is not allowing yourself to feel overwhelmed. There is always going to be as assignment to complete, an exam to study for, or a project to start working on. It has always been important to stay on top of things and prevent cramming. My ability to devote time every day to each class and ensure I am ahead of the game has been the reason for my success.

WHERE DO YOU FIND YOUR INSPIRATION AS EITHER AN ATHLETE OR NURSING STUDENT?

I find my inspiration as a nursing student through helping people and being able to make an impact on someone’s life. It also has so many avenues, so the opportunities are endless. Hospitals and surgeries can be daunting for anyone, and I embrace the role of being a happy face who is confident. I can help them get through their struggles.

As far as track goes, it is a sport where you can always improve. The time always drops when you do the right things. I relate my sport to my life in the sense that little changes contribute to holistic improvements. I enjoy the challenge that difficult workouts pose on my mind and my body. That sense of accomplishment when you push yourself to finish a rep you did not think you could do or drop your time to a level you did not think was achievable is an inexplicable feeling.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR NURSING CAREER?

I will be working in the medical ICU at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson, NJ upon graduation. I want to do that for 1-2 years and build my knowledge and skills. Then I want to go to CRNA (certified registered nurse anesthetist) school where I ultimately want to work in a surgical center. I believe my niche is there as my demeanor will provide comfort and serenity for patients during stressful times before and after surgery.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE AN INCOMING NURSING STUDENT-ATHLETE?

Understand that your college experience will be a lot different than just about everyone on campus. Embrace the hardships that come with balancing both challenges. The 4 years you will spend balancing both will be something you look back on and marvel at, and I guarantee they will be your best memories.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE?

Almost all the nursing professors at Villanova understand the difficulty of doing athletics and nursing. Many of them are flexible if you communicate with them ahead of time. Many people wonder how I do track and nursing. I am not too sure I could do nursing without athletics, as it provides an outlet for me from the rigorous program.