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High School to College - Fatema Jaffer FSU - DyeStatFLPublished by
The transition from being a high school student-athlete to a college student-athlete is quite different for everyone. While some decide to compete at programs close to home, some decide that out of State schools are more their fancy. Some athletes decide that big Division 1 programs is where they want to compete while still others decide on DII, DIII, Juco, or even Ivy League programs. Everyone that takes the next step and competes at the collegiate level has a different, unique story, but some of the experiences and lessons along the way are universal. Running at the collegiate level is a commitment with sometimes very different experiences from what runners experienced in high school. Our goal is to share those experiences and offer a glimpse into the life of the collegiate athlete irregardless of the size, quality or affiliation of the school.
Fatema Jaffer
Lake Mary High School to Florida State University
Fatema had a great senior season for the Rams graduating in 2015. During the 2014 XC season, Fatema finished off her senior XC season finishing 4th in 4A going 18:24. She was the FACA Senior All-Star Champion in 18:14 and finished 29th at Foot Locker South. Her senior track season saw her go 11:08 for 4th in the 3200. Fatema signed with the Florida State Seminoles and is in her Freshman XC seaon for Coach Phillips Noles.
Coming out of HS and entering your freshman year, what were your biggest concerns?
My biggest concerns going into freshmen year were making new friends, adjusting to living without my parents, and being able to hit the times in a workout.
How did you overcome them?
It was easy to make friends with some of my teammates because of how much I am around them and I am really thankful for that. It's still hard having to live on my own but I've learned to do so many things in just a couple of months. I really enjoy the workouts that Coach Kelly has for us. They remind me a lot of my high school workouts because the majority of them are at a controlled pace. I'm glad we do speed work too, because even though this is hard for me, I know it is just helping me to be a better runner.
Most successful high school runners have a routine or regimen that served them well. How has your routine adjusted in college?
It's hard to do your specific routine without being separate from the team so I try to do them after we have done everything as a team. That way I'm still doing things I am comfortable with while being a part of the team.
The team dynamic can be very different at the collegiate level. How would you describe your team?
There are so many of us it's so much fun! I have the opportunity of meeting so many silly and fun girls that all have big goals with not just running but life in general. When you surround yourself with those type of people it allows you to believe in yourself even more so that your goals are also big.
Training is something that also goes up a notch at every level. How was the adjustment period and how do you prioritize your training with other aspects of collegiate life?
I started off from what I was used to doing in high school and worked my way up. I have seen so much progress in such a small amount of time. The times I hit in workouts are faster than from when I just came in, my mileage is higher while still feeling healthy, and my body is used to having to incorporate weights the same week as a race.
If you had to pass on words of wisdom for those seniors looking at competing at the next level, what would you tell them?
Looking for a school and talking to coaches is exciting but it can also be filled with a lot of pressure and stress. Make the most out of your senior year and have fun with running. My biggest mistake as a high school senior was putting too much expectations and pressure on myself because I was so worried about what college coaches would think. Don't worry about what anyone thinks, you're doing this because of you. So if you have fun, train smart, and do the little things, you'll naturally get faster and race better.
What's the best part of life right now?
My roommates and I bought a projector. Since there isn't as much homework in college, I finally have more time to play Mario Smash Bros. I am happy.
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