Passion can take on many forms, but for student-athletes at Northwestern State University of Louisiana, they fall in love everyday with being able to continue the sport they have done for years at the collegiate level.

Leah Thompson, senior biology and music major, who runs the mile for the track and field team, started running in eighth grade and has been in love with it ever since.

Her track career ultimately started when her dad forced her to try a sport. Thompson started running distance at a very young age, which led her to where she is now at NSU.

“From experience I knew for a long time I was able to run, so ever since I started, I’ve realized how much happiness it has given me,” Thompson said. “I really do think I root a lot of my identity in running, it’s a part of who I am. I know when I run, I’m more confident, that’s why I’m so grateful I get to do this every day.”

Even though running plays a big part in Thompson’s daily life, she uses her love for music as her creative outlet and as a stress reliever.

“Music has also been something I’ve been doing for a long time, I’ve been involved in theater, talent shows and singing in different places,” Thompson said. “So yes, music is my other passion. Music is a big outlet for me when I’m sad, I dive more into that when I have periods of frustration or sadness.”

Over the years, both running, and music have taught her so many valuable life lessons.

“Running has taught me perseverance and finishing something even when it’s hard and I think there’s a lot of times where I’ve applied that to life,” Thompson said. “Being in discomfort is a good thing, but running and exercise in general makes you happier and relieves your stress. The same thing goes for music, giving yourself a happy outlet and truly feeding your passions makes it easier to do the hard things and the work.”

Even though both of her passions give her the serotonin to keep going, the feeling of accomplishment is also why she’s been motivated.

“The sense of accomplishment when you break through some sort of mental block that you’ve been having or finally improve again after it feels like a long time of complacency, you keep coming back to it,” Thompson said. “You sort of get addicted to the hard work and the hard part of it, because it makes you feel so proud of yourself.”

With every student athlete, burnout plays a big role in their day-to-day life. Thompson explained that sticking to a routine and remembering why you started in the first place is key to success.

“At times it feels impossible, and you feel like you have so much on your plate, but if you utilize your time and get it done that’s also just as important,” Thompson said. “You’re going to have these moments of being done chasing goals, and it’s good to let go. Not placing importance on that goal and enjoying the process, because that will make you strive for success and to get better.”

Daniel Young, senior liberal arts major and outfielder for the baseball team, has been playing baseball for 14 years, but initially never wanted to play it.

When he lived in Pennsylvania, he would play video games all day, until one day his dad put him in basketball. At a young age, Young realized that he didn’t enjoy basketball nor wanted to understand it at the time. Therefore, his dad decided to put him in baseball.

“The first year I played baseball, I was absolutely scared of it and hated all of it,” Young said. “I didn’t have a choice because my dad signed me up for a second year. Then I thought, if he’s just going to keep me in it, I might as well get better at it.”

From learning to love baseball, Young has learned so much from playing a sport.

“Patience is the main thing baseball has taught me, but learning time management, when to be aggressive and when to keep going even when it’s tough, is probably what helps me in life,” Young said.

His relationship with baseball has drastically changed from when he first started out.

“Right now, baseball is my life, this is what I wake up to do every day. My dream is to be a major league player,” Young said. “Until something otherwise changes that, this is the lifestyle I want to live.”

Taylor Williams, senior business administration major and utility for the softball team, fell in love with softball ever since she was four years old.

“My dad signed me up for it when I was little, and I never stopped playing since,” Williams said. “Softball has given me some of my best friends, discipline, determination and changed the way I think about life. Softball is my entire life, it’s what I want to do in the future, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Much like Thompson and Young, playing a sport has taught Williams almost everything she knows.

“Softball has taught me great work ethic, how to take on competition and how to be a leader and honestly a good person,” she said.

She also shares her love for the sport by coaching the next generation of younger softball players.

“I love working with kids outside of softball to help them be better,” Williams said. “That’s how I spend the majority of my free time outside of playing it myself.”

Williams explained that keeping both your mind and body healthy will help accomplish whatever your goal is, especially at the collegiate level.

“I would say my biggest advice is to keep a good mindset going into a game and take care of your physical health as well,” Williams said. “Then also just believing everything will work out in the end will impact how you move forward, and it will be some of the best times of your life.”

Thompson, Young and Williams all fell in love with their sport in different ways but are now athletes continuing to improve in the sport they love.