No Regrets: Derek Cantu ’17 On Pursuing Both Sports with Nursing in College

Derek Cantu, who graduated TLU in 2017, didn't have a lot of examples to look to when he was learning to balance the work of being a college athlete with studying to become a nurse. The university had launched its BSN program in 2014, so Cantu was among the first to enroll. On top of that, the two endeavors-sports and nursing-as rigorous as each one is, were rarely combined, and in fact, there are many schools that don't allow students to pursue both-not past sophomore year, anyway. It's simply too tough to mesh practices and games with clinicals and classes.

But TLU decided to try make it possible for the sake of those students who are passionate about their sports and are also called to become nurses. Cantu was among the first to pull it off-with a lot of support from coaches and professors.

"Since I was one of the early nursing cohorts while being an athlete, it took a lot of communication with my nursing professors and baseball coach, Coach Burnett, to understand how a student-athlete could also pursue a degree in nursing," he recalls.

He played baseball all the way through his junior year, then shifted to track and field-and blazed something of a trail for the nursing students who would come after him who, like Cantu, didn't want to give up the sports they loved, or the chance to play at the collegiate level, just because their course of study was so demanding.

"During this time, the nursing professors were accommodating with my travel schedule when we would have to leave early, and allowed me to either take a test in advance or to do assignments while traveling," Cantu says. "Coach Burnett was also very accommodating and understanding that with my class schedule being different, I would occasionally be late to practices."

Cantu says Burnett adapted workouts and other activities so that Cantu could fit them into what free time he had. "Also, if I was unable to leave early with the team due to a clinical, he would allow me to leave later and ride up with my family. Coach Burnett preached that education always came first so he was very understanding and in constant communication with me."

When Cantu's senior year rolled around, he shifted from his team sport, baseball, to one that was more individualized-javelin throwing in track and field. That way, he could participate but still devote ample time to his senior nursing capstone project and clinical internship. "During this time, sports had to be more accommodating," he says. "Coach Holland with Track and Field was understanding and let me practice and attend meets that worked with my schedule. She was also very accommodating with me being a student-athlete pursuing nursing."

Of course, there were numerous hurdles to jump along the way that can't be fully understood until one is in the midst of the race. "One of the biggest challenges was the stress of finding the time to study due to the demand of both nursing and sports practice," Cantu remembers. "This would also pertain to finding times that worked with my nursing classmates in order to do group studying."

Late-night study sessions became the norm-and Cantu was often at the library right up until it closed. Then he'd move over to the Alumni Student Center, which is open all night. Next morning, he'd be at the books again, preparing for classes or tests.

"Another factor was being able to have the energy and capacity to study after an exhausting long day," Cantu says. After a mid-week game, for instance, when his teammates were winding down, he would grab a quick dinner and head straight to the library to start reviewing his notes. "Many late nights and early mornings occurred, which caused a lack of sleep, but it was something I was willing to sacrifice in order to be successful in both," he says.

And there were other sacrifices, too. Cantu admits that he missed out on some aspects of college life, like making memories with friends outside of sports and nursing. "Studying and practice absorbed so much of my time that outside of those two groups, it was hard to find time for others."

But if he had it to do all over again? He'd still pursue both sports and nursing-in fact, he says he'd try to finish out his senior year on the baseball team. And the friends he made through it all-he wouldn't trade them for the world. "Being a student-athlete helped create some core memories with my baseball teammates and relationships that continue to this day. I believe it also helped develop me into the nurse I am."

Cantu currently works at University Hospital in San Antonio, in Trauma Administration, as a Trauma Outcomes Coordinator. He's also a member of TLU's Board of Regents. "Being a student-athlete helped prepare me for the stressful and critical situations in Trauma/Emergency Department nursing and being able to react in a calm and organized manner," he says. "It also helped me in my competitive nature and being able to work with a team in some of the craziest nursing experiences I could have ever gone through."

So even with the long hours, the sacrifices, and the stress he endured to pursue both sports and nursing, he remains grateful that he dug deep and managed to carve his own path-a path that has paved the way for other TLU nursing students who are also dedicated athletes. "I personally feel that being a student-athlete helped give me the morals and values that guided me during my transition to real life and my career as a nurse. Due to these experiences, I would definitely do it all over again."