School, sports & a touch of love

The challenge of being a student-athlete is already tedious, but how does one play sports, go to class and juggle a relationship? There are two couples on the campus that are doing just that.
Paul DeRousselle, a senior english major from Eunice and a member of the tennis team, and Brittany Jefferson, a junior nursing major from Las Vegas and member of the softball team, have been dating for nearly a year and a half. They met through a mutual friend from the tennis team and they have worked hard at having good time management in order to get things accomplished.
“I spend a lot of time studying since I am in nursing school and I try to be as understanding as possible,” Jefferson said. “We are both very busy and don’t get to see each other much during the spring because we’re in our competition season and although it’s difficult at times, we still squeeze in quality time for each other.”
They also deal with the task of dealing with away games. Both student-athletes try to be very supportive of each other, even though they must spend time focused on their own individual sports.
“It is hard being apart during away games, but we call each other whenever either of us has free time to check and see how the other is doing,” DeRousselle said. “I know that (if) she has done well earlier that day, it inspires me to want to go out there and perform to the best of my ability, because I don’t want to be considered ‘Stedman’ and she is ‘Oprah.’ ”
They also believe the strong foundation their relationship is built upon keeps them together, as well as the fact they are best friends and constantly growing together.
“The thing that I like most about our relationship is that we have a strong friendship first and foremost,” DeRousselle said. “That is the most important thing, because once a strong friendship has been fostered among two individuals, the rest falls in place. She also has a great sense of humor, is extremely intelligent, and not to mention is quite attractive.”
Another couple that understands these difficult tasks is Darnell Parker, a senior electrical engineering major from Memphis, Tenn., a member of the track team and Khrystina Pindle, a senior political science major from Woodbridge, Va, and a member of the women’s soccer team. They also met through a mutual friend and have been dating approximately nine months.
Parker and Pindle typically try to spend their free time together, but it is often difficult since both have such hectic schedules.
“By us both being involved in sports and school, it kind of weighs thin on our together time,” Parker said. “Our weekends are rarely spent together because I am always on the road running track and during the week we both have our own truckload of school work.”
Pindle believes the love she and Parker share outweighs any amount of time that they are separated.
“The fact that we were friends first and the fact he is my best friend help keep us together, Pindle said. “I love the fact that I can go to him and he can relate to me because he is my companion and the love of my life.”