How should a successful athletic program be defined? Is it measured by state titles and records, or is it simply about athletes enjoying themselves? Perhaps the true answer lies in something broader: creating an environment where athletes of all abilities feel welcomed, supported, and valued. Hermiston High School’s track program demonstrates that success is not limited to one definition, but instead is built on a balance of achievement, enjoyment, and community.

One of the most compelling aspects of the program is the legacy of its coaches. Many have come through the program themselves, competed at the Division I level, and then returned to give back. This continuity creates a culture rooted in experience, mentorship, and pride. Head coach Stephanie Miears, a former Division I athlete, emphasizes the importance of this environment. She explains that while competition matters, the most meaningful memories come from relationships and a sense of belonging. This philosophy shapes her approach to coaching, where athletes are encouraged not only to improve, but also to feel part of something larger than themselves.

Even for those who are not directly part of the track team, the program’s impact on school culture is clear. Its influence extends beyond the track, fostering connections with other sports and activities. Track athletes support other teams, whether it is partnering with the boys’ soccer program or taking time during practice to cheer on the tennis team. These actions reflect a culture built on inclusion and mutual respect, reinforcing the idea that athletics can unify a school community.

This year, the program has taken additional steps to strengthen that sense of inclusion by creating more opportunities for special education students to participate alongside other athletes. This initiative highlights the program’s commitment to growth, not just in performance, but in character and community. It shows that success is not static, but something that evolves through intentional effort and reflection.

Coach Miears also stresses the importance of balancing high expectations with genuine care. Athletes are held accountable for their effort, punctuality, and support of teammates, but they are also reminded that they are part of a group that values them as individuals. Maintaining this balance between competition and support can be challenging, but traditions such as team warm ups, shared workouts, and collective accountability help sustain it.

Ultimately, the Hermiston track program is guided by a clear purpose. Success is not defined solely by victories, but by the development of athletes into better teammates and better people. As Coach Miears explains, “At the end of the day, if our athletes leave the program not only better competitors but better teammates and people, then we’ve done our job.”

Why has the Black community been so heavily associated with sports? Nowadays, society has come to believe that Black people have a natural physical advantage, making them more successful in athletics than other races. Is this claim true, do Black people possess a genetic difference to make them more athletically elite? To save a google search, the answer is no. Do different races have different phenotypes that are passed down? Yes, which is why we all do not look exactly the same. The strong physical conditions of slavery were later used to justify myths about Black physicality. However, the belief that Black people are genetically different based on race is a complete lie made up by pseudoscientists hundreds of years ago.

Race itself is a social construct, all rooting back to Thomas Jefferson’s Notes to Virginia. Written in 1781, Jefferson employed “scientists” to find evidence of genetic differences in African slaves and Europeans. Up until this point, the concept of Black and white racial categories had existed in some form but had not yet been formally conceptualized and popularized. However, Jefferson broke the streak when publishing his Notes to Virginia. The scientists, having found no real difference between the two groups, had to improvise. Suddenly, they turned to head, nose, and mouth shape, comparing Africans to apes. Taking their “findings,” Jefferson combines his personal values with false information to describe Africans as sinful and unintelligent beings who were closer to animals than humans. He also poses formal organization of races, saying that people should be broken up by physical characteristics. British and French people suddenly became “white” due to their pale skin. This claim allowed him to exclude Africans entirely based on their dark skin, forever labeling them as “Black.” Jefferson’s Notes to Virginia received a lot of attention, forever changing the organization and division of American society.

Jefferson’s publishing was only the beginning. Even after emancipation and the long overdue freedom of enslaved people, the damage had already been done. Society had grown to believe in natural and genetic differences between races, ostracizing Black people from schools and any academic environment. While many professional sports leagues were segregated in the middle 20th century, once the leagues allowed Black players in, the media went crazy. With the combination of lack of access to higher education and some player success in major sports leagues, a narrative that closely aligned athletic performance with Blackness was written. Since then, Black people have been given room to excel in a very specific section of the media, athletics, which highlights the physical attributes of a person and not their intellectual capabilities. This has pushed society to strongly correlate a Black person to the sport they play.

Speaking in a context that can be applied to any predominantly white institution such as high schools or colleges, many Black athletes are heavily tokenized. Black student athletes are often just seen as a Black athlete. They are celebrated for performances on the court but not in the classroom. This constant stereotyping reduces the reach Black students can have. Only being celebrated for athletic achievements can limit growth and excellence in anything unrelated to sports. Black student athletes need to be celebrated for their creativity, leadership, intelligence, and humanity along with rightly earned athletic accolades. Black athletes are so much more than their sport. We are so much more than our sport. Society needs to start celebrating all of our achievements, not just athletic ones.

The narratives that were built centuries ago still echo today, shaping how Black athletes are seen and valued. Challenging these narratives isn’t just about sports, it’s about reclaiming the fullness of Black identity from a system that has tried to define it. Black athletes are more than their bodies, more than their performance, and more than the roles society assigns them. Recognizing this truth is the first step toward seeing Black people in their entirety: intellectuals, creators, leaders, and human beings with depth far beyond the scoreboard.

As high school students, we often find ourselves stretched thinly while balancing the demands of school, sports, activities, and our personal lives. Showing up on gameday after a late-night studying takes sheer willpower, and to do it all over again leaves many questioning if this is what they are cut out for.  

It took me a long time to realize I was burnt out. Three games a week, practice every day, and homework went wherever I could fit it. I could never say no to taking on new school projects or staying another half hour after practicing for extra reps. Without paying much attention, I stopped showing up to social events and asking my friends to hang out. I avoided time with my family and became highly irritable. To be completely honest, I hardly even remember my season with all of the stress I was undergoing. I stopped taking care of myself. I wasn’t getting enough sleep or eating right. This wasn’t like me, but I figured I could just push through. All I wanted to do was rot in my room. And even when I had the chance, it still wasn’t enough. I felt lazy. But the truth is, I was overworked and burnt out.  

According to the American Medical Association, physical burnout is a long-term stress reaction and is a condition that can happen to anyone. When we overload our schedules, it can take a great toll on our physical and mental wellbeing. There are many emotional, behavioral, and physical signs that point to burnout: 

Statistics show that 1 in every 10 youth athletes experience burnout. As we enter high school, and even middle school, it is ultimately our first time experiencing the pressures of the real world. It’s not that we can’t manage a heavy plate; it’s that we are often found doing so with poor strategy. Truth be told, there is no step-by-step guide to learning the best way to handle your responsibilities. Instead, finding what works best for you is the key to success.  

Burnout isn’t forever, but you can’t expect it to just go away. Approaching burnout effectively looks different for everyone. One solution that I can attest to is magical the power of saying “no.” To my fellow perfectionists — I know it can feel impossible to deliberately avoid the very thing you want to become better at. But putting a pause on progress, or seemingly losing a little, is worth the cost of losing the strength to keep pushing forward altogether.  

I once felt like quitting my sport, but it was a sign that my body, and mind, needed a break. The demands I was striving to meet became excessive and winning mattered more than my well-being. I no longer enjoyed playing, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could deal with criticism. I pushed through injuries and exhaustion to meet expectations, but I was only setting my self-esteem back even more. My frustrations bled into my academics. I struggled to focus in class, missed deadlines, and lost interest in what used to intrigue me. I felt worthless, and that’s when I realized something needed to change. Although I play year-round, I limited myself to practicing once a week during the summer. I prioritized self-care, especially getting enough sleep. Setting boundaries was new to me. I left a study hall period in my schedule, tried new hobbies, and worked on paying close attention to how I was impacting those around me. My break showed me how much I missed my sport, and how I can come back stronger than before. This time, I felt prepared. Although I took some time off, I actually performed better when my following season began. I was happy, and glad I chose to keep going.  

To the go-getters, it is with deep care that I encourage you to pay attention to your bodies. You are never alone, and your symptoms should never be dismissed when they are truly hindering your ability to pursue your passions. At the end of the day, burnout represents a breakdown with yourself, others, and your commitments. It is important to remember that your worth is not tied to your performance, and reclaiming your life starts by setting boundaries. Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself when you don’t feel comfortable, safe, or heard. Learning that the world continues to turn, even when you step away, is truly freeing. 

If this piece resonated with you, I owe a debt of gratitude to my teammate Abby Smith. Abby showed me that it is possible to overcome burnout and how important it is to check up on my teammates. Healing felt impossible until I realized who was rooting for me. If you or someone you know is showing signs of burnout, don’t hesitate to take action. And remember, you are not defined by your performance.