Finn Morris
The Student-Athlete Experience 2025: Growth and Passion in Action
The Student-Athlete Experience 2025 is more than just a name — it’s a campaign built on the voices of international student-athletes who live, train, and compete in the U.S. every single day. No one understands what it’s like to be an international student-athlete in 2025 better than someone living it right now.
Train. Study. Compete. Grow.
Through real stories from around the world, we’re showing what it means to give everything to the sport you love, your education, and your future while building a new life thousands of miles from home.
Because it’s not just about matches or titles. It’s about the drive, the sacrifice, the growth, and the community you find along the way. Being a student-athlete in 2025 is demanding but powerful, unforgettable, and an experience you carry with you forever.
We asked Finn Morris, tennis player from United Kingdom studying at Carthage College, to give a glimpse into his student-athlete experience.
The Student-Athlete Experience 2025: This is what living it really feels like.
My College Experience in 2025
Finn talks about his experiences so far this year. He moved from Burgess Hill, UK, to Wisconsin for the 2024–2025 season to compete in college tennis at a NCAA Division III university.
“This year has been very fun. My team is great! I have met lots of people from all over the world who have now become some of my best friends. I really enjoyed the competing part of it, the practices and the camaraderie that I have at Carthage.”
First Impressions: Nerves and Excitement
Finn tells us about how he felt on his arrival to campus. Since it was his first time in the United States, he wasn’t sure what to expect.
“When I arrived, I was nervous but excited. It was my first time in America so I was definitely nervous knowing it would be the place where I would spend the next four years of my life. I didn’t know what to expect. But as soon as I saw the buildings and the athletic facilities, I was excited to get my college experience underway.”
Adapting to a New Academic System
One of the biggest adjustments for student-athletes is adapting to a different academic system. Finn shares the main differences he has experienced and gives his perspective on them.
“It has definitely been a change from the English system. In America, all aspects count for your grade like participation and assignments, whereas in England it normally is just one big exam at the end of the semester. The American system makes you focus more on each part of the class, and this is something I prefer.”
Staying Connected with Family and Friends While Abroad
Moving to a new country for college means starting a whole new life. However, staying connected with family and friends back home is important to maintain those relationships and avoid feeling homesick. Finn shares how he keeps up with their lives while abroad.
“It’s definitely hard to stay connected with my family and friends, but finding a time a couple times a week to sit down and talk to them. Keeping up with their lives helps me feel connected and not like I’m missing out.”
From Individual Competition to Team Spirit in College Tennis
One of the biggest differences in college tennis compared to Europe is that it becomes a true team sport. Depending on the division, each team has between 8 and 12 players from many different nationalities. While this shift can be a big adjustment for European players, most end up preferring the U.S. system.
“Playing tennis back home was pretty much always an individual sport. Although you had good friends in the sport, when playing matches, it was always only you against another player.
In college tennis, it’s different, you have your whole team cheering and supporting you during the matches. Knowing you have 10 other guys on your team wanting to win gives you extra motivation. It also makes winning feel better as you do it for other people.”
Building a Second Family
Without their families nearby, student-athletes need to surround themselves with people they can trust—those who make them feel at home. For many athletes, including Finn, their team becomes a second family.
“We spend so much time together on and off the court that I really feel like they have become a second family. Without your family here, you need people who can give you advice about things like school and I really feel like I have found that with my team.”
Enjoying the U.S. College Life
As a college athlete, life isn’t only about your sport. A big part of the experience is enjoying American college life. That’s why it’s so important to find the right balance between competing at a high level and making time to socialize and have fun.
“We are able to switch between being focused on the court for practice or matches, and then once that is over, the team does a good job to have fun with each other. We often go out for food or just hang out.”
Growing Independence as a Student-Athlete
From managing daily tasks to navigating campus life, many athletes quickly learn how to handle responsibilities on their own, building independence along the way.
“As a student-athlete in the United States, I’ve become much more independent. Figuring out everyday tasks on campus, like where to get food or how to do laundry, has helped me grow and not have to rely on other people as much.”
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