When asked recently what advice she’d give to other student-athletes, Justus Perry, a 2016 infielder from Prior Lake, Minn., replied, “Be extra nice to your teachers and let them share in some of your experiences. Some of them may relate and understand your struggles.”

Sound advice from someone who is racking up some serious flight miles this fall as she’s flying the 1,000 miles to and from Birmingham, Ala., to practice on the weekends with her club team the Birmingham Thunderbolts.  Perry was a 2^nd team “AAA” All-State pick this past year as a freshman and led her high school to the state championship game.

She had originally committed to Arizona State, but with the coaching change and Clint Myers now at Auburn, she’s headed to the SEC and will play in the same state where her club team practices.

In this blog, she recaps her first tournament action with the Bolts and explains how being on the road so frequently makes it important to have a good working relationship with teachers.

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This weekend I finished my first tournament with the Birmingham Thunderbolts.

I love the girls, and I already know we are going to have an unforgettable season. The girls play with so much heart, and are definitely a force to be reckoned with on offense and defense.

I played a little bit of everywhere this weekend, shortstop, third base, first base, and including a new one for me: right field. It was definitely something new, but I will always sacrifice anything I can to help my team succeed.

We played a total of eight games—three on Friday, three on Saturday and two on Sunday. It was a good way to start knocking off some dirt from the training season and get rid of some rust.

Playing on a new team is never easy. You don’t know the way the girls play or how they react to failure. You often don’t know their pregame or postgame routines which can be very hard on someone also trying to balance the game mentally and physically.

It’s very hard missing school for tournaments and, having missed Thursday and Friday last week, I have enough work to make up. This weekend we head down to Orlando, Fla. for another tournament, the Sun Classic.

I will miss one day of school but none on Friday since Thursday is the end of the quarter. Let’s just say there will definitely be a lot of homework being done in the hotel by the Bolts girls this weekend.

Being a student-athlete, you do end up missing some school.

I was recently asked, “What is your biggest advice you’d give to a student-athlete?”  My answer: be extra nice to your teachers and let them share in some of your experiences. Some of them may relate and understand your struggles.

Treat them with immense respect because you never know when you will need to miss a day or two and having them on your side makes the small things a little easier.

“enoyreve secaf ytisrevda. Emos erom naht srehto. Emos ssel naht srehto. Tahw uoy od nehw decaf htiw ti, si eht ecnereffid neewteb a doog reyalp, dna a taerg reyalp.” –The wise words of a man I know almost too well, my dad!

–Justus Perry (@Justus_Perry18)