This article was originally published in the Bodies issue of Kaleidoscope. Read it in its original printing online or pick up a magazine at UAB Student Media’s office.
All season long, UAB women’s basketball freshman guard Emily Klaczek grabbed fans attention.
Klaczek is from Hoffman Estates, Illinois. She is one of five siblings and has been playing basketball since first grade. She is currently an undecided major but is leaning towards education or psychology.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Klaczek had the opportunity to get a second freshman year in basketball. While academically she is a sophomore, she is thrilled to gain an extra year of experience.
“That extra year is really cool because our class has six or seven girls who get a fifth year. An extra year of basketball, to get chemistry together and obviously the education part of it,” Klaczek said.
Klaczek’s family is her biggest inspiration on and off the court. Knowing they are cheering her on from Illinois pushes her to work harder. Although she struggles with being so far from them, she attributes her success and dedication to their support.
“I’m playing hours away from them and I miss them to death. But I’m doing it because I love basketball. They’ve always inspired me,” said Klaczek.
Even though balancing school and basketball can be tough, the support Klaczek also gets from her coaches helps her stay organized. Her coaches emphasize the importance of getting a good education, and they make sure their athletes go to class and stay on top of their assignments.
“Playing basketball has made it easier to balance school and education because I don’t have a lot of time to procrastinate,” said Klaczek. “Coach Norton always says you’re a student and an athlete, those are your two things. That’s why you’re down here.”
When it comes to managing her time, Klaczek uses a planner and her mornings to get most of her work done. She is more productive when she gets away from the distractions in her apartments.
“I’m very productive in the mornings, not as productive at night. As of right now we have practice in the middle of the day, so I try to get up and get a lot done,” said Klaczek. “If I get myself out of the apartment, get myself to the library, a coffee shop or something like that, it’s a lot easier for me to sit down and get stuff done.”
But getting things done is not always what is most important. Sometimes it’s self-care. For Klaczek, she likes to focus on self-care to help deal with the stress that comes from juggling lots of activities. She enjoys cooking meals for herself, taking baths to unwind and spending time with friends.
“Finding time for me is very important, because I notice when I don’t do that than I’m more stressed and overwhelmed,” said Klaczek.
Klaczek is looking forward to future years as a Blazer.
