Most college students have busy schedules. But Riley Young is balancing one of the hardest majors on campus while also playing college softball.

Young is a junior nursing major at Ferrum College. Her days are packed with classes, labs, clinical work, and practice. Some days start early in the morning and don’t end until late at night.

“Balancing the demands has been a struggle for sure,” Young said. “I have a lot of early mornings, long days, and late nights, but reminding myself why I’m doing both helps me stay motivated.”

Nursing school is known for being tough. Students must attend lectures, complete lab work, and spend hours at clinical sites. Nursing Professor Melody Sharp said it takes strong time management and focus to succeed.

“Balancing nursing and athletics is very challenging,” Sharp said. “She approaches both with discipline and accountability.”

Young admits she used to struggle with time management.

“I’m a procrastinator at heart,” she said. “But I’ve had to learn.”

Now she keeps a planner to track assignments, practices and games. She talks with her coaches ahead of time if she knows there will be conflicts. She also tries to finish her hardest assignments first. As a night owl, she often studies late when she feels most focused.

Softball coach Joshua Freeman said school always comes first.

“Nursing and school come first,” Freeman said. “We try to be flexible with her schedule. When she’s at practice, she works hard and stays focused.”

Young had to miss the first game of the season because of a clinical day. Even so, she still plays an important role on the team. She leads the outfielders in drills and helps keep the team focused.

Her roommate, Georgia Carter, sees how much work Young puts in behind the scenes.

“Her days are long,” Carter said. “She’s in class most of the time, travels to clinicals, and then comes back for practice. After that, she still studies late.”

Even when things get stressful, Carter said Young keeps a positive attitude and supports her teammates.

Young says her teammates and classmates motivate her to keep going. Some of her classmates are parents with full-time jobs, which inspires her to push through even the busiest days.

“You’re not always going to get a perfect grade,” Young said. “But it’s important to give your best.”