The Real Price of D1: What They Don't Show You on Instagram

Real talk from someone living it

Everybody wants to be D1.

I see you. Scrolling through my Instagram, looking at the gear, the stadium pics, the highlight reels. You're thinking, "That's gonna be me." And maybe it will be. But let me tell you what nobody posts about.

It's Christmas Day right now. While you're reading this from your couch, surrounded by family and leftover pie, I'm at practice. My teammates and I just finished a 9:00 PM session. We had to cut Christmas short to get back to campus.

You know what Thanksgiving looked like? FaceTime. That's it. While my family gathered around Big Mama's table, I got pictures of the food I couldn't eat with them. My little cousins kept asking when I was coming home. I didn't have an answer.

You want those cute sweat suits we post in? Cool. They come with 5:00 AM workouts when your body is screaming for sleep. They come with practices that run until your legs give out. They come with choosing your sport over everything else – birthdays, holidays, relationships, sometimes even your mental health.

For my football players out there? Most years, there is no Christmas. Period. You know this already if you're in it.

D1 isn't just a goal – it's a lifestyle that demands everything from you. And I'm not saying this to discourage you. I'm saying this because you deserve to know the whole truth before you commit.

So Why Do We Do It?

Because when you step on that field, that court, that track – when you're representing your school, your family, your dreams – there's nothing like it. The sacrifice is real, but so is the purpose.

If you're chasing D1: Go in with your eyes open. This isn't just about being good enough athletically. It's about being mentally tough enough to miss moments you can't get back.

If you're already D1: You're not alone. Every one of us is making the same sacrifices. On those nights when you're questioning if it's worth it, remember why you started. And know that somewhere, another athlete just like you is grinding through the same thing.

Parents: Your kid is going to miss things. A lot of things. The question isn't whether it's hard – it's whether this is the path your family can commit to together.

The Bottom Line

D1 comes with a price. Every early morning, every missed holiday, every sacrifice – that's the cost of the dream.

So before you say "I want to be D1," make sure you're ready to pay it.

Because everybody wants to be D1... but not everybody is willing to do what it takes.

What are your thoughts? Drop a comment below – whether you're grinding toward D1, living it now, or supporting someone who is, we want to hear your story.