Many young people are forced to choose between an academic or athletic path. However, with an academic program tailored to individual needs, this doesn’t have to be a dilemma.
Combining athletic talent with a quality academic education seems impossible for many families. Providing a holistic education to young people who engage in high-performance sports requires special attention that few schools can offer. For this reason, CIEDI School has developed an academic program that implements strategies to ensure success in both areas.
Thus, some students discover the need for special attention in the development of their athletic skills and their dreams.
CIEDI’s high-performance student program
This program provides a solid socio-emotional, academic, and physical foundation that stimulates interests and nurtures the passion that emerges, for some students, in adolescence. According to Andrea Barrera, Middle School Coordinator, it provides appropriate support for families’ dreams without sacrificing the student’s talents, as they find allies in their teachers and school leadership for growth and success along their path. «In our experience, this requires multidisciplinary attention that integrates early identification by the family, expert sports training, and balance with the academic world.»
Based on the recognition of individual talent, a fundamental concept in CIEDI’s educational project, and supported by pedagogical approaches like that of Ken Robinson, international education advisor and author who advocates for the importance of developing the creative potential and individual capacities of each student, the school offers a clear policy that ensures students receive guidance, time flexibility, and the necessary resources to fulfill their academic and sports commitments harmoniously. This involves effective and real coordination between teachers, coaches, and families.
Sport Cases at CIEDI:
Sebastián Sierra, a graduate of the class of 2022, has been playing tennis since he was 10 years old. His goal at that time was to study abroad with a sports scholarship.
Sebastián shares with us his journey, where he increasingly realized the need to commit to both aspects (academics and sports) to achieve his life project. CIEDI supported him with additional guidance and advising so he could meet the required deadlines and demands, allowing him to complete his internationally recognized quality education. “What I experienced at school was a preparation to face this challenge without lowering my academic or sports level.”
Currently, our graduate is studying Computer Science at the University of Lynchburg – Virginia, and is part of the tennis team.
Sebastián Sierra
Class of 2022
Isabella Ortiz, a tenth-grade student who has participated in several professional tournaments, states that CIEDI is one of the few IB (International Baccalaureate) schools that is flexible in supporting high-performance sports practice. She also shares that some of her fellow athletes have had to leave other IB schools because they could not balance the academic load with sports demands. Unlike these experiences, this has become one of our school’s objectives.
Isabella Ortiz
Tenth-grade student at CIEDI
Psychological Support at the School
One of CIEDI’s goals is to help students manage pressure, handle frustration, and strengthen their self-esteem.
Creating an environment of trust and mutual support is essential for the well-being of developing athletes. According to Raimundi (2016), «The role of teaching and psychological skills programs should not only focus on sports performance but also on developing the skills to face the challenges of an elite athlete’s life.»
CIEDI has successfully graduated students who compete at a high level and have obtained scholarships at international universities. The school has been a key ally for students like Sebastián Sierra and Isabella Ortiz, helping them find a balance between athletic growth and academic development.
Other athletic success stories of CIEDI students that make us proud:
Luciana Molina
Vaulting
María José Argaez
Ballet
David Cortés
Soccer
Juan Diego Cáceres
Swimming
Tips for Balancing Academic Activities with High-Performance Sports Practice:
- Make a list of pending tasks in both areas—academic and sports—so you can prioritize the most important or urgent items.
- Assign the necessary time to each activity on the list to avoid neglecting any aspect. Use time management apps and tools like School Planner or Pomodoro Time, which help create task lists, set deadlines, and track personal progress.
- Find a balance that allows you to schedule time for relaxation, such as reading a book, watching a movie, or spending time with friends and family.