Balancing studies, work, and playing your favorite sport can be difficult to manage. A night of sleep can feel like just a blink before you wake up and get back to work. One moment you’re in class, the next you’re at practice, fit in a couple of study sessions, a work shift and the day is done.

This is the life of an international student athlete at Lethbridge Polytechnic, Arpan Sandhu. Arpan has taken on the load of being a full-time student, a cross country/track athlete and student representative for the students association.

When Arpan moved to Canada from Punjab in 2024, he knew he wanted to be a part of athletics and take every opportunity he could. This lead to him joining the Kodiaks cross country/track Team.

On top of running, Arpan is a graduate of the General Arts and Sciences program and is currently enrolled in Therapeutic Recreation. As a new student representative, he is navigating the best ways to balance his school life, work life and personal life.

“It’s hard sometimes. Sometimes I don’t get time to study for my exams.”
In order to finish his homework, training and work projects, Arpan must work hard and manage his time well. His sister Suman Sandhu says she looks up to him and finds his work ethic very inspiring.

“He is a multitasker. And that’s what inspires me. If I am doing something, I just stick to one thing. But he manages. He shows up to everything.”

Arpan has big plans for his next two years at the polytechnic. He says his motivation to keep hustling comes from his care for his friends.

“What matters the most is talking with the students. If nobody talks with them and they’re just feeling stressed about their studies and there’s nobody to have fun with or to get direction from, what kind of resources we have.”

Right now, he is striving to promote the different resources that the campus offers to students and wants to start a boxing club on campus.

The stress of managing life has never been harder, and Arpan leaves a note of encouragement for students who are feeling the same pressures; “Reach out to the people and talk. When I came here for my first year, I always used to hear the phrase ‘ask for help.’ It’s a big thing. If we ask for help from our friends, or reach out to the resources in the library…they help you.”

Arpan continues to strive in his academics, studies and career through the support of his friends and family and looks forward to what the years will bring.