Making the Leap: Are Female Student-Athletes Ready for the Mental Health Hurdles of College?
Many high school student-athletes at Massachusetts boarding school St. Mark’s struggle to balance their athletic commitments with their mental health needs before college.
By Abigail Stone
Mental health is a topic that’s often discussed but not always prioritized, especially for high school student-athletes who balance academics, extracurriculars, and personal life. At schools like St. Mark’s, where participation in team athletics is required year-round, the pressure to perform can weigh heavily on students’ well-being. Yet, as many graduates aim for top universities like Yale, an important question remains: Does this demanding environment truly prepare students to thrive beyond high school?
St. Mark’s School, a private boarding high school in Southborough, Massachusetts, educates approximately 377 students. With their “Intentionally Small, Thinking Big” philosophy, the school emphasizes “cooperation over self-interest” and aims to prepare students “for lives of leadership and service.” But how does this culture of high expectations impact student-athletes’ mental health? And are there enough resources in place to support them? Upperclassmen Jackie Wright ’25, Ellen LaMontagne ’25, and Lily Apstein ’26 shared their experiences and offered insights into how being a student-athlete at St. Mark’s has shaped their mental resilience. They also spoke about whether the school is doing enough to support their well-being for future success.
When asked about the current mental health opportunities, all three women were unable to describe any concrete programming supporting student-athletes. As upperclassmen, these women have been at the school for three to four years, so the fact that they could not easily spotlight any programs is alarming. Despite this, the guidance counselors and wellness offices have programs in place, such as Peer Discussion Groups and Narcotics Relationships and Safety, where upperclassmen and teachers guide underclassmen in small group discussions on relationships, drugs, physical and mental health, and other topics of that nature. The idea of having small discussion-based spaces for newer and younger students seems appropriate; however, the fact that these women did not quickly name these services highlights how they might not be enough to support the student body.
Jackie Wright ‘25, who will continue her athletic career at Boston University as a goalie on the Women’s Hockey Team, praised the personal support from her coaches and teammates, which she valued at St. Mark’s. However, she notes the school’s lack of formal mental health programs, specifically for student-athletes.
“High school sports could provide better care for its athletes,” Wright said. She believes more mandatory workshops and classes would help, emphasizing the need for more structured education on mental health. Wright, a co-head of the Morgan’s Message Chapter at St. Mark’s, works with her other student ambassadors to destigmatize mental health in sports by organizing events and discussions. While student-led initiatives like these are a step in the right direction, she believes they cannot replace institutional-level change. “More needs to be done to provide consistent, structured support,” Wright emphasized.
Ellen LaMontagne ‘25, who will attend Northeastern University next year, will not be playing varsity sports, but she hopes to join a run club once fully healed from breaking both of her femurs. LaMontagne has faced several injuries during her time at St. Mark’s, and the cycle of injury and recovery has been emotionally draining. “There were no athlete-specific mental health resources that I was aware of,” she says. While she found support from friends, coaches, and counseling services, she notes that some coaches could have been more empathetic when she was injured. LaMontagne believes that better mental health education for coaches and players would improve the experiences of student athletes at the school.
Lily Apstein ‘26 is a tri-varsity athlete at St. Mark’s, playing soccer, squash, and tennis. While she grew up playing soccer and tennis, St. Mark’s year-round athletic requirement led her to play squash. Apstein is grateful for this push.
“It has really pushed me to explore my limits and I found a new passion for a new sport,” she said. Apstein also recently attended the Female Athlete Leadership Conference at Emmanuel College as a representative of St. Mark’s, which addressed the unique challenges that female athletes face. At the conference, she learned that “women naturally have less confidence” and she would like to “ put messages up on the bathroom mirror of positive sentiments and sayings to remind students of how lucky they are and how great female athletes are. Apstein feels that there are adequate resources at the school but wishes that the rest of her peers were able to go to this conference, highlighting that mental health education in the sports community and beyond is impactful.
While their time at St. Mark’s has shaped these women into resilient leaders and athletes, they all agree that the next step is critical: balancing the drive for excellence with the mental health resources that are essential for long-term success. These women have thrived under pressure, but they also understand that as they transition to college and beyond, the foundation of support they’ve built at St. Mark’s must evolve. Moving forward, it’s clear that thriving as an athlete isn’t just about pushing physical limits; it’s about creating an environment where mental well-being is prioritized just as much as athletic performance. By strengthening mental health programs, St. Mark’s can ensure that future generations of athletes are not only prepared to face challenges but equipped to rise above them with confidence, resilience, and balance.