Meet Drew Canody, an SIS Senior majoring in Integrative Studies with a concentration in Leadership & Organizational Development. He plays baseball as an Outfielder/Pitcher for the Men's Baseball team.
How do you balance academics and athletics?
Creating balance between academics and athletics took a little bit of time for me to grasp. However, I was able to overcome these challenges from using a planner to time out the assignments I have in alliance to my game/ practice schedule. Being a student athlete is compared to having a job therefore, time management is ever so important when it comes to being prepared for the future. The one central message for creating balance is being proactive rather than reactive. Sending emails to professors in advance and communicating with my advisors allows me lee way when I may be struggling as well.
What has been your favorite INTS class and/or professor so far, and why?
So far my favorite INTS class has been Mindfulness, Meaning, and Well Being, taught by Professor Mark Thurston. The reason this class has been my favorite is because I have really been able to explore myself and the different emotional states I deal with throughout my life. With that being said, this class entails a ton of different creative writing pieces that helps me focus my persona on the way my mind works and the different effects on my well being. Professor Mark Thurston is a very flexible professor that helps accommodate to my needs and others needs in order for us to be successful. I will continue to take other courses that Professor Thurston is teaching in the future because of the gratitude and flexibility he possesses as a professor.
What's your favorite part about being a student athlete?
My favorite part about being a student athlete is the process of making lifetime memories with my teammates and building connections for life. Being on team for me is something I never take for granted and knowing that my teammates will always have my back motivates me to push past my limits and do whatever I can to help this team be successful.
August 20, 2025