Every year there are lots of new upperclassmen students at our school just like every other school. However, nowadays it is not the typical reason for coming to a new school. You would expect something such as ‘we moved here’ as a reason to switch schools. However, that is not the case anymore. It is more normal now for students to change schools with the sole reason being sports.
It has become apparent in our own school. For example, the Woodford County Basketball team had two of their best players transfer to other schools or other states to play basketball and seek new opportunities – most notably Jasper Johnson. After we lost these players we brought in new players immediately through the high school transfer portal to replace these players that we originally lost. Our entire basketball team changed completely in the span of just a few weeks. 
I have mixed feelings about the transfer portal. I think it does make sports more exciting and I understand trying to get a better opportunity in sports. However, I think that students are transferring for the wrong reasons. I interviewed Carson Kelly who played basketball for the high school about his opinions from a student and an athlete point of view on students transferring for sports. His response from an athlete’s perspective was, “I was opposed to it because they were basically recruiting people from other counties who came and just took all the Woodford kids playing time.”
But the student in him had a different opinion: “I have mixed feelings because it makes the team more entertaining because the team is better. But, I also know it takes away Woodford kids’ playing time.”
I also interviewed Chase Lee who was a basketball player and is now a Track and Cross Country runner on his opinions about the transfer portal and he said, “I don’t think we should be constantly bringing in all these recruits. I don’t have an issue with them but I just don’t want it affecting my playing time.”
There are many differing opinions about the topic. My opinion is this: That a student-athlete is often the term used to describe someone who is taking care of their responsibilities both as a student and an athlete. Meaning that they spend their time making sure both sides are up to par and one side is not being disregarded. In this phrase the word student comes before athlete, meaning that being a student comes first. I am all for seeking opportunities that are the best for people, as long as it is for the right reasons – reasons that benefit everyone, not just the athletic pursuits of one person.
