It was just three days after my last boxing match in India that I had to start packing my suitcases for my first-ever international trip. I remember absolutely nothing from that time but a big ball of emotions. For more than a year, I had adopted a routine that was indispensable: daily weight training, shadow boxing every other day, an outdoor training practice every weekend, a four-mile run on Sunday evenings, and sparring whenever I found a partner. When I packed my bags for the U.S., I was confused about whether my gloves and wraps still had a chance of making it to Duke with me. This dilemma was less about packing bags efficiently and more about whether I could continue this journey of fitness through MQM, an intensive program at Fuqua.

Getting Settled at Fuqua

As soon as I touched the Duke campus, my adamance about sticking to the routine led me to explore the gyms around the campus. In no time, I found myself standing at the doors of the largest campus gym, the Wilson Gym. Located on the West campus, it has a myriad of facilities, including a dedicated weight training area, aquatics pavilion, indoor wall for climbing, functional training area and a lot of other courts that I haven’t had the luck of visiting yet. The Brodie gym on Duke’s East Campus, though older and smaller than Wilson, also boasted great gym facilities.

But from unpacking my bags to finding my way around this new place, it was orientation day before I knew it, and in the next couple of days, I was leaping between classrooms. At this point, I had to decide whether I could dedicate enough time toward my fitness or concentrate only on getting good grades. All I knew was that MQM is such a short program, and I had to make the most of my time here and get the best grades I could.

Losing Track of My Routine

I dove headfirst into completing my assignments and preparing for the exams, leaving my routine behind. It was helpful to know that in all of this, I was not alone. My classmates who had their healthy routines in place before joining the course were facing the same challenge. In October, I started feeling the effects of this sedentary life. I understood that this was somehow hitting my athletic identity, and my grades were not getting any better.

At the start of the next term, my priority was to hit the gym, do a swim or climb the wall. I wanted to break the loop of falling into making trade-offs between my physical health and academics. I aimed to make a habit of choosing what I have neglected so far: my fitness.

Improving My Mental and Physical Fitness

In no time, I could see the effects of my decision. I was no longer working for the grades but focused on learning. And the results came through, I could see the stark difference in my performance now and in the previous term. I understood that the only thing standing between me and my athleticism was myself. I wasn’t diverting my attention when I was working out or keeping my fitness dial in check; I was nourishing my mind and body back to get through one of the most challenging learning experiences in my life.

Now when I start to feel a little amiss, I try to remember the things that I am passionate about. Fitness is a way to reward myself, but I encourage everyone to find their “thing.” Like playing piano? Make sure you take some time to hit the right notes. Want to try a new sport? Pickleball, anyone?  During the MQM program, there will be times when the tide of time is switching so fast you can’t keep up, but things that you are passionate about will keep you affixed to the ground.