Athletic Success in an Unconventional School

by Aaron Cady

NorthStar Academy might not have any sports teams, but that doesn’t mean students at NSA do not play sports. In fact, some students at NorthStar are a part of the school because of the sport they play. NorthStar’s courses offer the flexibility and versatility that many students need to complete their schooling while participating in other activities like sports. An example of a student like this is James Albarracin, a sophomore who plays competitive tennis. James started playing tennis when he was seven and has been playing tennis for almost nine years. This is his first year at NorthStar, and he is taking six classes. 

Playing competitive tennis requires travel. “I travel about once a month during the school year and once every 2 weeks during the summer,” said James. However, even with the travel, James is able to do most of his work at his home in Chicago. “I do some work during tournaments, but most of the time I’m busy with my matches,” he said. “Overall, I do almost all my work at home.” When asked if his school year is different than most students, James said, “A little, but I try to finish my semesters close to when normal schools do.”

While James is a very good tennis player now, he originally wanted to play soccer. However, because of asthma, he had to find another sport. “I always watched my brother play in all the group classes so I became interested,” James said, “I fell in love with tennis after watching my favorite tennis player, Rafael Nadal, play.” Younger tennis players play on small courts, so James’s asthma did not affect his play. As he grew older, his asthma went away, allowing him to continue playing on bigger courts. He is now a very competitive tennis player. 

This is James’ first year at NorthStar, and he says that it works well with playing competitive tennis. “I came to NorthStar because one of the people I knew from tennis recommended it,” James said. “NorthStar works well with playing competitive tennis because I have flexibility, and the teachers are very kind and reasonable, so I don’t have to worry about unfair treatment.” NorthStar’s VRP classes don’t have weekly deadlines, but just require that students finish their work within six months or a year, depending on the course. This flexibility allows students like James to do school while also pursuing other activities. 


Aaron Cady is a junior at NorthStar and has been part of the school for five years. He has written for the Navigator for two years. Aaron loves writing, sports, and any mixtures of the two. Aaron hopes to pursue a career in writing or journalism when he graduates.