It's a lot, but this Guelph student balances studies, football and military duties
CBC
Most days, Seamus Milligan looks like any other student on the University of Guelph campus.
But on this particular day, people walk by him and give him curious glances.
It's not because of his moustache, curled on either side. It's not because of his height — he's six feet three inches tall. It's not because a reporter holding a microphone is standing beside him.
What's attracting attention is Milligan's green uniform and black hat.
Milligan, a third-year sociology student, is also a reservist with the 11th Field Artillery Regiment based in Guelph.
And while most days the 23-year-old looks like any other student, his experience on campus can be very different from his peers.
Each week, Milligan is expected to parade one night a week, that is, take part in training locally in Guelph. Then, one weekend a month, he takes part in military exercises in Meaford or Base Borden near Barrie.
On top of all of that, Milligan plays for the Guelph Gryphons football team as a defensive end.
He says he doesn't stress too much about getting everything done.
"I've been known to kind of fly by the seat of my pants and make stuff work out," he said.
He says the key to making it work is good preparation.
"It's getting things [handed] in with time to spare. It's looking ahead and figuring out when my games are, when playoffs are, kind of when those high-priority things are for football, when those high-priority things are for school and when those high-priority things are for the Canadian Armed Forces," he added.
"It's really just a juggling match between them all."
Even so, there have been hiccups along the way in balancing his school work and his military duties.
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