Balance between sports, responsibilities and extracurricular activities: The importance of fishing in Calvin Bell’s life
For Bethel College student-athlete Calvin Bell, fishing offers peace, creativity, and balance amid the demands of academics and soccer.
Many Bethel College students use their talents and hobbies as a way to relieve stress and take a break from academic and sport responsibilities. For some, it is music, drawing, reading, or going out. For others, like Calvin Bell, a sophomore from Wichita, peace lies in the quietness and calm environment that surrounds fishing.
Bell, who is majoring in Personal and Physical Training and plays as a central defensive midfielder for the Bethel soccer team, has been surrounded by fishing for most of his life. While his sport requires a lot of time and focus, fishing has always brought him joy and balance.
“I started when I was little,” he said. “My dad took me, and I’ve been hooked ever since.”
“I started when I was little,” he said. “My dad took me, and I’ve been hooked ever since.”
Calvin Bell
As part of Bell’s hobbies and recreational activities, he owns a YouTube channel where he utilizes his creative skills and showcases his passion for fishing. “At first I didn’t want anybody to know about it, but a lot of people started finding it and eventually it encouraged me to promote it and post more.” Currently, he has almost 2,000 subscribers, with his highest viewed video amassing over 40,000 views.
Bell shared the type of content he creates. “It is all outdoors pretty much. I go out with my friends, record them, and we just have a lot of fun.” His videos showcase how much he enjoys and appreciates this activity, transmitting it to his audience in a positive and creative way.
Behind every video, there is a planning process that he follows to ensure good-quality content. “I usually brainstorm ideas so I can have an idea of what to follow and talk about,” he said.
Just like every college student-athlete, organizing and finding time for extracurricular activities can be challenging and sometimes even distracting. Balancing soccer, academics, and work is not easy. Bell shared his thoughts, saying, “Time is definitely tough. Soccer takes up a lot of time, and it’s super difficult to find opportunities to fish. Editing also takes around two weeks, and since I do everything by myself, it can be hard to get things done.”
Bell not only enjoys fishing as a fun activity, but he has also participated in different tournaments, competing for prizes. “It is fun to just get out on the weekend, meet some other guys, and even make some money. You can make a few hundred bucks, so it’s not bad.”
Although fishing has not directly influenced Bell’s thoughts or perceptions about college life, academics, or sports, it has helped him in many other ways. “It helps me to get my mind out of work, school, soccer.” He also shared, “I feel like a lot of people cope with stress through drugs, alcohol, or video games, so I utilize fishing as a way to de-stress.”
As for the future, Bell has big goals and aspirations that he wants to achieve. “I want to be one of the biggest YouTubers in the world, so I am working towards that.” Whether it is soccer, fitness, work, or his content creation, Bell believes in putting effort and dedication into the things he is passionate about.
Bell shared tips and advice for other people to go out and fish. “I would definitely encourage everyone to try it. It is peaceful and chill.” There are multiple places around the area. “I usually go to Wichita because it is prettier and bigger.”
Teammate and friend Aden Braggs, a sophomore from Dallas, Texas, had this to say when asked about Bell.
“Calvin Bell is one of the most hardworking people I know, the kind who never asks for shortcuts,” Shared Braggs.
For Bell, fishing is more than just a hobby. It is a way to relieve stress, meet other people with similar interests, and spend time with his friends and family. Finding comfort outside of his main responsibilities helps him stay calm and maintain a healthy college dynamic.