Shannon Francois can tell you all about the demands of studying for a pharmacy degree.
Dealing with an ankle injury, on the other hand? Help required.
Francois, the Southern Steel midcourter, must be one of the few netballers who has not experienced multiple ankle injuries.
The hard-surface sport is notoriously tough on ankles, and it is rare to see elite players without strapping in that area.
Francois (21) has just about finished rehabilitating the ankle strain suffered during the Steel's loss to the Magic in Hamilton two weeks ago.
"It was pretty painful to start with. I'd never actually done an ankle before, so it was all pretty new to me," Francois said.
"My first ankle injury and hopefully my last. I've probably been pretty lucky so far.
"It's going really well. I'm recovering pretty quickly and I'm just really keen to get back."
Watching the Steel on television last week - the Southern side slipped to a seventh consecutive loss, to the Northern Mystics - was painful for Francois.
"It wasn't much fun. It feels like you're missing out so much when you're not with the team."
Still, Francois has not been too lonely during her enforced break.
She was engrossed in her studies when caring team-mate Demelza McCloud popped in with a nice hot curry.
"She was very nice. I was studying and couldn't walk and wasn't very happy."
Francois is in her fourth year of a pharmacy degree and has just completed three exams. Next year, she will have an internship, and hopes to stay in Dunedin.
Her international aspirations have intensified since she made her New Zealand debut in the FastNet series last year, and Francois is not worried the Steel's poor results will harm her chances of selection this year.
"Not really. We've had close losses, and we've pushed some top teams. I'm just concerned about the team, and getting some wins on the board.
"We're still a team that can cause some havoc and try to disrupt some of those teams trying to get into the top four.
"Personally, it's been a massive step up for me this year and a huge learning curve. It's been awesome.
"Hopefully, next year I can be a bit more consistent. I'd love to stay with the Steel next year but it's up to them."
She and the Steel will chase their third win of the season against the Tactix in Invercargill tonight.
It has not been a vintage year for the South Island teams, with a combined record of three wins from 20 games, so it may come down to who least wants to lose at the ILT Velodrome.
"It's a massive game for us. Hopefully, we can turn things around and get a good win," Francois said.
"No doubt the Tactix will be really keen to get a win, too.Hopefully, we can pull through."
The Steel beat the Tactix in Christchurch in the third round, but since then the Southern side's tale has been one of losses (big and small) and injuries.
Shooting has been an issue for the Tactix, so Steel defenders McCloud and Storm Purvis might be able to set the tone with defensive pressure.
Francois will have her hands full with Tactix midcourt general Maree Bowden.
