Playing a sport requires a lot of time and energy. Some people may think this would distract student-athletes from schoolwork. However, the opposite is true. Sports require memorization, repetition, and learning — skill sets that are directly relevant to class work. Also, the determination and goal-setting skills a sport requires can be transferred to the classroom.

Watching your hard work pay off and achieving your goals develops self-confidence. Achieving a sport or fitness goal encourages you to achieve other goals you set for yourself as well. This can be both a rewarding and exciting learning process.

“I started playing volleyball when I was in 7th grade,” said Jefferson-Morgan student Jessie Wei. “At first it was all for fun and because my friends did it, but at the same time I was juggling many honors and advanced classes. I would say that because of me adding in volleyball to my heavy circle it boosted my self-confidence because I knew if I could do all this, I could do just about anything,” added Wei.

Clearly sports can help you reach your fitness goals and maintain a healthy weight. However, they also encourage healthy decision-making such as not smoking, not drinking, and doing any other things that may seam harmful to yourself or those around you. Sports also have hidden health benefits such as lowering the chance of osteoporosis or breast cancer later in life.

“Before volleyball the only physical activity I was able to achieve and fit into my busy schedule was dance,” said Wei. “Volleyball really helped me shape my physical health as well as my mental. At practices I am able to get in running, different body workouts, I am able to build my muscle by going through different motions and doing lot’s of serving and spiking.”

Sports are also known to help teach teamwork and problem solving skills. Fighting for a common goal with a group of young players and coaches teaches you how to build teamwork and effectively communicate to solve problems. This experience is helpful when encountering problems at work, school, or at home.

Wei added, “As a kid I was always such an introvert. I kept to myself and if I was thrown into a group with lot’s of other students I tended to keep to myself and never added much ‘teamwork’ to those around me.”

It stands to reason that if you have to work with a team of people as well as spend time listening to someone give you directions and execute those directions, your social IQ is going to go up.

“Volleyball has helped me make some of my best friends; Payton, Madison, Randi, and Autumn,” said Wei. “Without sports I truly do not think I would have as many friends as I do because I always kept to myself at home and at school. Volleyball brought me out of my tight shell and taught me it is okay to work with other people,” added Wei.

Sports will always be apart of high school in one way or another and will always have benefits whether it is inside or outside of school!