Sports vs School: A Common High Schooler’s Dilemma
While high school is an extremely enjoyable experience, it also serves as the most formative period of an adolescent’s life. Every decision or grade could influence and change the path you take in life. For many high school students, sports are a source of joy – as well as a perfect excuse to skip class! The only drawback of athletics is the level of commitment they demand, leading student-athletes to forget about that first word: student. In this blog post, you will learn whether you should continue to play sports or take a step back once you reach high school.
Sports are the sole focus of many adolescents in today’s world. They offer various benefits, including improved fitness and overall health, reduced stress, and more confidence, while helping you develop discipline and collaboration skills. As you navigate through high school, stress is a common occurrence and using sports as a coping tool will allow you to persevere through assignments, presentations, and exams. From experience, I can attest to the fact that having an outlet in this form is invaluable throughout the high school experience.
However, as you enter the later years of high school, sports begin to clash with education. This is the stage when school becomes noticeably harder, and requires a greater level of commitment, time management, and unfortunately, studying. I would describe my academic life in grades 11 and 12 so far as playing another sport. Like a sport, I put in early mornings and late nights, work rigorously, and occasionally even miss certain classes to study for others. Combine that with the practices and games of an actual sport, and the result is a student who is extremely tired, stressed, and unmotivated.
Thus, many students find that balancing school and athletics takes too much work, leading them to quit their respective sports. I know many people who have “retired” from sports or only play recreationally so that they can focus on school. The question you need to ask yourself is this: “Can I effectively handle both school and sports?” It is one thing to push through them, but can you maintain good grades in school while committing a significant amount of your time to athletics? Reflect on this honestly. Something worth thinking about is your future self in 5 years, post-secondary school. If you are not on the path you envision for yourself, then you need to either adjust that path or your priorities.
The final verdict is this: If playing sports does not negatively affect your academic results, then they will actually support your growth. Conversely, if you even have the slightest doubt about your grades or getting accepted into the school or apprenticeship that you want, it might be time to step down from your athletics. Remember, sports are valued for the lifelong lessons they teach. Even if you choose to part ways with sports, their impact on your life will be everlasting.
-Aidan (High School Student)
