One or more extracurricular activities for a high school student is the norm, and Edgewood students are no exception. Sports have become a typical activity for high schoolers. These students can be found before and after school practicing with coaches or at a private facility. From lacrosse to studio dance, Edgewood students manage to study hard and play hard at their sports of choice.
One benefit to playing a sport are the life lessons learned. One life lesson includes self-confidence. This is a skill that can be learned through becoming proficient in a coached sport. A student who knows they can run a mile or longer gains self confidence, not only for participating in meets for track or cross country, but also in tackling harder subjects or even becoming better at problem solving. Sharing expertise and giving sound advice is the epitome of leadership skills, which is assimilated through teamwork and responsibility. Students like Isabelle Myers can even take on leadership roles that teach them how to work well with people and manage a group. 
“When I became team captain, I led the warmups and stretches for practices and meets,” said Myers, 10.
Participation in a sport can also make improvements to a student’s mood. For many, this is only true when a student actually enjoys their sport, but for some, just “getting wiggles out” with physical activity helps students get out of a funk. When the body is engaged in mental and physical activity, neurotransmitters are stimulated, ultimately invoking feelings of pleasure and happiness. Endorphins, the source of pleasure, help to relieve pain which is the explanation for “runner’s high.” Most athletes still have some type of anxiety during a competition, or a game, but between the self-confidence and the endorphins that they have received through practice, the anxiety is kept more in check. Lily Kyvet can relate to these feelings, and she doesn’t let the stress and anxiety get the best of her.
“I feel excited and nervous at the same time, but after, I feel happy for the work that I put into it,” said Kyvet, 10.
Roughly 57.4% of high school students play a sport in the United States. Participating in physical activity can also provoke better academic performance. Non-high school athletes have a 72% graduation rate versus 91% for high school athletes according to Gitnux Market Data and Education Week. Sports provide a way for a student to learn how to become more efficient in time management, as well as fine tuning learning skills useful to them. At times though, the athletic students still become overwhelmed between academics and how time consuming the sport may be. At most schools, including Edgewood, students have to maintain certain grades to be on a sports team. Alyse Reyier loves lacrosse and uses this rule to her advantage when it comes to her grades.
“I’m now more motivated to keep my grades up, so I can continue playing lacrosse,” said Reyier, 10.
Participating in high school sports can have a huge positive impact on high school students and the high school life. Sports are a great way to meet new people, develop new skills, and pump up those endorphins. Edgewood and our county have a multitude of physical activities to participate in, so get out there and have fun!
