Sports therapy: make getting a higher education easier

Kristen King // Staff Writer

Deciding to obtain a higher education means that you have made the choice to continue your studies beyond high school. It goes without saying that college or a university can be a bit tougher than high school, but many students believe that the transition is worth the strife.

Getting into a college or university may seem like the hardest part of your educational journey, but in reality it is the experience of college that proves to be the most difficult. For some, stepping foot inside a higher education institute proves harder for them than others.

Factors like working a full-time job or raising a family may hinder a person’s opportunity to earn a higher education. But, this does not mean they are completely unable to do so.

FIU senior Michelle Byrd knows the struggle of balancing school with work and being a full-time all too well.

“Yes, I knew getting a higher education would be challenging, but I’m always up for a good challenge,” Byrd said. “I know that no matter what you put your mind to, you can accomplish and that’s what kept me going these last four years.”

Byrd is a mother of a 6-year-old boy who has his own agenda with primary school and extracurricular activities on a weekly basis. However, with his schedule, Byrd knew that she had to adjust her own to ensure that he was also successful in getting an education.

“I wanted to have a degree for my own self-satisfaction but I also realized that this was also for my son,” she said. “My biggest fear is that I don’t lead by example for him so I believe that all of the work I have put in to getting a higher education is as much his accomplishment as it is mine.”

Sometimes factors like the one aforementioned can be the toughest part of getting a higher education. Yet, other factors like stress and time management, which are normal for everyday students, also come into play.

So, why is it that students constantly live up to the stigma surrounding college or university in that it is only about studying? Why not make your time getting a higher education more meaningful by doing more than just studying?

How about joining or participating in one of the various sports FIU has to offer?

Considered by many to be one of the easiest methods of stress relief, sports can indeed help students in their quest to getting a higher education in a healthier manner.

The percentage of students experiencing a mental health issue like anxiety is over 58 percent, according to the National College Health Assessment (NCHA). So far, this is the highest percentage recorded by the NCHA within this study.

While there are plenty of options that can be exercised in alleviating stress caused by school, I trust that sports are the best way to do so. You can actually feel the stress leaving your body because of the amount of work you are exuding.

Jefferson Noel, a junior majoring in communications, believes that it is a good idea to use sports as a means of relieving pressure in students’ everyday lives.

“I’ve played sports recreationally and I find that it is a calming experience especially with my school schedule. I feel like watching sports as well puts me at ease and gets rid of any stress or anxiety I may be feeling,” said Noel.

Most people understand that getting a higher education isn’t the easiest task to achieve because of elements like jobs and stress. But, before you think all hope is gone, explore the idea of joining a sport.

Not only will you be able to lower or keep your stress levels at bay, but you will also create better experiences for yourself while in school. It is most certainly worth the risk.