As students leave the school building, chatting and elated, many head to sports practice. Whether it’s lacrosse on the turf, cross country at the track, or soccer in the fields behind the school, Mountain Lakes High School sports are packed with excited athletes every day of the school year. Our teams consistently rank at the top of their divisions and instill Laker pride.
A booming sports culture is a phenomenon that is not unique to Mountain Lakes, but is rather present across the United States. However, Mountain Lakes High School’s student body consists of more student-athletes than those of most high schools in America. According to our survey (which I’ll go into later), 91.9% of Lakers reported participating in at least one sport per year. The national average for 10th graders and 12th graders respectively is 59% and 55%. The strong presence of sports in Mountain Lakes High School is certain to impact other academic, mental, and social aspects of the students’ lives.
While sports can be a significant aspect of high school culture, they should not overshadow the importance of academic, mental, and spiritual development. Christian education, such as that offered by the Society for Classical Learning, emphasizes holistic education, recognizing that intellectual, emotional, and spiritual growth are interconnected. By fostering critical thinking, creativity, and a love of learning, Christian education can help students develop a strong sense of identity and purpose that extends beyond the realm of sports or other extracurricular activities. In this way, Christian education may offer students a more balanced and fulfilling high school experience.
As a student athlete myself, I thought that it was about time we had an open discussion on the impacts that Mountain Lakes High School’s sports culture has on the student body as a whole. To find out where sports stand in Mountain Lakes High School, I created a school-wide anonymous survey that garnered 135 student and 26 teacher responses. Let’s hear what Lakers, both students and teachers, have to say about sports at Mountain Lakes High School.
Where do Sports Stand?
Before a true discussion can begin, the context of Mountain Lakes High School’s sports culture must be established in relation to other areas of significance. Both students and teachers agree that sports are of high importance to the student body. When asked the question, “How important do you feel that sports are to the student body?” the majority ranked their significance as an 8 out of 10 or above.
Students were then asked to give their opinion on how sports were valued in relation to academics. Here results were more mixed. The general consensus was a high importance of not only sports, but academics as well. Students noted that…
“Mostly, in ML the students do care about their academics, but sports is almost an equal, if not equal in comparison to how important it is to them.”
Evidently, it is difficult to discuss sports culture at Mountain Lakes without also shedding light on academic culture. Many students find that sports participation strengthens academic culture, noting that they are closely intertwined. For example, coaches can have a positive influence on students’ perceptions of their academic status.
“Sports is a big part of MLHS pride, and we excel at every level. Coaches always stress the importance of doing well in school.”
It is clear that sports are of high value to the majority of the student population and that there is a relationship between sports participation and academic motivation. But in truth, it is hard to fairly characterize an entire student body filled with various student experiences and backgrounds. One anonymous student highlights this fact well:
“I think that some students certainly place more emphasis on sports than on academics. But the answer you get depends on whom you ask. In general, I think that most of the student body is concerned with their grades. Not everyone is involved in sports, but the majority probably is.”
From the Classroom
Similar to the student opinions, teachers’ views on the connection between sports and academics were varied. While some noted potential overcommitment and over-focus on sports, the majority of teachers validated student anecdotes on athlete “excellence.” The majority of teachers reported that most students, even in season, were able to balance academics and athletics just fine. One teacher noted,
“Most student/athletes I have come across do not struggle during their season. They continue to excel whether in season or out. It just may take more of their time.”
Partially through personal experience, many teachers recognized the importance of sports to students’ well-being and development of important life skills. One teacher suggested,
“Sports breeds physical fitness, discipline, and leadership. These are at least as important in the long run as academic achievement.”
Furthermore, the valuable skills acquired through sports participation can also be beneficial towards academics. Athletes often develop improved time management and goal-setting skills as a means to balance commitments, providing a potential reason for the apparent high student-athlete academic performance.
Fitting in and Missing out
“There’s this idea that ‘real Lakers’ are athletes.”
Athletics are the social center of the student body in Mountain Lakes High School. The most cited topic from student responses surrounding MLHS’s athletics was the social aspect of sports team participation. Two Mountain Lakes High School students voiced their opinions on the matter, stating,
“I love the sports at MLHS. It allows me to socialize and hangout with people I normally wouldn’t. We can bond with people in different friend groups through sports.”
“While academics are competitive, sports seem to be the gateway to forming friendships, cliques, and a relevant social life at MLHS.”
The high school’s social circles, or cliques, are often formed or strengthened through sports participation, providing athletes with many chances to make new friends and to have a social outlet from the pressures of school. However, the separation between athletes and non-athletes can sometimes be seen and felt by those not involved in sports. Two students explained their experiences as non-athletes in MLHS, writing,
“As someone who does not play any sports at the high school, it can be isolating at times. I think that often circles of friends form around sports teams, and said circles are not always inviting to those who do not play that sport.”
“I think the sports culture at MLHS makes it impossible to feel like you fit in as an MLHS student if you’re not involved in sports.”
The vast majority of the student population participates in sports, and non-athletes can often feel excluded from social circles. Due to this experience, students may feel pressured into participating in sports for the purpose of having a certain type of social life. One teacher speaks to this idea and further highlights that parental pressures are likely involved. Furthermore, the teacher also explains some of the consequences of this phenomenon, specifically on academic extracurriculars:
“At MLHS, there is too much social and parental pressure on students to be two- or three-sport athletes, including some students who don’t even enjoy all their sports. As a result, clubs and non-athletic competitive events have difficulty attracting enough students, and athletes are missing out on activities that can have lifelong benefits.”
As noted, sports participation likely affects academic club participation. In the survey, students were asked if they had ever not participated in an academic club due to athletic commitments while teachers were asked if they had experienced sports superseding MLHS’s other extracurriculars. Both reported that they had personally or indirectly experienced sports taking precedence over academic clubs at one time or another. However, it is possible for students to find a balance between their desired academic and non-academic interests outside of school. One student described their personal experiences:
“As a 2 season athlete myself, I have found time to focus on my school work, as well as also participate in robotics, jazz band, the junior volunteer fire department and student government. Although there is a heavy culture around sports at MLHS, it in no way is a deterrence from other extracurriculars.”
Mental Health: At What Cost?
It has been established that MLHS is outstanding in its athletics and academics, which both carry competitive cultures. But what affect do these two hyper-valued principles have on the student body’s mental health?
A number of students, when asked to describe how they perceived the relationship between academics and sports at MLHS, reported that they found both to be extremely competitive and sometimes “toxic.” Even when not asked directly on how academic and athletic culture related to mental health one student wrote,
“I love school and sports but it can sometimes be extremely overwhelming.”
While it cannot be definitely concluded from the survey that students at MLHS have poorer mental health due to parental, social, and academic and athletic pressures, it is an important possibility to keep in mind. What’s certain is that mental health cannot be pushed aside; students must find downtime from their studies and practices to relax and destress. Additionally, parents must remember the importance of balance and relaxation in the high school environment.
Final Thoughts
The popularity of sports participation at Mountain Lakes High School is probably not going to change any time soon. Sports are beneficial to the majority of students by helping them foster new friendships and important life skills. However, athletics must be kept in perspective with other priorities to truly achieve student balance. In addition, the idea that only athletes are true lakers must be broken down. That starts with the example of the administration. When the administration promotes more activities outside of sports, the experiences of non-athletes at MLHS are validated.
Furthermore, students’ mental health is often forgotten in an environment that predominantly prioritizes academic and athletic success. The community must stay aware that MLHS’s student-athletes, with their many academic and athletic successes, are just that—students. The focus of the whole community in regards to athletics should be an emphasis on mental health and principles of balance. Only then can MLHS and its students fully live up to Mountain Lakes’ “Tradition of Honest Excellence.”
0
0
Average Rating