Final Draft Essay #1

Obesity, depression, and financial problems affect millions of people worldwide. Luckily, there is a cure for these detrimental aspects in life. The answer is extra-curricular activities. Although many parents do not encourage participation in extra-curricular activities, they are a positive aspect of students' school experiences because students will reap health, intellectual and social benefits. Children who do not participate in extra-curricular activities are less likely to obtain these life changing benefits.

Extra-curricular activities help to lead a healthy lifestyle whether it involves lifting weights, participating in team activities, or even walking every day. When watching a sports team in school, there is not one student who is not trying to maintain a more healthy way of life. A more physical approach on life is key to attaining health and overall balance. It centers the body’s chi. When the body is left dormant for long periods of time, weight is put on and eventually obesity can set in. Obesity is an ever occurring dilemma, a disease if you will, in today’s society. Although, with the partaking of extra-curricular activities, it is sure to be a problem no longer. It is true that some parents do not encourage their children because they believe that eating healthy will suffice. This is wrong however, because although eating healthy is beneficial in many ways, it does not affect the body the way sports and other activities will. Extra-curricular activities are what make up a huge percentage of being healthy. Not only does it boost your immune system by being fit, it also gives teens more endurance and the ability to stay awake in classes which increases learning and improves grades.

Children who naturally excel in academics generally have parents who don't encourage them to participate in activities outside of their schoolwork. These parents see their children advancing at high rates in their academics and are afraid of the distraction that extra-curricular activities pose. However, numerous studies show the correlation between students achievements is higher with the simultaneous participation in extra-curricular activities. Those students with a higher abundance of extra-curricular activities and good grades (the well-rounded students) are chosen for various amounts of money to put towards their education. College boards review everything about you, looking for a well-rounded student that sticks out among the rest for their campus. Extra-curricular activities give such an advantage to students that it is almost unfair.

The social benefits are seen with the amount of involvement with other people with like interests. Extra-curricular activities are a great way to make new friends and broaden new horizons. In Alaska, depression is eminent with the 24-hour darkness and the severe cold. It may seem impossible to sneak by Jack Frost without him whistling the tune to your winter solstice blues, but this is not the case when involved in an extra-curricular activity. Involvement in activities keeps the mind and body in check. Depression is less likely to occur when students are involved in extra-curricular activities as studies have shown. These studies have also shown that activities can prove to be an anti-drug/alcohol.

People who are active, involved, and social are more likely to do better in school and in life altogether. Extra-curricular activities give students a way to express themselves, gain a healthy lifestyle, meet new people, and go further in life. The body is in a balance, you are healthy, excelling in school, and making more friends than ever thought possible. This is due to extra-curricular activities. When parents do not encourage their children to apply themselves to activities, they are severely deprived and less likely to obtain the life changing health, social, and intellectual benefits.