I shuffle in my seat, waiting impatiently for the sound of that last bell to signal the end of the school day. When the bell finally rings, I rush out of class, eager to socialize with friends. My excitement is short-lived, however, as a long evening filled with hours of volleyball practice, club meetings, and of course, a sizable stack of homework awaits me.

For both students and faculty members, tutoring sessions, meetings, sports practices, and the task of finishing an enormous pile of work looms over their hands as the evening approaches.

The normal high school academic course load often leaves both students and their teachers exhausted from late nights, and there always seems to be an endless pile of tasks that just never seem to get done.

Ironically, this problem often causes student-athletes to quit playing sports. According to a 2009 study conducted by ESPN, 45 percent of student-athletes each year quit playing a sport that they have been playing for a long period of time. At the same time, 36 percent of girls and 26 percent of boys quit because they need to divert their attention to their grades.

A simple way to solve this problem is by encouraging these students to exercise for a couple hours each week. Working out provides me with a solution to increase my endurance, allowing me to get through each evening without getting exhausted and has been proven to be a huge benefit to people all around the world.

Playing volleyball year-round has shown me that the energy boost received after a workout is extremely beneficial, as my homework is completed faster on the days that I have a practice or a game. My lack of energy due to sleep-deprivation seems to be replaced by a replenished energy source after a good workout.

My grades also tend to be higher during volleyball season compared to when I am not working out every day. More work is completed in a shorter span of time, and my brain is able to work for longer hours. Due to the fact that I am more energized, I am able to stay up later without getting as exhausted.

Besides teenagers, adults benefit in the same way through physical exercise. Many adults think that drinking coffee throughout the day gets rid of their exhaustion, allowing them to stay awake through long work days. While this may work in the short-term, it is not ideal as caffeine can have many side effects, such as increased blood pressure.

My mom drinks at least four cups of coffee a day, and uses this caffeine-loaded drink to energize herself instead of going to the gym. My dad, on the other hand, enjoys working out and goes to the gym at least four times a week.
While the difference may not be noticeable to my parents, both my sister and I have observed that my dad tends to have more energy and doesn’t seem to get tired as fast as my mom.

At the same time, excessive exercise can be extremely harmful. I always start out slow and then ramp up as time progresses, as this is a more realistic strategy that should always be kept in mind.

Know the physical limits of your body and don’t expect an immediate energy boost after your first day. As always, time will do its part in making you a healthier, stronger, more energetic individual.

Physical exercise has great benefits in almost every aspect of life. Even a short workout each day is capable of changing your everyday life for the better.