Not every person is academically gifted. People or students who find it difficult to excel in academics may find hope and self-fulfillment in extra-curricular activities such as sports. It will, therefore, be more benefiting to students if schools are in a position to offer both academic and sports programs to cater for the needs of all. Research studies, personal testimonies from people and even movies have emphasized the importance of sports in providing individuals with fulfillment.
Societal problems such as poverty, family disputes like divorce make it difficult for most students (teenagers) to concentrate and excel in academics. Stephanie J. Hanrahan in her book Developing Adolescents' Self-worth and Life Satisfaction through Physically Active Games: Intervention with Orphans and Teenagers Living in Poverty asserts that youth activity involvement is related to positive development. Adolescents who are orphaned and living in poverty-stricken families experience depression and hopelessness which can lead to a sense of alienation, desperation, and risk-taking behavior. As a result, orphaned adolescents and those living in poverty become vulnerable to physical and psychological risks. Sports and games provide an opportunity for such youths to learn self-control, learn new problem-solving skills in managing their emotions, and to enhance their peer relationships. Through sports, adolescents are in a position to gain fulfillment through resilience in the face of adversity and distress as they experience social competence, critical and creative thinking, mastery, and a sense of purpose and connectedness. Sports programs ensure fulfillment as it is challenging, voluntary, and with clear rules that require a concerted effort from participants. Furthermore, sports activities are psychologically safe as participants are allowed to take risks and learn from their mistakes. Research studies have also shown that mental skills included in sports programs promotes self-regulation among youths in coping with stressors of poverty in a proactive manner.
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In Run, Your Dream Hussain Haleem was able to find life fulfillment and a sense of purpose in sports. Born premature, short and thin; made Hussain a target for bullying while in school. Bullying shattered his self-confidence which in turn made his school performance to fall drastically. The teachers whom he considered as role models never came to his rescue. In fact, on one occasion, despite his protests, a teacher used him as a guinea pig to demonstrate a lesson in class. Stress as a result of family separation caused tensions in Hussain's life thus making him misbehave, frustrated and continuously annoy his teachers. He was finally kicked out of school at the age of 15 for dismal performance, and the principal rudely dismissed his mother suggesting that “He has no future." Despite the apparent ups and downs of life, Hussain was determined to make it. A powerful message from Coach Sato boosted Hussain’s confidence and hopeful despite his initial dismal performance in the long race. Through self-determination training for the Olympics, Hussain was able to find his purpose and fulfillment in life through sports. Hussain was able to set a new national racing record in the Maldives and was able to represent in the Olympics for the first time as the captain. He was delighted and felt a sense of pride to have an opportunity to carry the national flag of his beloved country.
In the movie McFarland, U.S.A ., Coach Jim white moves to an agricultural town of McFarland after being fired as a football coach. He decides to take a coaching job at an underfunded school in McFarland. While coaching football, he notices his students running to do their after-school jobs to help their parents with produce-picking. After stalking Carlos Pratts and clocking him running at 12 miles per hour, White decided to round up seven runners to set-up a cross country team in the McFarland. White led poor non-white strivers in McFarland into glory. Despite the emergence of conflict between the necessities of life and the hope of athletic improvement, White persuades families of his students to allow them to keep running for sports. Students of impoverished town of McFarland got fulfillment through games as they achieved triumphant moments in the cross-country race in America.
Though most of the above characters either had engaged in sports as a result of poverty, broken families, and dismal performance in academics, I decided running cross country team because of passion. At first, it was challenging, some people tried to crush my running spirit as they argued that I was wasting my time and nothing good could come from running. Support from my coach, teammates and family members kept me going. Despite what others were saying, I was able to concentrate on training and similarly worked hard in my academics. Through hard work and discipline, I have participated in significant cross-country competitions. I have earned a couple of trophies not only for myself but also for my teammates. Consequently, interacting with teammates from different ethnic groups has enabled me to learn and appreciate different values of others.
