>More youth should participate in physical activities. In my opinion, it is extremely important for youth to work out and participate in team sports or some type of physical activity. I believe that working out encourages youth to stimulate their bodies as well as their minds. It also promotes a healthy lifestyle and teaches many useful and valuable skills.
Throughout my high school years, I have participated in cross-country, indoor track and outdoor track (which all begin at 7:00 am). I feel tired when I wake for track, but after my workout and by the time schools starts at 8:25am, I feel energetic and ready to exercise my mind! The muscles throughout my body are physically stressed and stimulated. Along with this physical stimulation, a type of mental stimulation occurs, affecting and energizing my brains, feelings and thoughts. I believe that after physical activity, one is more alert, assertive and ready to learn.
Physical activity promotes a healthy lifestyle among youth. All over the news, we hear how Canadians and Americans are becoming unhealthier day by day due to their drastic gain in weight. I believe this gain in weight has occurred because Canadians and Americans are eating too much fatty fast-food meals, not exercising regularly and spending too much time sprawled on the couch. Thus I believe that it would be beneficial for youth to embrace the practice of physical activity, then a healthier lifestyle would fall into place. For example, if one starts exercising, their mind and body would be stimulated, one would practice healthier eating habits and a healthier lifestyle would be achieved.
Being involved with many team sports, I have learned lessons that will help me throughout my journey in life. Team sports have taught me how to work with others, be determined to succeed, be disciplined, show leadership, show encouragement to others and most importantly that hard work does indeed pay off. Sport provides us with many unforgettable experiences. For example, I played on the Manitoba provincial basketball team in a national tournament and met players from across Canada. This improved my skills in meeting new people and being independent. Through these experiences I have learned things about myself that I would otherwise never found out.
To conclude, I believe that it is extremely important for youth to participate in team sports and physical activity, as it stimulates the body and the mind, promotes a healthier lifestyle and teaches us many important skills. After all, a healthy Canadian is a happy Canadian!
The views expressed in the following text do not necessarily match the views of this site or the Government of Canada.
