Yorba Linda High School is home to a variety of sports for all students to enjoy and take part in. As a junior at Yorba Linda High School, I have tried out three school sports– cross country, lacrosse, and flag football. I have seen firsthand the benefits of being a part of a sports team in high school. These sports have opened me to new people and friends, exercise, a stress relief system, and more. Many students at school take part in at least one sports program, and I think it truly benefits their high school experience for a multitude of reasons, such as effective habits for life and an overwhelmingly open world of possible friendships.

Many athletes at school not only excel in their athletics but also in their academics. The time sports take up on top of a heavy course load is worth the real-world experiences it gives students about responsibility and time management. As a student taking seven classes this year, four of which are Advanced Placement and playing two sports, I understand the pressure and lack of time a student-athlete has to struggle with. Still, I would always choose to play a sport again because all the memories and experiences I have earned make the heavy schedule worth it. Nevertheless, student-athletes learn many valuable skills, such as managing their busy schedule so they can get all their homework done on time, making it to practice, and studying for upcoming tests. Student Athlete Giana Mejia (11) agrees that being on women’s basketball has helped her life for the better, “Being on the girls basketball team has helped me create a new work ethic and habits. I’ve learned to give me 100% in everything I do, while also balancing everything I have on my plate.” Clearly, the school’s athletic programs provide students with a great skill set that they can implement into their future. Even though being a student and an athlete can be difficult for high schoolers, the lessons that are gained from it make the whole experience worthwhile.

It’s hard doing school while in a sport, but it has taught me much more efficient work habits.

Furthermore, doing a high school sport can open a student up to more opportunities and new people. Many of the friends I have made over my years at Yorba Linda High School have been found through sports. Being able to depend on my teammates during my freshman year when I did not know where anything was or how high school worked improved my experience. Gabbie Roach (10)–a flag football and women’s lacrosse student-athlete–believes that sports helped her meet new people. “Doing sports at YL has allowed me to meet new people from different backgrounds and make friends with people I wouldn’t have otherwise met if it wasn’t for sports.”

Overall, sports can influence the lives of many students on campus for the better. Through my and Gabbie’s experiences, it becomes pretty clear that a student wishing to be involved on campus and gain lifelong friendships can turn to any sports program on campus to access these experiences.

All in all, there have been some late nights and early mornings as a high school student-athlete, but I would never take back the laughter and joy I have received from participating in these programs. Sometimes, the best parts of my days are practicing to laugh and play with my teammates, and the experience is something all students should experience. I don’t know where I would be without joining the sports programs and meeting the people I did. Furthermore, I believe school sports will impact everyone’s life for the better because they will learn more and expand their circle more than ever before. Through my own and my fellow student athletes’ experiences, I think that it is essential that students try to get involved with a sport and that their lives will be better for it.