By DePaul Healthy Trailblazer Journal reporters | Participating in team sports and other activities can have benefits for your physical, mental, and social health, say some DePaul staff members and recent DePaul graduates in interviews with Healthy Trailblazer Journal reporters.
“Getting involved in group activities is good for making friends and staying active,” said Ms. Colleen McKenzie, school principal. “It doesn’t have to be sports, but you can try different things.”
“Being active with someone can make physical activity more enjoyable. It can provide encouragement that keeps you going, and research has found that social support can increase self-efficacy, which is the feeling that you can do something and be successful,” said Dr. Laurie Friedman Donze, clinical psychologist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in a 2024 NIH newsletter.
“Having social connections and a sense of belonging are protective factors to help you manage stress and give you a feeling that you are not alone,” say experts at the Mayo Clinic Health System, a hospital and research center, on its website.
Ms. McKenzie said she currently participates in pickup basketball games, runs, and walks with friends. She’s also in a book club. The principal said working out is important to her because she knows exercise benefits your health.
According to Ms. McKenzie, it’s important to do different things and not always be on devices, but to be creative and to learn. She said that as a kid, she used to swim and play basketball and soccer. She got into these activities because of the fun of it, and she said she didn’t want to miss out on what her friends were doing.
Mrs. Theresa Tiffin, teacher coach, said she was a coach for girls basketball. She started playing at age 7 because her sister got her interested. She said she loves being active and enjoys both basketball and soccer. “Being in sports can help your health overall,” Mrs. Tiffin said. “You should do it because you find something that you’re passionate about and that makes you happy.” She said being in group activities is important for learning more about taking responsibility and sympathy.
Khadafi, a DePaul graduate, currently a student at Mercy Career and Technical School, said you should try out new things when you have the opportunity. He said he tried basketball and now it’s his favorite sport. He also plays football, flag football, and runs track. Getting out of your comfort zone and trying new things are important, according to Khadafi. He said he enjoys the exercise and meeting new people.
Isaiah, another DePaul graduate, also attends Mercy Tech. He said he signed up to play flag football because he likes the connections he makes and the people he’s around. He said that putting yourself out there will give you a good high school experience.
Illustration by Lailah, 5th grade, CCSA, 25-26.
