When people look at what they enjoyed about HS, they often mention comradery and becoming closer with the people around you. These aspects of school are even more amplified when you play a sport, there are additional mental health benefits and it can enhance your resume. I can vouch for the benefits of competing in a sport, since starting rec basketball in the fall, my days have flown much better and it feels like there is more to do, It really feels like there is something more to your life than school, sort of breaking the endless cycle of school and work. However, it is no guarantee that my experiences are universal, so let me show you some statistics about playing sports. Did you know that female high school athletes are: 92% less likely to get involved with drugs, 80% less likely to get unexpectedly  pregnant and 3 and times more likely to graduate than non-athletes. But the benefits are not just for females. Did you know that 95% of Fortune 500 executives participated in high school athletics. and96% of dropouts in 14 school districts in seven regions of the nation were not participating in an athletic program..  Now people might still be sitting here and saying, “sports just aren’t for me” or “I am just not coordinated”. It does not matter if you are good or not, if it is competitive, or which sport you play. There is no defined sport that helps. Even clubs like ultimate frisbee or chess have benefits.  On top of that, sports are good for your resume if you want to get into a college. Now people might say they do not have time and want to focus on school, but if you manage your time right, you will be fine! It does not matter what you play, but sports will benefit some aspect of your life. There is also an onslaught of health benefits that come with playing sports, such as increased awareness and resistance to diseases like cancer. The negative effects of sports are heavily over exaggerated and mostly false. For example, people who play sports often get injured even less than people who do. The only real health concerns with sports is within contact sports such as football, but even these sports have many positive effects such as team bonding and physiological symmetry. Personally,  I can speak on the positive effects of my favorite sport: rec basketball. There is something very special about picking up the ball and heading to the court with your friends. You can combine the effects of hanging out with your friends and getting in some good cardio. As a sports section editor, I can confirm that sports are a funny and healthy way to get exercise and improve your mental health. Friend Sam Abney say, “I love sports, they have shaped me to become who I am today, I would not be the person I am without sports, I used to be depressed, but sports with friends have transformed me into a much happier and more enjoyable person.