Students who are Involved in their Community and School Earn Higher Grades

As most of us can assume, students at Eastview High School take the lead when it comes to academics. The average GPA of an Eastview student is 3.4, while the nationwide average is 2.98. One contributing factor to this statistic could be the fact that close to 100% of Eastview students are involved in a school activity in some shape or form. The participation in school activities correlate with performance of students in the academic aspect. The more a student becomes involved in their school, the more willing and able they are to earn higher grades.

Many believe that with responsibility, comes productiveness. When speaking with Junior Molly Gerths, she mentioned, "I notice that when I'm involved in track, and tend to do better in school." When I asked her why, she told me, "Because when my life becomes busy, I'm forced to be responsible which condemns me to do well in school."

Studies show that the core reason as to why student athletes earn higher grades is because responsibility is thrust upon them, helping them to realize what needs to be done in the classroom. When a student is held accountable to attain certain goals, especially in the extracurricular aspect, their mindset changes and they seem to understand the importance of succeeding in the schools.

It has also been found that many times athletic directors and club managers have a great influence on students. “It’s not just self motive that provokes student athletes to attain good grades, but demand from coaches as well,” states a fellow Eastview High School faculty member and coach. Many times students are prohibited from participating in a sport or activity of their grades are not up to par. This idea practically forces students to perform well academically.

Along with the idea that sports and activities put pressure on students to perform well, there is an underlying reason as to why student athletes tend to perform well in school. Anyone who plays a high school sport in the state of Minnesota knows the rules and regulations about substance abuse, or at least knows of them. Students who consume alcohol or drugs during, before, or after a sport season are ultimately punished during their respective athletic season. The state of Minnesota is notorious for doing their best to crackdown on athletes that use substances. Even suspicion of substance abuse will get athletes in trouble and possibly punished during the season.

So why is the concept of zero tolerance for substances relevant in the academic standpoint of an athlete’s career? Well as most could assume, why would a kid want to alter their athletic career by drinking? They wouldn’t. And as stated previously, students who are athletes tend to earn higher grades. Along with the grand idea that students who are chemically free are more alert and prone to perform well in any aspect, they also have a greater chance of participating in school activities which benefits their academic career as well.

But, many agree that students shouldn’t have to feel that athletics are the only way to get involved. And I myself could not agree more. “Getting involved in your community is one of the best ways to explore appreciation and gratitude for others,” exclaims Eastview student Laura Appleton. This statement could not be any truer. When a person develops compassion for others or a certain cause, they become compassionate about their own lives. Thus, when one cares about their life and the direction their future is heading, especially a child or teenager, they perform well in school, which is a huge aspect of their present life. And by taking control and caring about their life in the present, they develop goals and care about their future.

"It's all about prioritizing," says Junior Bailey Anderson. When you have a busy schedule, you have to put your priorities in order. And by doing so, kids realize what there priorities are in life, one being school work. Studies show that student athletes tend to have a higher GPA by .2 on average when compared to students who do not partake in school activities.

All in all, the larger picture of this idea is to get involved, and encourage others to do so as well. The more you become involved in your school or community, the greater appreciation you develop for your own life.