Scholastic Schism

I was once in the company of some friends while walking back to my dormitory when the topic of conversation turned to whether we would donate money to our school when we were older. One of my friends declared that he would donate to the school as long as none of the money went to the athletic department. Now, I have nothing wrong with my friend's opinion because one should be able to use their money however one wishes. However, I was mildly irritated at my friend when he explained his reason for excluding the athletic department. According to my friend, a school is first and foremost an academic institution; athletics give some individuals academic opportunities that their intellectual facilities did not merit. Furthermore, my friend explained, athletics are a financial drain upon a school that could use the money spent on sports for academic purposes.

This opinion irked me. From my perspective as a student-athlete, I found this statement ironically narrow-minded. Academics are incredibly important aspects to an individual's intellectual development, and I feel that a school should wholeheartedly commit itself to the education of its students. That said, an individual's education should be much more than what is read from a book. Knowledge is incredibly important and its pursuit is a noble undertaking, but the experience of playing sports provides a mental, emotional, and physical stimulation that is unattainable through classroom learning.

I am a football player. Football is a sport that consists of two eleven-man units competing against each other. The unit must be elevated above the individual in order for a team to be successful. Every football practice I am taught a lesson in humility and comradierie; moreover, I feel that it is important for any individual to learn how to work in a group. As if this was not an important enough lesson, sports also help people build close relationships with others. From my perspective, my coach becomes a father figure, my teammates become brothers, and the school I represent becomes my home. While students in the academic arena build relationships with their peers and their teachers, in my experience as a student-athlete I have found the bonds forged in the athletic arena are far more intimate due to the competitive nature of sports. My most memorable experiences have been with my teammates while competiting in the sport that we love. Finally, while I respect my friend, I feel that he needs to re-examine his perception of the "jock" steriotype. Finally, I am not asking for donations to the athletic department; I am simply asking for a little bit of open-mindedness.

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