My name is Kera B. I am a junior, and this year is my third year in the YAHL program. Physical activity can help with so much more than just getting into shape or staying in shape. Physical activity can also be used as a stress reliever. Most people who enjoy running do it for an escape or a way to forget about the other things that are happening all around them and in their life. 

In the same way, physical activity helps me take my mind off of my everyday life. As a student in high school, there is definitely a lot of stress. I worry about whether I finished all of my assignments or if I have studied enough for my upcoming tests. That is where physical activity comes into my life; most times when I am stressed, I like to go on a run or even a short walk. It is so important that I have physical activity in my household as well because people in my family sometimes have short fuses, so it helps to go on a cool-down walk around the block before we continue the conversation. 

My high school does not have any physical activity standards, but my school does have off-campus lunches, and we have to walk if we want to go off campus. We also have nutritional grab-and-go breakfast. Walking off campus for lunch does not give me the activity that I am used to, but it does help me get out and stretch my legs for sure. I think that it is very important to have physical activity breaks because when it's raining or the weather is too bad to go outside, you can tell that students easily lose attention. The ideal goal for our campaign is to improve school wellness policies, and with that, one of the elements is to have at least 60 minutes a day of physical activity in order for everyone to be healthy and happy. This policy update could help so many students get in their daily recommended activity while at school instead of having to wait until after they get home. 

Others should care about this topic because I've personally seen how our system works, and this would help improve those systems to make it even better. As a member of YAHL, I have been more involved in helping our school make updates for better wellness policies by getting the grab-and-go breakfasts started in our middle school and high school. YAHL has helped me realize that not many students get involved with this kind of activity, and that most students don't even know what policies are. Students who join YAHL gain more experience in helping schools succeed, and it could also help students learn that what we do at school is more important than they realize. In conclusion, people should help support this policy, so that teens can have a stronger and healthier school career.

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By: Kera Beshirs, Newkirk High School