With SV and SVI currently on study leave, Ava H and Eve M (both SIV) stepped up to lead assembly in their place. You can read the transcript of their speech below:
When you participate in a sport, you’re not just training your body but your mind too. Sport is so much more than just how many goals you can score, attaining a personal best or being the first to cross the finish line. While these achievements play a big part, the deeper benefits sport brings to our education, and to our future, often go unnoticed.
First off, let’s dive into the facts that prove exercise can actually boost your school performance. Taking short breaks for physical activity, like a quick walk or some light stretching, significantly improves brain function. When you move, your heart pumps more blood, delivering oxygen and nutrients to your brain. This increased blood flow sharpens cognitive abilities such as memory, focus, and problem-solving.
Regular breaks also help combat mental fatigue, which builds up when you focus on one task for too long, like studying or doing assignments. Think about it: if you tried to sprint nonstop, you’d slow down eventually. Your brain works the same way—it needs breaks to stay sharp.
Still not convinced? Research from the University of Illinois found that students who take short breaks during study sessions improve their focus by 20%. That means better test performance, faster homework completion, and reduced stress. So, stepping away isn’t a waste of time—it’s an investment in your success!
Taking part in physical activity makes our bodies release endorphins. These are natural chemicals produced in the body to reduce pain and boost happiness. Endorphins help reduce tiredness and boost energy levels, making us feel more focused and motivated after exercise.
A total of 1.2 million people reported their activity levels for a month and rated their mental wellbeing. The study found, people who exercised had one and a half fewer “bad days” a month than people who didn’t exercise.
Let’s talk about something we all want—happiness. A healthy person is more likely to be a happy person, and exercise plays a massive role in that. When you’re active, your brain releases endorphins, also known as ‘feel-good’ chemicals, and there are so many pros about releasing endorphins. These reduce stress and anxiety while boosting your mood.
Even celebrities like Ellie Goulding and Demi Lovato swear by the power of exercise for mental health. Ellie told the BBC how working out helps her manage anxiety, giving her a sense of control and calm. Demi, a huge advocate for mental well-being, has spoken about how exercise is a key part of her routine to stay grounded and happy. And guess what? It’s not just about lifting weights or running miles; even 20 minutes of movement a day can make a difference. Being physically active helps clear your mind, boosts your confidence, and makes you more resilient to challenges. So, by taking care of your body, you’re also taking care of your mind, overall making yourself feel happier. The healthier the person, the happier.
Engaging in sports provides us with numerous skills that help us navigate the different stages of life.
Sport boosts our confidence and resilience as it gives you skills and coping methods that help you handle challenges even after the final whistle has been blown. Adopting the sports mentality of “you win some you lose some” is a meaningful approach not just in sport but in life too. Whether you lose a hockey match, or don’t get as high as you would have hoped for in a test, by fostering this mindset we can reflect and improve whatever the outcome.
Any team sport emphasizes the team over the individual. I’m sure many of you have heard the phrase “there’s no I in TEAM”. While individual talent is valuable, it’s the support and working together with one another that truly leads to victory.
Working with others teaches us the importance of cooperating and communication, and that we can’t always have it the way we’d like. This helps teach us how to work with one another, set goals and overcome challenges.
In sports and in life, sometimes you must lead and sometimes you must follow. In many sports, the coach acts as the ultimate leader and as players or athletes we must respect their words and take on constructive criticism. But even within a team, leaders emerge no matter if they have the captain’s armband visible. As a team we can work towards communal goals, whether this be to become a gold rights respecting school or win a rugby or hockey match.
At last week’s assembly, Emma gave us an inspiring speech about ditching the old, classic saying ‘New Year, New Me’ and instead focusing on ‘New Year, New Target.’ She told us about how setting one specific goal and figuring out how to achieve it can make a substantial difference. This is where goal setting comes in—it’s all about starting small and thinking big.
Small, achievable targets lead to big wins over time. For example, instead of saying, ‘I want to be healthier,’ set a goal like drinking more water daily or doing 10 minutes of exercise. Each small win builds momentum and boosts your confidence, turning goal setting into a mind game. When you focus on progress, not perfection, you train your brain to stay positive and determined. Emma’s message reminds us that the New Year isn’t about a total transformation; it is about choosing one goal, breaking it into steps, and sticking to it. So, what is going to be your target for this year?
Having participated in many sports from a very young age, we have been taught important life lessons such as managing our time and not being late for those 5am early morning starts at the pool! Swimming is a very competitive sport because swimmers rely solely on their own abilities to succeed, but there’s always an important balance of fun and competitiveness when participating in all sports.
We must be reminded sport is not all about winning. However, this definitely has helped shape the people we are today whether in PE we are playing volleyball, rounders or hockey, our competitive spirits always shine through!
Choosing a sport that is right for you is a journey, but there is something for everyone!
Our advice to you is grasp opportunities thrown at you, especially those the school offers. Whether this is you getting yourself to hockey and rugby training or going down to the Astro at lunchtime to play football. The benefits brought to us by sport are endless. When feeling lazy or down, sometimes kicking a ball or going for a swim is the best way to clear your mind and come back stronger.
One of the greatest Olympians of all time, Michael Phelps, emphasized the importance of understanding the mind and how we can train it to help ourselves perform better. He said:
“I think that everything is possible as long as you put your mind to it and you put the work and time into it. I think your mind really controls everything.”
