Health: More Than Just a Graduation Requirement by Shreya

Health: More Than Just a Graduation Requirement by Shreya - November 2021 Scholarship Essay

Health is an essential aspect of our wellbeing, but as high schoolers, it's the class that is often overlooked. At my high school, we take Health for a semester, either in the spring or fall, and speaking from personal experience, it has the lowest amount of student engagement. As teenagers, the reasoning as to why few if anybody take the class seriously is because we cover many of the same topics that have been reinstilled into us yearly - how to avoid drugs, exercise properly, get enough sleep, eat well, and of course, the ever-dreaded sex-ed unit. Combined with the awkwardness of not knowing most of your classmates too well just yet, most students don't feel comfortable having open, in-depth discussions regarding their personal health.
Thus, their eyes glaze over the alcohol unit, thinking that they've heard it all so many times before that it's pointless to hear it once again, neglecting to think about how their 21st birthday will arrive in a few short years. If they choose to partake in drinking, without giving the alcohol unit their full attention, they may make easily avoidable mistakes that can be injurious to their health, if not fatal.
They scoff at the teacher's attempts to emphasize the importance of a good night's sleep, knowing full well that they have too much homework to be able to get to bed on time. They believe it's not possible to get eight hours a night, especially with a shifted later circadian rhythm as teenagers, and neglect the tips provided to maintain a healthy sleeping pattern.
Moreover, they roll their eyes over discussions about healthy food, thinking that they'll always be able to get away with junk food on a regular basis. If weight-related concerns were to arise later down the line, without the proper instruction regarding nutrition that Health class provides, students may fall prey to quick weight loss diets and scams in the name of "health food."
The knowledge taught in this class will ultimately have the greatest bearing upon the students throughout their entire lives beyond the academic subjects and career endeavors that they choose to pursue. It is through good health that these pursuits are even possible to begin with, and healthy habits must be established as early as possible (making teenagerhood a fantastic time to start) in order for them to be maintained over the course of a lifetime. Rather than treating this class as simply a graduation requirement, Health should be given a great deal of importance from both the teacher and student perspective.