Running Toward My Best Self by Tyler

Running Toward My Best Self by Tyler - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

A runner all my life, one New Year's Resolution I made for 2016 is to run after class at least three times each week. Many recent studies and an article in the book "Brain Rules" by psychiatrist and molecular biologist John Medina point to and confirm the positive cognitive and academic effects of aerobic physical activity.
Aerobic physical activity, such as running, gets your heart beating faster. This results in a higher rate of the movement of blood throughout the body, and—you guessed it—the brain. This higher volume of blood moving through the brain provides an avenue for the transfer of a higher density of nutrients, oxygen, water, and disease and inflammation-fighting cells contained within the blood to the brain, all tiny particles necessary for cognitive function. By exercising after class, the higher volume of blood moving through my brain, by rule, should aid in memory and every other cognitive function necessary to be a student.
Additionally, running is a time for my mind to roam free, a time for my thoughts to unwind and untangle, and a time for me to sort through the different things I learned during the classes of the day. The free time my mind gets while running, enhanced by the increased blood flow of aerobic exercise, provides ample opportunity for me to store necessary information, plan my time, think through lectures and assignments, and in all ways become a better student.
The importance of the resolution to run after class goes far beyond simply improving cognitive function and helping to aid memory and learning. Most days, the last thing I want to do after a long day of class is to sit down and do more homework. My mind is tired, my writing-hand is tired, my back is tired..the list goes on and on. Running, even for twenty minutes, provides a necessary and renewing break between class and homework. Getting into active motion resets the muscles of my back and hands, it rejuvenates and awakens my brain, and it increases my motivation and ability to focus on the task at hand. Running between class and homework is the perfect tool to imply for maximum success in class and in out-of-class work.
The benefits of running after class also show in ways that may not be traditionally associated with academic success. On many days that I run, I go running with someone else. A lot of college students have a problem on their hands. Some have too much social life, most of the time resulting in poor academics, and some have too little social life because of their intense focus on academic work. The time spent running with a friend or group of friends is ample time to find a fulfilling social life. This sociality makes it easier to spend more time focused on academics later on, instead of shunning homework and studying to spend time with others. Of course, there are times when just going for a run doesn’t quite cut it, but running with a group is the perfect way to increase sociality during the five-day school week without reaping the consequences of skipping homework and staying up late to be with friends.
Though there are many New Year’s resolutions one could make to improve their success as a student this year, the resolution I made Is close to all-encompassing. Running three days a week after school can physiologically improve my cognitive function. Not only does it help in the mental aspects of life, but it also greatly effects the physical and social. When all three of these functioning characteristics are in balance, the ability to achieve academic prowess is increased. This year I will be running my way to better grades!