This I believe

Some students say they will grow up to be professional athletes. Others say that they’ll be mathematicians. There is a conflict in school today as to what is more important. But in the end, should a student be more focused on, sports or academics?

There are a number of positives by engaging in sports. Some obvious advantages are exercise and teamwork. Long-term positive impacts on a student’s life include social interaction, leadership, and relationship building. Sports are fun and an easy way to meet new people. The social skills you develop through sports can really help you throughout your life.
Although sports are great for your health and sociability, can sports really take you far? In every sport, you have a chance of getting an injury, which will not take you anywhere. It is harder for athletes to build a career based on sports. Few to none of the high school athletes become successful with a certain sport. The odds are often against you becoming a professional athlete. Sports can be very tiring and stressful to your body. Sports are great for students to get involved, but is focusing on a goal with long-term opportunity more important? 

Ironically, there are many similarities to the positives of academics and sports. However, there are more benefits to academics than there are with sports. Like sports, academics teach you leadership and teamwork skills. But if you focus more on academics, you will have a better chance in making it into a good college, and building a career. If you focus on academics, you will learn that there is more variety. There are more careers based on what you learn in school than in sports. Learning more will give you a better future.

Academics are very important to a student, but focusing on academics can still cause issues. Like sports, learning can be stressful and hard on your body physically and mentally. However, unlike sports, you are not getting any exercise. Once you get so caught up into academics, you can start losing touch of your friends, and not be quite as social. Sports are a better way of meeting new people, and interacting with others.

But in the end, should a student be more focused on, sports or academics? I believe that students should focus more on learning new things, and thinking about a realistic future than athletics. I am concerned that students are beginning to believe that their education is not important. If students choose to be athletes, they should balance their sports with school.