Through sports, students learn valuable lessons that can be used in their future occupations and personal lives. Sports provide an opportunity for children to learn teamwork, goal-setting, motivation, how to take constructive criticism, sportsmanship and competitiveness.

Aggressiveness and the willingness to compete and win are common in human nature. An athlete’s competitive edge can separate her from the next. However, losing one’s humility and respect for other players changes the game.

Track runner, Tiffany Atud, said, “When I was younger, being competitive and staying positive with others and myself was harder to do; but over the years I have grown in maturity and instead of taking my emotions out on others, I take it out on the track.”

Being sportsmanlike doesn’t just mean always being positive. It is always good to have high expectations and useful criticism.

Cheerleader Courtney Malina said, “Cheer competitions can be very stressful. We get on each other to make every detail perfect because we need each and every point we can get. Although we can be tough, we aren’t negative; we are just constructive. I think that being in a team environment kids learn how to respect each other while expecting nothing but the best from each other.”

When an athlete’s adrenaline is climbing, it can be hard to keep composed and calm.

Wrestler Kelli-Ann Omatsu said, “Losing always plays with your mental game. Knowing that you are behind already gives you a disadvantage. When my emotions are getting the best of me, it is hard to keep calm but all I focus on is breathing and my match.”