Want to Better your Future Self? The Short Answer: Play Sports

Over my four years at Brownell Talbot High School, I have been a member of the Verbatim staff, first serving as a podcast specialist and now as the campus editor. During that time, my co-host, Nya Ping, and I created a podcast series focused on telling the stories behind BT’s athletics and activities. We interviewed members of the BT community about the sports and activities they participate in or coach, exploring not just wins and losses but the lessons learned through competition and teamwork. Over the years, I have compiled many of these podcasts into a collection that I am especially proud of, as they capture the voices and experiences that shape our school’s culture.

This journalism project has not only been a vital part of my time at BT, but it now serves another purpose as I gradually complete the last pieces of my high school education. My podcasts will serve as the multimodal component of my capstone, connecting storytelling with research about the role of athletics in education. Since the integration of organized athletics into schools in the 19th century, sports have played a vital role in promoting well-rounded education and personal growth among students. Research shows that participation in youth sports not only improves physical health but also helps students develop essential life skills such as confidence, leadership, and goal orientation. My interviews focus on the coaches, specifically how they intentionally create environments where these qualities are practiced daily.

To better understand how developmentally balanced sports programs function as educational spaces, I chose to interview not only student-athletes, but to welcome my space with coaches–the individuals responsible for designing team culture, setting expectations, and guiding athletes through both success and failure. Their perspectives reveal how perseverance, self-discipline, and collaboration are intentionally taught rather than learned by chance.

Coach Dunlap, girls’ basketball coach and lifelong athlete, was interviewed twice—once during my freshman year and again during my junior year—allowing me to document how his philosophy on teamwork and growth remained consistent over time.

I also interviewed Coach Darian White, the new varsity volleyball coach this year, who emphasized the importance of communication and trust within the team. His main goal as the new coach was to bring the team together and create a powerhouse with the little time he had.

Coach Paul Grafelman, the girls’ varsity track coach and my former middle school coach during my early athletic years, reflected on how foundational skills and confidence begin developing long before high school competition.

Finally, Mr. Rohrig, Brownell Talbot’s athletic director and a former college football player, provided insight into how school leadership supports athletics as an extension of the classroom.

Together, these interviews form a journalism-based narrative that supports my central thesis: schools and parents should ensure students have access to participate in sports because accessible, developmentally balanced, school-age athletics function as an educational tool that builds long-term confidence, leadership, and goal orientation. By combining research with firsthand reporting, this multimodal project demonstrates that athletics are not only extracurricular activities, but also meaningful learning environments that prepare students for success beyond the playing field.