In high school, I was the most predictable student in the entire student body. When teachers took charge they could always count on one thing: that I wouldn't be there. My grades were horrible. My cumulative grade point average was less than 1.0. I had no interest in school and I had friends who were drug addicts. These so-called friends often skipped school and pushed me to do drugs. I was already smoking cigarettes by the time my senior year arrived and my future looked pretty bleak. During my senior year, I decided it was time for a drastic change. I took a bold step and tried out for the Camas High School cheerleading team. I made the team and became a student athlete. I was destined to graduate. Through my experience, I believe that involvement in athletics improves academics while providing students with better physical and mental health, thus ensuring the athletic student has a successful future. In fact, the most obvious benefit to getting involved in a sport would be better physical health. The coaches are full of information and are highly dedicated to their work. They become closely involved with the student, just as a parent would, and their ultimate goal is fitness. My cheerleading coach was a shining example of an ideal coach. Every day during practice, our coach provided us with handouts detailing the exercises each girl had to do at home, as well as nutritional information. During training, we had to do the same warm-up exercises that football players did. Typically, the exercises included sit-ups and push-ups. We also lifted weights to further tone our bodies. All these simple things taught me to discipline myself both physically and mentally, because I had to push my body and mind every day. Constantly… middle of paper… unfortunately, my story is not unique, and it is likely that your child will one day struggle with grades in school. Children like this should not be ignored. They need extra guidance from a caring and knowledgeable coach. I have witnessed what happens to a student who does not receive personalized attention. They become careless and lazy and often behave inappropriately. These children grow up to display the same behavior in the adult world. They are irresponsible, depressed and unreliable. They may still be struggling with a drug addiction they acquired in high school. A poor student should not waste himself. Involvement in sports will give these students the opportunity to make healthy choices, have a positive self-image, and gain the skills to pursue a profitable future. We all want what's best for our kids, athletic involvement is key.