Unfortunately, I am not quite ready to write a draft of the expository essay yet, so this blog post will be a summary of further research I’ve done. I think the most relevant and interesting topic that I can research is the use of athletics in impoverished communities. In The Boys in the Boat, the protagonist, Joe Rantz, feels like a misfit at the University of Washington. He watches his peers walk by in crisp sweaters, polished shoes and ironed pants, feeling insecure as a result of his hand-me-down sweaters, scuffed shoes and crumpled pants. As somewhat of a coping mechanism, knowing that his future looked grim because of his financial status, he took up rowing. He was strong and fit because of the hard labor he had to do growing up to survive, so he made the team and went on to defeat the East coast rowing powerhouses and even the teams across the Atlantic at Oxford and Cambridge. The story of the underdog, whether it be with regards to social, physical, or economic status, is a common one. The idea of sports as a coping mechanism and sports for the benefit of children and teens in poverty is one that pertains to today’s society, and is something that I am interested in.
Based on what I’ve read in The Boys in the Boat, sports are an excellent past time for impoverished youth. Many organization exist with the goal of bringing solid athletic programs and facilities to areas of poverty. Back in 2002, the United Nations started a project called the Millennium Project, an effort to reduce poverty around the world. Bringing sports to poor areas was one of the goals of this project, and they wrote a blurb on how exactly they defined sports, and why it is beneficial to bring them to these areas. First, they define sports as being different than recreational play, stating that there are more rigid rules, more organization, and more competition. One of the biggest claims regarding the positive impact of sports is, “Many of the core values inherent in sport are compatible with the principles necessary for development and peace, such as fair play, co-operation, sharing and respect.” Athletics help children with bonding, self-esteem and resilience, all character traits that are important for our youth to develop. The reason that sports need to be brought to these communities is that “Data from our surveys indicate that children, young people and adults living in more deprived areas are less likely to participate in sport, with adults also less likely,” according to Sports Wales, an organization dedicated to “developing and promoting sport and physical activity in Wales.” While this claim comes from data taken in Wales, there’s no doubt that this is an issue that poor communities in the United States and other parts of the world encounter as well.
As an athlete for as long as I can remember, I can attest to the positive impact that sports have had on me as a person. While I am not poor, sports are an easy way to help with youth development across all socioeconomic statuses. Sports taught me to stand up for myself, trust in myself, and be a leader, all skills that helped me rise to captain of the ETHS water polo team by senior year. I am legitimately excited to keep researching this topic because not only is it relevant, but it is also close to my heart.
I agree from my experience, too, but it is interesting given Maciej's research about cheating (he is reading Lance Armstong's autobio) and given the Patriots' recent busting, I wonder how far the "good influences" of sports goes. Is there some kind of place in high-achieving sports where the desire to win, to be competitive, etc. will encourage winning at any cost.
ReplyDelete