Raph Lee and Coach Davis create a study hall to de-stress

Considering the stressful amount of workload assigned to the students every day, study halls are usually spent finishing homework, making up missing assignments, and going to appointments with teachers. However, many students are now using this period to relax, as a way for them to reduce stress. Knowing that stress has always been an inescapable issue for students, Coach Wesley Davis and Raphael Lee (12B) initiated the Healthy Individuals Study Hall Program to provide the space and materials for students to release stress through self-selected exercises.

“According to the school curriculum, it is not mandatory for juniors and seniors to take Physical Education,” said Coach Davis. There have been controversial debates over this policy and the upperclassmen frequently voiced that they did not have the environment and facilities to work out when they felt the urge to exercise. In order to solve the problem, Coach Davis suggested this program as “a completely voluntary study hall activity, where students are invited to freely use the shed or sports facilities under the supervision of a teacher.” Coach Davis emphasized that teachers are there just for supervision and help, so students should not feel stressed about being under watch. Besides, he believes that “students should join this program out of their own motivations and initiatives to become a more productive person and learner.”

Raphael Lee, the founder of this activity, had this idea when he witnessed numerous students, including himself, being unproductive in study hall. Noticing that “this could be a great chance for juniors and seniors to be physically healthy in their last careers of high school,” Raphael discussed the concept with AA Director Patrick Carroll and Coach Davis. He also revealed that “the shed is open on Monday’s and Thursday’s during fourth period.” Although the Healthy Individuals Study Hall Program is currently a temporary, pilot project, Raphael strongly encourages students to take great use of this time and enable this program to become an elective in the future.

Coach Davis believes that “sedentary lifestyle remains and will remain as the most combative area for the upperclassmen,” because as students approach their senior year, they will lose more and more opportunities to be physically active. Therefore, he encourages students to take advantage of these activities, since “working out could benefit both the body and brain by boosting your productivity to its utmost use.”

Photos courtesy of Jennifer Kwon

Featured Image caption: James Kim warms up for workout