In a world where technology is growing exponentially, the demand for better education and activities within it must be higher. In most areas of the world, the statistics of sport in relation to academic performance are so positive that they cannot be ignored. In all the years I spent playing sports in school, I noticed all the important skills and life lessons I have gained over the years. For example, by participating in football and marching band in high school, my time management, leadership, and listening skills improved. In relation to my sporting career, some of the life lessons I have learned are: practice makes perfect, never give up, hard work and determination equal success and that once you commit to something you must follow through. and complete it. All the life lessons that come from sports are brought into the classroom and have been proven by scientific studies. For example, “longitudinal studies have shown that children and youth who participate in sports, and who gain valuable life lessons, exhibit: higher grades, expectations and achievement; greater personal confidence and self-esteem; and acquire an increasing number of academically oriented friends” (Hanna 1). When schools provide students with more opportunities to play sports, they will learn valuable life lessons that will apply to their daily lives. Despite the positive effects that life lessons evoke in the classroom, sports increase brain function, which has a much greater impact on overall physical activity. academic performance. A sport by its nature is learning and the actual definition of learning is the acquisition of knowledge or skill through experience. A multitude of learning outcomes... middle of paper ......t Women who played high school sports were 73 percent more likely to earn a college degree within six years of high school graduation than those that didn't. do sports. This benefit also held true for students who face socioeconomic challenges before graduating (Hanna 2). Works Cited Kravitz, L. (2010). Exercise and your brain: It will make you want to exercise. IDEA Fitness Journal, 7(2), 18-19.Martin, Karen. "Sport and physical activity improve children's learning." Brain enhancement. Government of Western Australia, May 2010. Web. 21 November 2013. Eitle, Tamela and David Eitle. “Race, cultural capital, and the educational effects of sport participation.” JSTOR. American Sociological Association, April 2002. Web. November 21, 2013. Hanna, Kathi. "Psychological and social benefits of practicing real sport | TrueSport." www.truesport.org. USADA and Web. November 21. 2013.