Athletes make better students?
Discussion
http://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/aug/04/s...
Have to say I agree with this in general and it resonates highly with my own experiences through school, college, engineering degree and PhD. I was on some sports teams at uni and while not everyone was studious or doing something more worth while than basket weaving, there were also a good number holding down the fort with heavy training and heavy weight degrees like engineering.
I did quite well out of uni, getting a 1st in MEng engineering and just about to complete a PhD. I have no doubt that all those years spent slogging it out in the swimming pool have helped me to achieve those things.
The one thing I would be interested in is if good athletes who are good academics are also generally good on the social side. While I swam to a decently high level and did very well academically I am absolutely terrible and awkward in social situations!
I still managed to go socialise like students do, but I'd be lying if I said it was regular and with people other than a close group of friends. I was always a shy person and I don't like crowds or strangers or popular music. But I can't help but feel all the time spent looking at a line on the bottom of a swimming pool has somehow contributed to me being piss poor at social interaction. You vecome very good at holding conversations in your head whilst you're churning out a set of 8x400's!
Have to say I agree with this in general and it resonates highly with my own experiences through school, college, engineering degree and PhD. I was on some sports teams at uni and while not everyone was studious or doing something more worth while than basket weaving, there were also a good number holding down the fort with heavy training and heavy weight degrees like engineering.
I did quite well out of uni, getting a 1st in MEng engineering and just about to complete a PhD. I have no doubt that all those years spent slogging it out in the swimming pool have helped me to achieve those things.
The one thing I would be interested in is if good athletes who are good academics are also generally good on the social side. While I swam to a decently high level and did very well academically I am absolutely terrible and awkward in social situations!
I still managed to go socialise like students do, but I'd be lying if I said it was regular and with people other than a close group of friends. I was always a shy person and I don't like crowds or strangers or popular music. But I can't help but feel all the time spent looking at a line on the bottom of a swimming pool has somehow contributed to me being piss poor at social interaction. You vecome very good at holding conversations in your head whilst you're churning out a set of 8x400's!
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