High school can be one of the most stressful places. Homework, jobs, and potential bullies, people need a way to separate themselves from the negative. People can do certain activities to take their minds off things to eliminate that stress. For me, that activity is skateboarding. Skating has many benefits to one’s mental health. Whether its doing 360 flips down a set of stairs or just cruising down the street, It’s been proven to improve patience, boost creativity, reduce depression, etc. Because of this, I try to skateboard every day. It’s not only enjoyable, but it provides me with tons of benefits. 
Skateboarding has been proven to impact people’s mental health positively. Specifically, it can reduce stress and release “happy chemicals” in the brain. I know that when I skateboard, I can almost feel this happening. When I skateboard, I lose focus on the outside world. In my mind, it’s only about me, the trick, the ground, and in my head I’m thinking: “How is the board going to rotate?” “Are my feet in the right place?”. Leading to my next point, It provides support for one’s“cognitive function and focus, thanks to the coordination and concentration required to master tricks and navigate obstacles.” Focus and coordination aren’t just used in skateboarding when jumping obstacles and grinding down rails; they are life skills, so it’s important to practice improving those skills. Focus and coordination can be used everywhere. With school, you need to focus on work, and with specific jobs, good coordination can 100% make your life easier. For example, if you work in food areas, you need good coordination to assemble the sandwich quickly, or if you’re a waiter, you need good balance to prevent the food from falling. Building off of that, skateboarding improves your balance, which is a crucial skill for life.
When skating, you are constantly adjusting your body and foot placement to balance on the board. Not only does it perfect your physical balance, but it also helps perfect your mental balance.“The sport also enhances brain function, improving decision-making, creativity, and memory while releasing endorphins that can reduce stress and anxiety and prevent depression symptoms”. This single quote gives a general idea of the positive effects skateboarding has on the mind. Having a mental balance is crucial in skateboarding and is heavily imported into your daily life. If you don’t have a good mental balance, your life can become more pressured, and you can begin to make poor decisions due to the pressure.. With mental balance, tasks could get done quicker, and you procrastinate less because you’ve practiced making better decisions.
Adding to the many positive benefits of skating, it greatly impacts your determination. I know from experience that it takes an abundance of dedication and determination to land and learn a new trick. From my experience, It takes at least 3-4 weeks to learn a new trick. “Skateboarders learn to push through fear and remain focused despite setbacks. This mental toughness is applicable in various life situations, where persistence and a positive attitude are crucial for success.” Determination and dedication are a major factor in life. Without it, people wouldn’t be able to accomplish much. If Edison wasn’t a determined or dedicated innovator, there would be no lightbulb. So, just like how skateboarding does for me, whatever it is that makes your life easier, gets rid of your stress, and lets you practice skills for real life, I encourage you to do it.
