Airport should plant a garden and make meditation areas
by Reagan S.
High school is stressful and overwhelming at most times. Airport should plant a garden and make meditation areas for students to relax before school and between classes.
Gardening can support academic achievements, help create an active lifestyle, and make students become more aware of their environment. Research shows that gardening can also help lower anxiety and depression, and improve ADHD symptoms. Meditation areas, or designated rooms, around the school for both teachers and students can let them have a couple of minutes just to relax throughout the day.
After reading an article about high school students' mental health, I learned that in 2021, research proves that forty-two percent of high school students reported feeling sad, hopeless, and tired. Traditional classroom activities can be repetitive, but with hands-on activities, like gardening, it can help students understand life skills, the environment, social skills, teamwork, and nutrition awareness. “Plants, insects, birds, and weather all become participants in the learning process. As a result, students are more engaged, more attentive, and more motivated to learn.” according to The Many Benefits of Starting a School Garden.
By meditating regularly students can develop the ability to handle pressuring situations and cope with stress. This can help boost students' willpower, self esteem, and confidence. Meditation can benefit students’ by giving them a place to calm down and prepare for upcoming tests or quizzes. Students can improve their sleep schedule, handle stress, work on depression management, have confidence development, and enhance brain efficiency just from meditating a couple minutes a day.
Planting a garden would give Airport many fresh fruits and vegetables. The fresh produce could be used in school lunches, the lab, and lessons. Students and teachers could start a gardening club to find others interested in gardening and take care of the fruits and vegetables. Gardening can be a hobby for kids, teens, and adults.
“School gardens traditionally help students become more engaged in being at school, it gives them something to look forward to other than just regular school work. Depending on the size of the garden the school can actually use some of the produce. It can be a reward system for students who have some behavior issues if they enjoy the garden,” says Ms. Johnson, a science teacher at Airport High School.
Dyllan C., a junior at Airport High School says, “I agree with the idea of Airport having a garden. I think it would be nice for students to have who actually enjoy that type of thing. It would also benefit the school as well, with produce, after school or before school, and teachers could use it in their lessons.”
A school garden that offers fresh produce as a culinary ingredient in school lunches would be beneficial in many ways. According to theexplorer.org, “Because of the low budgets, rolled back standards and forced ingredients with longer shelf lives, school cafeterias often opt for processed foods that are high in preservatives. Public school lunches may be held to lower quality criteria than fast food, which is typically thought to be the worst of the worst.” The cost of healthier food can be very expensive, but with our own garden, it would be more cost effective and be a better choice for students.
Many students would benefit from meditating during the day. Having a quiet and cozy place would be nice for students and teachers to ground themselves throughout the day. Meditation has been scientifically proven to improve academic performance and increase grades. Meditating can improve academics by boosting concentration and improving short-term memory.
Closing your eyes, focus on your breath, take slow breaths in, and take slow breaths out. If meditating doesn’t interest you, gardening can become a meditative practice in your routine. Both of these exercises can impact your brain, body, and mind.
For tips on how to meditate, go to headspace.com.