In schools across the nation at all educational levels, the two titans of student involvement have continually waged war. The vast majority of students participate in either athletics or the arts — traditionally viewed as opposing activities. While not as pronounced as in the middle or high school settings, Elizabethtown College students sometimes perpetuate this rift between the two primary pillars of student engagement.
The creation of this division is oftentimes inadvertent. I do not see a large number of artistic students in the bleachers during sporting events, nor do I see many athletes at concerts and plays. It simply reflects a difference in interests. This conflict is less about what people do and more about what they don’t do. Students who engage in either activity, even at the collegiate level, tend to gravitate toward their specific focus. Participating in one activity over the other, however, does not mean that you should avoid attending events of the opposite focus.
As a huge proponent of getting involved on campus, I would generally discourage people from not getting involved in either athletics or the arts. Despite this fact, the people who do not affiliate with one discipline or the other seem to have it right. Our school’s musicians, actors and athletes alike contribute immensely to the campus as a whole. Anyone who graduates from college without watching a sports game, attending a play or listening to a concert is cheating him or herself. Obviously, viewing any of these events does not measure up to participating in them, but when viewed in combination, they make for an all-encompassing and enriching time on the weekends.
As a student pursuing a minor in music, I have always naturally favored the arts over athletics. This past weekend, however, I was quite upset that I had to miss the final men’s soccer game in the MAC conference for a concert choir commitment. While I certainly enjoy singing, jamming on my saxophone and performing, I have come to appreciate a good sports game. I cheer obnoxiously for the players I know and appreciate the players’ athleticism as something I can never achieve. Too often are athletics and the arts placed at odds. The intersections between the two are quite pronounced. They play music before every single sporting event, and singing or playing a wind instrument exercises the lungs no differently than running across the soccer field or dribbling a ball to the net.
While I generally hate the movie for ruining my expectations during middle school, Disney Channel’s “High School Musical” demonstrates how one can balance sports with the stage. In the seven times in a row that I watched the movie during my younger days, I never got tired of seeing Troy Bolton dominate on the court and sing his heart out on the stage. Like Zac Efron’s character, we shouldn’t feel restricted to choose between one domain or the other — if you do, you’re missing out on half of the experience. Only when you experience both elements can you start soaring and flying like the film’s “dreamy” protagonist.
My challenge is this: athletes, why not go to a play, concert or show next weekend? Performers, pick a spot on the bleachers and watch a sports game. And everyone in between, try a little of both. Broaden your horizons and bridge the gap. You’ll thank me later.
