For a long time exercise has been looked upon as something that isn’t a component of intelligence, from stereotypes like the jock and guys who live at the gym, but it really could be the secret students needed to get better grades. 

“It gets out a lot of energy, so I can focus on math,” said eighth-grader Chase Standifer. “On days I have sports, afterwards I feel like I got energy out, and I feel more focused and ready to do work.” 

Eighth-grader Beruk Sims agreed. They were not alone in this feeling, and it seems to be the common consensus of our interviewees.

The four students that we interviewed agreed that it does help focus and improve grades. But exercise also has the ability to make you feel better emotionally as well. 

Ninth-grader Danny Naness said during an interview, “For sure, exercise improves my mood.” 

There is scientific evidence to back this up too. In a study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information found “adults who took part in a fitness program displayed significantly greater improvements in depression, anxiety, and self-concept than those in a control group after 12 weeks of training.” 

Physical activity really can improve anyone’s grades. An example from one of our interviewees, Danny Naness can give us some personal insight. 

“Eighth grade is when I started working out consistently, so, I had bad grades in sixth and seventh grade, but in eighth grade when I started working out, they took a turn for the better, and now I have good grades.” 

According to sources including the New York Times and a multitude of scientific studies, exercise (especially vigorous exercise) can have great neurological benefits. 

One US government study on exercise in academic performance in children stated that a single session of moderate exercise has been found to increase neural and behavioral ability in relation to attention to a specific task.

“All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking,” wrote German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche. Maybe there truly was substance to that claim.