Final Project-Workout Routines=Higher G.P.A.s

Final Project-Workout Routines=Higher G.P.A.

Photos by Kyle Salomon

When 18 year old kids make the long awaited journey from high school to college they get their first real experience of freedom. The choices they make can affect many things. The main reason one goes to college is to get an education and improve their chances of succeeding in this world.

There are many different opinions on outside influences and their effects on having a high grade point average. Having a consistent workout routine would seemingly have a negative effect on the GPA but contrary to popular belief it is the opposite. Being physically fit gives one more confidence to take on the world but how in the world could it possibly be good to spend 10 to 15 hours per week working out.

It is actually really simple. When someone trains themselves to have a daily workout routine that they stick to religiously they are a structured person. Structured people are disciplined, motivated, and usually stubborn which means if they get out of their normal daily schedule they won’t like it. This is the main reason for the direct correlation between physical fitness and having a high academic success rate.

Being in several Health and Exercise Science classes I have the real privilege to listen and talk to many professors that know quite a bit about some studies that have proven the link between high GPA’s and working out. “It has been scientifically proven that a consistent workout routine and being physically fit correlate directly with having a high academic performance,” said Health and Exercise Science professor Brandon Uribe.

I am not in anyway saying that if one doesn’t workout on a daily basis and is not physically fit that they are going to make bad grades. I have plenty of friends who are extremely successful in their academic lives and workout zero hours in a week. On the flip side, in no way am I saying that if one has poor grades that if they start working out routinely that automatically their grades will rise. Running two to three miles the day before a test doesn’t mean that one will get a good grade; they must earn that good grade with how much they study and prepare for the exam.

Matt Cox is quite possibly the smartest person I know but he hasn’t run a mile or curled a dumbbell since he has been in college. Although he understands how one might benefit from being physically fit and having a daily workout plan. “I personally don’t workout because I don’t feel like I have to in order to achieve my academic goals. However, I understand not everyone is like me and people need help structuring their time and schedule,” said OU Pre-Med student Matt Cox. “There is no doubt that working out gives you discipline and makes you structure your schedule so instead of sitting on the couch and watching T.V. they would go study.”

Aerobic training is more effective than just the normal weight training because scientists say that aerobic training brings more oxygen to the brain which builds more brain cells and enables the brain to take in more information and process information faster. “I didn’t used to run or ride my bike for long distances but after my freshman year in college I started and my GPA went from a 2.7 to a 3.4 in just two semesters of school,” said Courtney O’Neal who is an HES major.

Having a sustained workout routine isn’t easy to do but once one gets used to the daily grind and becomes accustomed to doing it working out becomes a normal part of everyday life.

Being physically fit makes one a happier person as well. Being able to look in the mirror and like the way you look has a huge impact on the success one has in life. If a person is not happy with themselves than how can they achieve success? There is no way that happiness and success can occur with personal insecurity about one’s physical fitness level. Happiness is also another reason one makes good grades. If someone goes around all the time with no self-esteem then no part of their lives are going to be successful.

What it simply boils down to is for those who are going into college this might be something to take into consideration. I know that working out is not exactly fun most of the time but once one can get a routine then a schedule going it becomes a lifestyle and grades become more important than they used to. There is evidently scientific evidence to prove it and that is more than enough proof for me.

Final Project-Workout Routines=Higher G.P.A.

Final Project Ideas

I have been considering some of the options that might be available for a good strong news story that I can do my final project with. Here are a couple that have crossed my mind as possibilities: 1. Do a story on the OU football players and how they might be reacting to how the team's season went with going from legit national title contenders to mediocrity. 2. Do a story on if the University of Oklahoma is going to add more parking since they have taken out a lot of parking with the construction for the new pool they are building. 3. Do a story on whether or not OU students and different people around the OU and Norman community feel that President Obama is doing a good, adequate, or poor job so far in his presidency. These are some of my top ideas that I have come up with to do for final. Any of the three would be fun to do in my opinion.

Blog 9-Students Feelings Towards Sooner Football

Oklahoma Students come to OU to yes, get an education and meet new people and make new friends but one of the perks about coming to Sooner Country is the strong athletics OU sport teams display in almost every event. Football is the foundation of that interest and beating heart of Oklahoma sports.

When the football team is underachieving it makes it very difficult for OU students to enjoy their fall semester and in 2009 so far it has been a disappointment. With Heisman winner Sam Bradford and All-American Jermaine Gresham sustaining season-ending injuries the Sooner football team is struggling through the 2009 season at 6-4 with two games to play.

"It is extremely frustrating because it is my senior year and to have to go out like this especially after being ranked #2 and 3 in most polls before the season started is devastating," said OU senior, Josh Wilson. "I try and stay positive but it is so hard to do, the only game we have left to win that we MUST win is bedlam against Oklahoma State because I do not want to lose to them in our last home game of my college career."

While the students are growing more frustrated as the year has gone on the players and coaches seem confused and agitated as well after seeing some of their press conferences and quotes in the newspapers.

OU football is and will always be king in Oklahoma but this year there is an unfamiliar chant being heard throughout Norman, "I can't wait 'til basketball season."

Blog 9-Students Feelings Towards Sooner Football

Young Life Fundraiser Interview-Blog Post 7

Huston Huffman Center Slide Show and Audio (Mid-Term)

The Huston Huffman Center: Good or Bad

Mid-Term Project

The Huston Huffman Center is the physical fitness center the University of Oklahoma provides for its students. It is located on the south side of the football stadium in between Lindsey and Timberdell streets just off of Jenkins Ave. The Huffman Center opened in 1981 and has been a major hit with OU students ever since. It is named after OU Regent, Huston Huffman for his dedication to the welfare of Oklahoma students. "The Huff" is a 150,000 square feet dedicated to fun and fitness during college.

Even though the Huffman Center was built for OU students they do allow non-students to have memberships there to use as their personal fitness center. The facilities at the Huffman Center are top of the line as they have brand new machines and free weights for students and members to use. They have 12 basketball courts that can all turn into volleyball courts if required. They have four racquetball courts and 2 squash courts, an indoor track that is a sixth of a mile long, two rock climbing walls, several different large aerobic centers with t readmills and bikes, and two different rooms where they hold different workout related classes. They also provide massage therapy for anyone who needs it and they have tremendous locker facilities that allow a lot of room and shower area for students/members to use.

OU students are very proud of their Huffman Center as they pack it out daily to try and enhance their physical fitness and improve their self esteem level. Emily Myers is a student at the University of Oklahoma and she frequents the Houston Huffman Center to stay in shape. "I really like coming the Huff and running and doing some different physical activities to keep my body healthy and stay as healthy as possible," said Myers. She likes to play racquetball and run on the indoor track the center has to offer.

Huston Huffman Center employee, Jeff Bolt, says that the Huffman Center without a doubt provides sooner students with a more than adequate fitness center. "We like to pride ourselves on this place what it has to offer, not only in physical fitness but the Huff also gives nutrition advice and classes on how to maintain good physical health," said Bolt.

Oklahoma State just recently built a brand new state of the art physical fitness center called the Culvin Fitness Center but other than that the Huston Huffman Center is on top of the Big 12 in university physical fitness centers. Oklahoma State student, Byron Fisher, says he has friends at most of the Big 12 schools and they don't compare to what OSU and OU have to offer in physical fitness centers. "I have a lot of friends that go to Big 12 universities and they don't like their fitness centers that are provided for them by their respective universities," said Fisher.

The Huston Huffman Center is also home to the intramural games that take place here during the school year. Basketball, volleyball, and several other intramural sports such as racquetball take place at the Huffman Center as well. The only intramural sports that do not take place at the Huffman Center are flag football, softball, and soccer for obvious reasons. The intramural games are some of the most popular events that happen at OU during the school year for the students because it allows the students to get out and compete in an athletic forum against other students. It is a time that students can get out of the dorm rooms, apartments, the library, put the books away and get away from the rugged academic schedule and take their minds off of everything else and have some fun with their friends. "I really enjoy being able to take part in the intramural games because I love to play sports and compete and intramurals gives me a chance to do both," said OU student Connor Johnson who plays intramural football, basketball, and softball for the Brothers Under Christ fraternity.

The Huffman Center is open Sunday-Thursday from 8 A.M. until midnight and Fridays and Saturdays from 8 A.M. until 8 P.M. so their hours are very college oriented. "We like to make it an effort to stay open during the times that college students usually are available to come and workout because of their strenuous schedules they have on a daily basis," said Jeff Bolt, Huston Huffman Center employee. There is no doubt that the Huston Huffman Center is certainly a blessing for OU students.

Story About Slide Show

The University of Oklahoma is one of the premiere athletic schools in the country. It has some of if not the best overall collection of athletic facilities across the nation. It all starts with the heart and soul of Sooner nation with the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium that has a seating capacity of 85,000. Every Fall Saturday when OU plays at home that is the beating heart of the great state of Oklahoma. All of the athletic facilities at Oklahoma are top of the line to enhance the performance of the student-athletes.

Kyle Salomon Mid-Term Ideas

My mid-term project is going to be about one of several topics. The first option being a story package on the struggles of Oklahoma football and its effects on students and faculty's view of the rest of the semester. This will include several interviews and quotes from different students and different faculty members as well as interviews of football players and people close to the football program.

Another idea would be to do a story on a local high school football player who is one of the top players in this area and his aspirations towards his future. This will include interviews from the actual player, his teammates and coaches. Some questioning of his parents might be viable as well.

My last idea for the mid-term project would be to do a story package on the success of a new local business and the effect that the economic situation has had on their success. This would include interviews from the local business managers and owners. Also, some questioning of prevalent customers would be something that would needed to be done.

A Rare Breed

Matt Cox (in front) sitting at a Homecoming Ambassadors Meeting

Photo by Kyle Salomon

Matt Cox is a senior at the University of Oklahoma and is considered the number one medical school prospect coming out of OU this year. That in itself is enough to earn the label "rare breed" but there are other factors that make Matthew Cox a distinct individual.

Along with being such a prominant pre-med student he is not certain if he is going to pursue medical school. The reason for this, he is also considering going to law school. He has already taken the MCAT and graded out extremely well obviously. He took the LSAT on Saturday and feels very confident that he passed with flying colors.

"I believe everybody has certain gifts that God gives them and for me it was the ability to excel in the academic arena, so I just try and do my best no matter what the situation," said Cox.

Cox also takes the time out of his usually busy life to help kids with golf lessons. He played golf in high school and loves being around and helping kids become better with whatever they are trying to accomplish.

"It is my responsibility to give back to the community because I have been fortunate enough to been blessed with so much," Cox said.