The fitness center at State High offers students a way to strengthen their physical and mental health as well as a place to socialize during and after school. Whatever the workout routine, the fitness center is there to support students. At no cost to students and teachers, the advantages of the fitness center include equipment ranging from cardio to circuit training necessities.
Diane Swauger recently finished her 14th year working as a fitness center operator. “What I do is write workouts for students, whether you’re general fitness or athletic teams that wish to use it…My job is to ensure the safety of the facility so that means I need to make sure of upkeep. … and then also instructing students. My philosophy is to serve. I don’t want you to need me. I want you to want me,” Swauger said.
Taking advantage of the fitness center is important for students to develop grit and to understand the significance of keeping to a schedule.
“This is the time to have the building blocks for good general health practices. Regardless, I tell athletes all the time that if you no longer are an ‘athlete’ on a specific team, that room is for everyone,” Swauger said. “Fitness isn’t about a time, a space, a sport. Fitness is about life in general. The important part of this is —what people don’t realize–- we used to be an agrarian society, so you worked more than you ate, and you were physically fit because of the work that you had to do. But society has changed, right? And so we don’t get that physical activity. Therefore, you don’t get the dopamines, body composition can change, and it affects our mood. So if students can create a healthy lifestyle now and…learn to be comfortable in a fitness center and…ask a professional how to do things. They get to practice in a safe environment.”
To use the fitness center, students must be certified. Swauger described the steps to this process.
“We have the pre-certification class on purpose, and we offer it coming in that April-May time frame because it’s usually when the room is getting quieter so that students can see it before they become freshmen. That way when summer starts they can come in and start integrating,” Swauger said.
Freshman Éa Stilson is a frequent fitness center user for sports and personal use. “I think it helps get up my endurance. And I think lifting with your team is such a good experience…because it helps with team bonding,” Stilson said.
Stilson also described the role of motivation and discipline in her fitness center routine.
“I think I just try to make it a habit and I also track what I’m doing on an app so I know and I can see what I’ve been working on…and working out in general just really boosts your happiness,” Stilson said.
Additionally, the fitness center often has designated times for teams to work out. Team bonding time is a positive way to strengthen relationships.
“It helps me to balance the room…I leave a chunk for general fitness. I don’t believe in closing the room down for just one team, or sport. Now that can become intimidating if football players are in there, too. I think [it] is important to have that melting pot. Yeah, I think it is important to say I can lift next to a football player, and it’s fine because they’re just a kid doing the same thing you are. I like the groups because as someone running the facility, I have interns come in to help,” Swauger said.
Currently, the fitness center at State High has proved to be a successful outlet for students in sports, or simply those just wanting to learn about the equipment and become fit. It is an important resource that benefits the mind and body. Learning that discipline at a young age can positively impact students in the future, so take the time to get involved with the fitness center during high school years for they offer many opportunities and ways to become involved.
