A college education is often associated with the development of the mind and intellect. This picture, while accurate, is incomplete. The body, recognized by often minimized, is another important aspect of personal development, and the college experience offers a unique formulative opportunity to cultivate community through physical activity and healthy daily lifestyle. The difficulty is to recognize this opportunity in the middle of a college experience that often has one pulled in so many different directions at once.
On August 10, three athletes, two students and one professor, from the Furman Triathlon Club travelled to Ottawa, Canada to compete in the ITU Duathalon World Championship. In a race consisting of a 5 km run, a 20km biking section, and another 10 km run, the two student athletes from Furman placed 15th and 16th in their division in a race that included competitors from 24 different countries.
These student athletes, along with the other 32 members of the the triathlon club, have full course loads and the regular gamut of extracurricular activities. The success of these students is in many ways the direct result of a community of like-minded tri-athletes who hold each other accountable and work together toward individual fulfilment. The success of the Triathlon club on campus shows how a sport that epitomizes individual endurance and willpower can become with others a way to connect, to mature, and to share in adversity and triumph. These shared accomplishments can carry over to any sport or activity, and offer another way to build community on an often chaotically busy campus.
The best exercise helps one grow as a person in every sense of the word and, either by building relationships with others or by offering space for self-creation and reflection. Many organizations on Furman’s campus offer the opportunity for this kind of exercise, including the various intramural teams, club sports, and organizations like the Furman University Outdoors Club and Furman Dance Company. Take advantage of the services and facilities in the Herman Lay Physical Activity Center. Feeling a little more fantastical? Join a pick-up game of Quidditch. Find others who enjoy doing what you do, and do it with them.
One doesn’t have to win, succeed, or even excel at a physical activity to realize its benefits. Exercise can play a part in developing body, mind, and community, all while molding habits to last a lifetime. A student’s years at Furman offers an opportunity to accomplish these goals, not an obstacle that puts them out of reach.