On February 6, 2019, I was given the rare opportunity to go outside and simply play with my classmates for one whole period. The “Global School Play Day” movement took place throughout the world, with one primary goal: to promote the importance of unstructured play in schools. Amidst, the one hour we had to run wild, a vast expanse of emotions emerged within me. I not only encountered multiple moments of nostalgia but also I came to the realization that taking just a small amount out of my day to play made all the difference. As we walked down to the front of the gym, Mr. Theriault laid out all his toys and games, as my classmates began to toss their volleyballs and badminton rackets around. In no time, we were all transported back into the days of pure glory and happiness: elementary school. Nothing was on our minds, it was just us, our friends, and free time to do as we wished. Genuine joy was so tangible yet all a mere image because after one hour, we’d be going back to the burden of stress in our next class. It’s sad to think that just a little bit of time to play for us high schoolers was viewed as the greatest award and happiest we’ve been all year. It comes to show how severe of an effect school as on the average student, constantly yearning to succeed yet be conquered by the power of academics.

“I learned that it is important for kids, even high schoolers, to sometimes just do what you think is fun. It’s important to find a way to release all the pent-up stress.” -Tiffany Vo

The privilege of participating in “Global School Play Day” most importantly showcased how desperate we are for something so simple as freedom from emotional, physical, and mental stress. With school playing such a vital role in our lives and future, we are tormented with the daily notion that we must work to the ends of our last piece of hair to maintain a perfect GPA. Free time and childhood play is something alien to us, something so unfamiliar, something that vanished into a black hole once we stepped into high school. The fire burning within our souls has burned out just like our health will if we continue to struggle with balancing academics and social interaction. This small event enabled a shock of reality right before my eyes and I now miss my childhood more than I ever have. I realized why children are  so much happier than teenagers. Almost two hours of their schooldays is dedicated to being outdoors or just taking a break from the overwhelming abundance of new concepts and schoolwork. This is something we, as high schoolers, lack and critically need. I have now implemented a system where when I feel engulfed by school, whether it be with studying for a test or having way too much homework, to go outside and take a walk. So far, I’ve seen great results as I feel much more calm, my mind is cleared, and I just get a breath of fresh air.

“This experience makes me think that life used to be good before school overtook our lives because we got to play all the times.” -Tiffany Hoang

I found an article that explains the multitudes of reasons why play is significant for all aspects of a human being as well as the general ins and outs of what play is. It was very educational and useful for me, somewhat who is now strongly advocating the implementation of play, and I hope it is for you too!