Lessons from the Scholar and the Athlete: the importance of variety

On a leisurely summer stroll through my old college campus, I pause in front of a familiar brick building, noticing faces unseen before staring at me.

Years of hustling past the Michigan Union left me oblivious to what was watching over. Perched on the edges of the entrance to the heart of campus life stand two men. Looking south, a sturdy athlete. Looking north, a wise scholar. Come to find out, these two statues form the distinct quality of students having had the privilege of calling Michigan home.

Students come to the University to get an education. They leave an insightful, confident, and diverse citizen, filled with varied experiences that shape more than just their career.

The University and its architects understood the importance of participation in a variety of activities, in and out of the classroom, and showcased this sentiment by erecting the stone figures.

As an increasing number of colleges entice applicants as a quick path to a decent-paying job, the statues stand as a stark contrast and represent the longstanding trait of this University: Michigan is more than a stepping stone to a job and money. It is a place where exploration and discovery occur, where community engagement and sport are tried, and where confidence and resilience are built.

Participation in a vast expanse of experiences available at established universities, like Michigan, creates depth of character that broadens viewpoints and lend to a more versatile and astute individual. By engaging in activities outside of normal comfort, limits are tested and stretched, instilling confidence in abilities for tasks ahead.

The Scholar and the Athlete illustrate the sought after, well-rounded character that is further developed among the University’s current and former students. The figures also serves as a reminder that variety in life is essential beyond just forming character or career.

Variety is even needed for optimal health and wellness.

Sport specializing can create injury

In youth, intense competition to play on elite teams can force athletes to dedicate greater time on one specific sport, practicing year round. This specialization can lead to an “increase in overuse injuries, overtraining, and burnout.”

I’m particularly aware of this as participation in college athletics in one sport led to me to dread practice and consume ibuprofen like Mentos. The change of sport seasons during high school, rather, kept enthusiasm high and painkiller intake low.

Continuing to change up how the body moves and engages the mind can keep activities fresh and the body more resilient.

Diet variety prevents nutrient deficiency

Adept clinicians emphasize the importance of eating a variety of whole foods to maintain health for good reason.

Some animals and plants contain certain vitamins and minerals others don’t. Therefore eating a broad range of foods, especially differing brightly colored vegetables and fruits, can ensure any potential deficiency of one food will be covered by another’s essential nutrients.

The new US Dietary Guidelines also repeatedly emphasize the need for a diet pattern consisting of a variety of nutrient-dense foods, which correlate with a lower risk of chronic disease.

Different drives innovation

Many healthcare professional schools, like the University of Michigan Medical and Pharmacy schools, are leveraging diversity as a way to improve learning as students now interact with one another to create solutions for real time problems in a team-based format. This contradicts the antiquated lecture-style courses, which can be recorded and reviewed for pre- or post-classroom study.

Similarly, the company Apple’s rise to power over the last decade was not because they were the most technologically advanced but rather they took two concepts and merged them together exceptionally well: art and technology. To continue innovation, mixing educational experiences like humanities and science, are essential.

More personally, new experiences can have profound benefit on creativity, brain cell growth, and memory, possibly improving the ability to transform differing, disparate thoughts into radical new ideas. Priming the brain to glean these insights begin when we engage in new experiences, however small, whether enjoying a new book, hobby, or travel getaway.

Lessons from concrete

At a time when statues are being politically scrutinized across the country, the ones prominently guarding my alma mater illustrate the value some bring.

The Scholar and the Athlete represent more than sports and academics. They represent the need to actively engage in a variety of activities throughout all aspects of life to stay creative and confident. They also symbolically represent the need for variety in diet and exercise to maintain health and wellness.

Aligning to these principles by changing up (or starting) an exercise routine, eating a variety of vegetables and fruits, and learning something different may keep you from getting getting injured, ill, or outwitted.

It may even have you saying, “Go Blue.”