Kia ora,
This week in PE (Physical Education) was one for the books, but not for the reasons I would’ve hoped. We had our fitness test, and let’s just say it was a real test, not just of physical endurance but of patience and spirit too.
PE’s always been a mixed bag for me. On one hand, I love getting active, especially when it involves anything with a ball. On the other, there are aspects like fitness tests that can be downright daunting. This week, it was all about the latter.
The test included a series of challenges meant to measure our fitness levels: sprints, long-distance running, push-ups, and sit-ups. I get the point of it, really, I do. It’s important to know where you’re at physically, to set goals and work towards them. But when you’re out there, giving it your all and still finding yourself gasping for air or lagging behind, it can be a bit disheartening.
What got to me the most wasn’t the physical exertion, though that was tough enough. It was the feeling of being measured and compared. I know everyone’s at different levels of fitness, and that’s totally fine. But there’s something about having those differences laid out so starkly that doesn’t sit right with me.
I also wonder about the focus of these tests. Yes, physical fitness is crucial, but so is enjoying being active. I worry that for some of us, these tests might do more to put us off PE than encourage us to embrace it. There’s got to be a way to assess our fitness without making it feel like a competition or an exam that you can fail.
Don’t get me wrong; I’m all for challenging myself and improving my fitness. I just think there might be a better way to go about it, one that encourages progress and personal bests without the pressure of passing or failing.
All in all, it’s been a reflective week. Despite the frustrations, I’ve come away with a renewed motivation to work on my fitness, on my own terms. I’m keen to find activities that I enjoy and that help me get stronger and fitter, at my own pace.
Here’s hoping next week brings a bit more of the fun side of PE, with less of the testing.
Catch ya later,