Physical education at The Columbus School in Medellín plays an important role in students’ lives, extending beyond competition or traditional sports.

Physical education teacher Urbano Mesa explained that the school’s PE program is designed to support students’ long-term physical and mental well-being.

“Physical education is not just about sports; it’s about helping students build habits that support their physical and mental health for life,” Mesa said.

These habits can help students manage stress and maintain healthy routines throughout their school years.

Mesa also emphasized that PE is meant for everyone, not just student athletes. Students have different interests and abilities, and inclusive classes help ensure that more students stay active. “Not every student wants to compete, but every student needs movement,” he said.

According to Mesa, staying active affects students beyond the gym. “When students are physically active, their focus and attitude in class improve,” he added. This suggests that physical activity can positively support students’ learning in their academic classes.

For some students, physical activity is experienced mainly through competitive sports. From a student perspective, athletics can expose students to pressure and high expectations. Pedro Yacaman, a 17 year old golfer at The Columbus School, described how competition brings stress.

“When you’re competing, each tournament has stress and pressure,” Yacaman said. He explained that this experience can help students handle challenges in other areas of life. “When you have stress and pressure in school, you are more trained to deal with it because of sports,” he said. His comments show how athletics can help students develop skills to manage academic pressure.

Not all students participate in sports outside of school, but PE classes can still have a meaningful impact. Other students experience physical activity primarily through PE classes. Amelia Pulgarin, a 12th grade student at The Columbus School who does not play sports outside of school, said that the environment of PE class matters. Her perspective represents students who are not involved in competitive athletics.

“When activities are fun and not too competitive, they motivate me to be active after school on my own,” she said. Enjoyable activities can encourage students to develop healthy habits independently.

Pulgarin also shared how PE affects her academically. “On days when I have PE, I usually feel more focused,” she said. Feeling more focused can help students during their regular academic classes. She suggested that offering different options could help reach more students.

“PE classes could motivate more students by offering activities like yoga or dance,” she explained. These non-competitive activities may help more students feel comfortable participating in physical education.

Together, these perspectives show that physical education supports students’ physical health, mental focus, and ability to manage stress, whether they are competitive athletes or not. Teachers, athletes, and non-athlete students at The Columbus School in Medellín each described different benefits of PE, including improved well-being and increased focus in class.

Overall, physical education plays an important role in supporting students both inside and outside the classroom.