Hingham High School is known for being both athletic and academic. Many students play a sport for two or three seasons. Hingham prides itself on its active and successful sports teams, and the atmosphere is always full of spirit. Being part of a team and meeting new people is also part of the fun.
However, even though many play sports, it can cause stress or take up much needed time, which is why some only participate for one or two seasons. Some enjoy having that time off to relax, while others use it to work or stay busy so they can remain productive during the offseason.
I have always done three sports, but this year I quit my fall sport, leaving me with three months I normally don’t have. I decided to get a job, which has made me feel productive while balancing school, work, friends, and extra tennis lessons to prepare me for the upcoming season. Many people think that if they don’t play a sport, there’s nothing to do, but I found that I am just as productive this season as in others.
Senior Julia Whitney feels the same way. She takes the fall season off, and although she doesn’t have a job, she spends most of her time working out and getting ready for hockey. She notes, “I work out two times a week and have hockey practices twice a week, making sure I’m ready for my winter season.” By creating her own schedule and staying disciplined, she’s able to remain active and productive even without a set team schedule. Julia also believes that taking a season off helps her mental health, giving her some refreshing down time before a busy winter.
Senior Olivia Nolan has the winter off and likes to use that time to try new things. This year, she is doing Solidcore, a workout class, with her friends to stay active and engaged during the offseason. She also enjoys having more time to do homework and relax at home. Even though she likes being a part of a sports season, Olivia appreciates the break and says it helps relieve stress. Overall, she wouldn’t trade her time off, especially in the winter when having free time feels extra important.
Seniors Conner Gatley and Lyla Maguire-Khoei both have the spring season off. Conner works at the Fruit Center Fish Market and appreciates the chance to focus on work and school while earning money for college. Although his job sometimes makes it harder to find time for homework, he enjoys having days off to relax and catch up on Tiktok, something he rarely gets to do during soccer and track. Lyla also has the spring off but spends her time horseback riding instead of doing a high school sport. She says she feels just as productive, if not more, because she’s doing something she loves that the school doesn’t offer. Lyla enjoys having that mix between school and her outside interests.
Senior Ada Rankin is a great example of staying consistently productive without doing any sports. She works as a nanny and a server and busser at a wedding company. Ada says she enjoys not doing a sport because work gives her structure and allows her to stay busy while earning money for college. Although she admits that working a lot can be stressful, she feels that not having a sport helps reduce pressure overall.
Hingham students find many ways to stay active and productive without a sport through jobs, workouts, or hobbies. Having time off does not mean doing nothing, it is simply a time to relax, reset, and prepare for what’s next.
