Yoonjeong Yang’24
Regardless of their origin, boundaries inevitably lead to separation from one’s surrounding world. This term has become even more relevant today, as society deals with the Covid-19 pandemic. During this unprecedented time of quarantines and social distancing, boundaries have become mental coping mechanisms that we use to try to shield ourselves. However, these mental boundaries come at a cost. The pandemic has made it abundantly clear that when we erect these mental boundaries, the side effect is that we also imprison ourselves in anxiety. Marked by COVID-19 social distancing guidelines and vaccinations, the fight against COVID-19 has been largely about the virus itself, but what about mental health? The issues of depression and anxiety, as they relate to the pandemic, have been largely neglected because the focus has been on dealing with and eradicating the virus itself. During these pressing times, taking care of our mental health is crucial, and one way to do this is through physical activity, which remains critical for our overall well-being. To provide students with dynamic training experiences during remote periods, the Athletic Department has launched winter athletic options through a program called PLT4M (“Platform”).
Established in 2012, PLT4M is an educational fitness platform that manages physical education curricula and athletic development programs. Since December 1st of last year, students that signed up for a wellness class and a sub-varsity sport for winter have been participating three different workouts and taking weekly fitness challenges using PLT4M’s instructional videos and programs. The platform tracks both training data and progress, bolstering student engagement even through remote learning. Featuring specialized exercises that are sport-specific, the program allows students to actively participate and improve. This virtual fitness program has resumed after the holidays, and remote students can utilize the platform for the rest of the year. While in-person sports are scheduled to begin as soon as school starts, anyone interested in following an additional program on PLT4M is welcome to continue using the program in addition to the actual training they will do at school.
During remote periods, PLT4M has allowed us to stay active, keeping us both physically and mentally fit, as well as getting us ready for in-person winter sports. More importantly, during these uncertain times, the platform has allowed the students to take a break from their hectic schedules and avoid being inundated by feelings of loneliness, apprehension, and frustration. At a time when we can easily fall victim to anxiety, PLT4M has helped to keep us physically and mentally healthy.