RVU-MCOM Incorporates Physical Activity for National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
By: Cody Urie, OMS I
A Way of Life
I’m Cody Urie, vice president of the wellness committee. I grew up in a small town in Northern Minnesota on the edge of the world’s largest surface area freshwater lake. Outdoor recreation was a way of life. I didn’t appreciate the benefits exercise provided me in my youth; I just loved hanging out with my friends and being competitive. In hindsight, as I’ve been removed from those commitments, I see how sports impacted my mental and physical health to provide overall wellness. Being physically active engaged my mind in differently than academics and life’s challenges. It provided a release from stress and obligations. My physicality improved from cardiovascular exercise and resistance training. However, what I realized I missed most was the social aspects of sports, the team building and collaborating, and what it did for my mental wellbeing.
Making a Change
As the rigor of material and expectations increases at RVU-MCOM, so does the stress and feeling overwhelmed. My dedication to learning and becoming a skilled physician can sometimes feel isolating due to the time commitment it takes to excel. I observe my classmates experiencing the same issues. These challenges pushed me to find a solution.
Taking on the role of vice president for the wellness committee seemed like the perfect opportunity to bring my background knowledge of being an athlete to my classmates at RVU-MCOM. Sports always provided an outlet for stress and a break from life’s pressures while also building a strong, inclusive community with peers.
Intramural sports provide physical activity, stress relief, social interaction, and team building. Exercise is good for the mind and body. It reduces stress and anxiety while helping to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Intramurals provide opportunities to meet new people, build relationships, and foster community. Intramural sports also offer opportunities to enjoy sports in a casual yet competitive environment, making it a more accessible and enjoyable experience.
There are so many engaging sports to try. While playing, we can manage our stress, stay physically fit, improve our mental wellbeing, and create a supportive community for each other through this highly rewarding, albeit highly grueling, career path.
Hopes for Future Student Wellbeing
My goals through the various activities the wellness committee hopes to offer are to provide opportunities for myself and my classmates to recharge, destress, and refocus. I also hope students leave events feeling even more invested in the RVU-MCOM community and they’ve formed lasting relationships they can lean into whenever they are feeling overwhelmed with the challenges of medical school.
RVU-MCOM and the wellness committee are committed to improving the physical and mental wellbeing of all students. Events are designed to be low-stress and accessible for everyone. We strive to keep fees inexpensive, provide physical movement for all skill levels, manage time-efficient events, create an inclusive environment, and have fun. Feel free to reach out with any suggestions or ideas you’d like to see the wellness committee consider adding to the list of events offered. Thank you for your time reading this blog – I know how precious of a commodity time is for each of us!
Find out more about student life at RVU by checking out Peak News & Stories.