Hello, I am Brooke B and I am with YAHL. This is my first year in YAHL and the Leadership Team, and I am going on to tenth grade this year at Putnam City North High School. I am going to be writing this blog about Elevate Student Health. 

Physical activity and nutrition are very important to me because I think eating healthier and more physical activity in our daily lives makes our brains work better and would definitely help everyone's focus in school increase. Me and my loved ones are impacted by physical activity and nutrition in a very good way. Me and my dad try to go to the gym together every night and we try to eat as healthy as possible on a budget. Me and my dad going to the gym has really improved our physical health and mental health.

The physical activity and nutrition standards in my school aren't that great. We have some healthy options in the cafeteria, but our school has set up a shop that sells coffee, soda, candy, potato chips, cookies, etc. Everyone usually gets their food from that shop and it's not very healthy, but we are required to have at least 1 P.E. credit. It’s important to have strong policies in place so that our schools create a healthier environment and Oklahoma is full of healthy schools. The policies we are trying to change with Elevate Student Health are trying to get schools to switch to healthier food options, better access to clean water, and required physical activity in the curriculum. The effect this policy could have if it was passed would be people being less likely to have health complications, improved mental health and school work and just all around healthy, happy people. 

Others should care about school wellness policies because if they go to school or have children who go to school it could affect them and their loved ones. I have become involved in changing school wellness policies since joining YAHL by setting up a booth at my school for Healthy Youth Day and talking to people about the campaign and having them take surveys. Working with YAHL has taught me about the importance of policy by telling us the facts about how having healthier policies in school would really improve a lot of things. Other students could gain the option to live a healthier life and have healthy options at school by becoming more involved in the policy. In conclusion, people should support the policy changes Elevate Student Health is trying to make because it would really make our school a lot healthier and active than they were.

By Brooke Barton, YAHL Leadership Team member at Putnam City North High School