Thursday, March 12, 2009 By Ovsanna Khachikian [ArticleImageHyperLink] Advertising Physical fitness (June 16, 2006) -- With everything including the SATs and AP tests behind them, many seniors figured out that they could be killing two birds with one stone if they selected a topic for their projects that involved sports. With a selection of topics ranging from Tae Kwon Do to yoga and from Thai Chi to body building, not only did they manage to complete arguably the most important project of their high school careers yet, but they also were able to practice physical fitness. Those students who had already been involved in sports saw the project as a chance to further their experiences in the respective fields. For senior Robert Badalyan, his exposure to Karate came years before he began considering any topics for his senior project. However, it was not until the senior project that he began exploring the competitive aspect of karate. “The competitive world allows me to strive for bigger and better victories,” Badalyan said. He explained that once a competitor experiences the satisfaction of success, it is only natural for the competitor to be hungry for a win at the finals after triumphing at the semi-finals. Similarly, as senior Melania Djoujian began to advance in Tae Kwon Do for her project, she discovered that along with the physical benefits came the psychological rewards. “Not only did I gain self-awareness and discipline as I completed my field work, but I also acquired a sense of self-confidence that made it all worthwhile,” Djoujian said. Other seniors seized the opportunity to explore unfamiliar activities. For example, senior Alex Jabourian, a student who has been involved in sports for 13 years, decided to add more muscle tissue to his already athletic build. Within eight months, Jabourian’s body fat percentage dropped from ten to five percent while achieving a 170-pound body through regular weight lifting practices and gaining 35 pounds. Though body building was a new method of exercise for Jabourian, like Badalyan and Djoujian, he, too, developed a passion for fitness activity. “The most addicting part is not seeing the result, it’s the hard work, dedication and patience necessary to achieve these results,” Jabourian said.

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