As the end of the year is rapidly approaching, the mile, which is done twice a year, is once again a topic of discussion amongst students.

The gym teachers record mile times of all students. With the times being written down, many students view this as stressful. This is why some may view the mile as the most dreaded time of the school year.

Even though some students argue that the mile is a beneficial unit, ultimately running two miles yearly will not change someone’s lifestyle. 

Nora Kerrigan, a student athlete at Bethpage High School, revealed she feels “exhausted” and feels that the mile is “something extra on [her] plate.” She believes that it is something “[she] does not look forward to” because she has to “focus on running after school competitively.”

Another student at Bethpage High School, Eva Neamonitis, shares her feelings as well. “I don’t enjoy going for a run because my allergies are already bad enough. It doesn’t help going outside.” 

Many students, including myself, [Lauren Kachadourian] believe that the mile shouldn’t be run in multiple days, but one time and end. 

Mr. Shanahan, a BHS gym teacher, claimed that the “whole point of doing the mile” is to “promote lifelong health and wellness.” He acknowledged the “great cardiovascular benefits” of running the mile when discussing the pros. He added that the first “two weeks” of running is “the hardest part” and being able to run the mile in school will help because students don’t need “to worry about doing it on [their].”

Clearly, the students’ emotions due to the mile aren’t positive, and it’s understandably negative for all students around.