By State Representative Will Wade (R-Dawsonville)
(594 words)
Sports, clubs, projects—and even “adulting”—hold the key to reconnecting kids.
Across America, too many students are drifting. Attendance is down. Motivation is fading. Screens often command more attention than classrooms. The temptation is to blame TikTok, technology or short attention spans. But the deeper truth is this: students don’t see the purpose in what they’re asked to do.
The answer isn’t more standardized tests or stricter rules. The answer is connection—through athletics, extracurricular activities, project-based learning and restoring the lost art of “adulting.”
The power of the team:
Athletics have always been one of the strongest motivators. On the field or court, young people learn accountability, resilience and teamwork. A student who may tune out in algebra finds focus when they realize the same discipline required for free throws also applies to equations. Sports turn abstract virtues into lived experiences.
Beyond the classroom walls:
Not every student is an athlete. That’s why clubs and extracurriculars matter just as much. Theater, debate, robotics, agriculture or band give students places to shine. A quiet teen may find her voice in the school play. A tinkerer may discover his future in a robotics lab. These aren’t side shows; they’re gateways to belonging and purpose.
Projects that matter:
Project-based learning pushes purpose even further. Instead of passively memorizing, students tackle real challenges. They design school gardens, produce podcasts or draft campaigns for community causes. Suddenly, knowledge isn’t just for a test. It becomes a tool to shape the world around them.
Restoring “adulting:”
But there’s another piece we’ve neglected: preparing kids for life. We must restore the theme of adulting. That means personal financial literacy—not only how to stay out of debt, but how to build wealth, budget wisely and invest for the future. It means understanding health and home insurance, so young adults aren’t blindsided by life’s uncertainties. And it means practical skills like changing the oil in a car, troubleshooting an appliance or handling basic home maintenance.
For too long, these lessons have been treated as extras. In reality, they are essentials. Without them, graduates leave school with diplomas but little confidence in navigating daily life. Adulting education restores dignity to responsibility and gives students tangible reasons to value what they’re learning.
A “Webb” of connection:
When athletics, extracurriculars, project-based learning and adulting intersect, schools become more than places of compliance. They become ecosystems of connection. Students discover discipline, creativity, resilience and relevance.
“The involved student is a successful student,” said Coach Heath Webb of Lumpkin County High School. “We see it daily. Kids who are engaged with sports, clubs, band or whatever have a greater purpose. They’re a part of something bigger than themselves. They are surrounded by other highly motivated individuals who serve as positive peer pressure. This higher level of accountability helps ensure that they not only graduate but do well in class, which provides them a greater chance of success following high school. Kids who aren’t involved often have grade and discipline issues.”
Coach Webb’s insight captures the heart of this message: engagement isn’t a luxury; it’s the lifeline that keeps students grounded, focused and inspired.
A call to invest:
Cutting these programs would be a grave mistake. If we want engaged students, stronger schools and a better-prepared generation, we must invest in the full spectrum of purpose-driven education.
Connection is the cure for disengagement. Purpose is the engine of learning. And restoring both is the surest way to prepare young people not just to pass exams, but to live well, build wealth and secure a stronger future.
Representative Will Wade represents the citizens of District 9, which includes portions of Dawson, Lumpkin and White counties. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2020 and currently serves as one of the Governor’s Floor Leaders and as Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education Banks and Banking Committee. He also serves on the Education, Judiciary Juvenile, State Planning & Community Affairs and Transportation committees.
The views expressed above and information shared are those of the author.
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