作者:北美考试教学中心 托福写作组 李砚丹
The future belongs to young people, which requires schools to put students' rights first. Schools should not only focus on improving students' academic performance, but also pay attention to ensuring students' well-being. When faced with the dilemma of what to build in a dorm, if I were the decision maker, I would rather build an exercise room to keep students fit than a study area or recreation room.
First, there is no need to build study rooms in dorms. It is true that students do need a comfortable and quiet space to fully concentrate on their studies, but that doesn't mean extra study areas are needed in the residence halls. Almost all universities have well-equipped libraries. In addition to a large number of books, they are also equipped with computers and other technologies to help students learn. Although the dormitory may be noisy, making it impossible for students to study, the existence of the library can greatly meet the needs of students for self-study. What's more, students' compulsory courses are already very intensive, and there is no reason to keep studying after class. Therefore, the construction of study rooms in the dormitory is essentially a waste of funds.
Additionally, the recreation room is for very narrow users. Students use different ways to relax after a long day of study, such as playing computer games, watching movies, etc. This can all be done in a student's own room or mall, rather than in a useless recreation room, which may not be quite to their liking. With the diversification of entertainment methods, playing musical instruments, computer games, or even billiards has become a way for students to relax. However, it is impossible for the school to provide a concert hall, game hall and billiard hall in the dormitory at the same time. Therefore, the construction of a unified recreation room can only facilitate a small number of students.
In the end, considering practicality and student interest, adding a fitness room to the dormitory is the smartest option. This decision is clearly good for the physical health of the students. Students generally lead a sedentary lifestyle, which is known to have a number of negative effects on the body and even lead directly to a shortened lifespan. Therefore, the benefits of a fitness studio are inexplicable. Especially for students who have not yet developed good fitness habits, the gym in the dormitory is more conducive for students to gradually developing a good habit of exercise due to its superior geographical location.
All in all, while some may think that a quiet study area or a dedicated recreational space can be effective in improving students' lives, I believe that a fitness room can really give students a sense of well-being.