Introduction and Hypothesis: Stress unites high school students. Although it may seem counterproductive, ditching the pounds and taking a break to exercise can actually reduce pent-up stress. Letting go of this anxiety can help the person perform better in the task at hand. Additionally, the benefits of exercise can even extend to social life, increasing a person's self-esteem and confidence. I guess physical activity improves a person's lifestyle. I categorized lifestyle improvement into two sections: academic performance and social relationships. I believe that about two-thirds of students in the top percentiles are active about seven hours per week. Additionally, I think a majority of the student population would agree that physical activity has improved their relationships in one way or another. I surveyed forty Orchard Park High School 12th grade students from academic and college classes including accounting, English, and biology to obtain an accurate sample of data. After reflection, I decided to carry out my survey on paper. I distributed the surveys and then collected them for tabulation of results. My thought process behind using printed surveys, as opposed to online sites like Survey Monkey©, was that I wanted to focus specifically on high school students. Additionally, I tried to have an equal number of male and female participants, although I ended up with 21 men and 19 women. Finally, for my secondary sources, I decided to use two major scientific articles, a published article by an author and a professional interview with the head of OP's mathematics department, Mr. Murray. My method of folly regarding secondary sources was to include reliable research, while the primary...... middle of paper ...... cultural change. As simple as they may be, they will undoubtedly have a profound impact on a majority of people.Appendices: Works CitedBergland, Christopher. “The way of the athlete.” 25 studies confirm: exercise prevents depression. Np, October 29, 2013. Web. April 2, 2014. California Department of Education. A study of the relationship between physical fitness and academic achievement in California using test scores from 2002. Sacramento, CA: California Department of Education; 2004. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The association between school-based physical activity, including physical education, and academic performance. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2010. Murray, Michael. Effects of exercise on social and academic condition. March 31, 2014.