When I walked into ninth grade P.E. class in 2019, I looked forward to lacing up roller skates and zipping around the gym. It sounded thrilling to me that a monotonous school gym could be transformed into a bustling roller rink. My older sister had detailed wild tales of her days at East, when she would spend all gym period skating and jamming out to blaring tunes with her friends. It sounded like a vintage ’70s dream come true—a reason for my friends and I to actually enjoy P.E.
But on our first day of class, while sitting in the bleachers and reviewing the syllabus, I couldn’t even find roller skating on the menu of sports. I then hunted down my P.E. coach, only to learn that skating had been abolished years ago, on the grounds that it had become too dangerous after a student had gotten hurt.
I was heartbroken. Of course, safety always comes first—but what about dodgeball or running in the parking lot? Nonetheless, my inner roller queen kept pleading with my coach all year. I told her I had been roller skating plenty of times before and that we would be careful—but rules were rules. We tried every sport imaginable, from volleyball to soccer, but still no roller skating.
That was two years ago. Now, on the heels of social isolation from remote learning and the pandemic, it is time this long-held dream of mine becomes a reality. To help lend us a sense of freedom and camaraderie, reenergize our student body and get back in the swing of “normalcy,” roller skating must make a comeback at East.
Ever since becoming famous through the disco culture of the ’70s, roller skating has been hailed as a free-spirited social and recreational activity that continues to dazzle with its air of rebelliousness. By nature, it is lively and fluid, meant to uplift roller skaters with its cool, effortless vibes.
During the pandemic, roller skating became not only a trendy pastime, but also a way of healing. Fueled by TikTok, the sport had its comeback among millennials and Gen-Zers, providing liberation during lockdown as a source of stress and mental relief. When handling loss, roller skating became a symbol and an escape—a means of repairing trauma and a route to recovery.
This all goes without noting that most of us are in desperate need of exercise—and roller skating is actually quite the workout. Heart and music pumping in rhythm, cruising on skates yields many cardiovascular benefits. And unlike traditional cardio workouts such as running, skating means up to 50 percent less repetitive strain on your joints. After all, there’s a reason it was originally a mainstay of the P.E. curriculum.
On top of all these physical benefits, roller skating soothes the mind. It forces you to focus on the present—and soon it’s just you, the music, and your skates taking you away.
There is enough space in the school’s two gyms for skating to be available at least a few days each week, possibly after school on Fridays or perhaps even during lunch. It should be open not just to ninth grade P.E. students, but to all grade levels and even teachers.
First and foremost, safety would be a prime consideration. With the right gear and know-how, including helmets and possibly knee and elbow pads, we could minimize any potential risks. A certain number of students would be allowed to sign up to go skating at certain time slots, and P.E. teachers could enforce the rules, including social distancing.
Above all else, roller skating presents a perfect opportunity to meet new people. Unlike dodgeball, skating isn’t pugilistic—given that the goal isn’t to knock down the other side, it feels much more welcoming and inclusive, especially since you don’t need any amazing athletic ability.
While no one had any real chance to socialize inside of school last year, freshmen hardly had a chance to make friends. Meanwhile, I met some of my closest friends in ninth grade P.E. We have deprived those freshmen, now sophomores, of this crucial aspect of the high school experience, and more broadly, of all our students. Who knows who we might bump into while in line for our skates, or around the “rink”?
This is the time to reinvent ourselves. We must seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity; we must revive ourselves and our community. Why not start with a blast from the past, with a pair of roller skates and a song or two?
Photo by Helen Katz/The ECHO
