Homecoming is a time of team support, school spirit and for the students, faculty and alumni at NDSU to fully display their Bison pride. In the midst of adorning buildings and hallways with Bison dcor, dressing in the beloved colors of green and gold and participating in school ceremonies, pep rallies and athletic events, we might miss the positive effects that our school spirit has on our health.

When a large group of people comes together in support of each other and of the community they form, the energies they emit are physically, mentally and emotionally healthy. School spirit boosts confidence, dissolves social differences between peers, breaks student-teacher barriers and brings out sportsmanship and unity of the entire population.

Because it is viewed as -- and feels like -- a mini community, NDSU gives its populace the opportunity to feel the power and strength behind group support, especially during homecoming.

Studies conducted by Columbia University Medical Center state that positive emotions, such as joy, happiness, excitement, enthusiasm, and contentment, all of which are weaved into an individuals participation in homecoming activities, have an association with cardiovascular health.

The prevention of heart disease is increased by 22 percent if positive emotional experiences are more prevalent than negative experiences throughout the course of ones life.

Karina Davidson, associate professor of medicine and psychiatry, suggests other influences of positive emotion on health as well. Individuals experiencing positive emotions may have longer periods of rest or relaxation physiologically and may recover more quickly from stressors that can cause physiological damage, she ensures.

Cheering at the Bison athletic events not only will help improve your heart health and your ability to sleep soundly through the night, but will also reduce your levels of stress generated by an overload of homework or a test-packed week.

More healthy outcomes of having school spirit are improvement of your immune system, reduction of physical discomfort and increases in your ability to recover from surgery or illness.

As you parade around in costumes of green and gold, support the accomplishments of our royalty, laugh at club skits and songs and cheer for our Bison athletes, remember that your feelings of excitement and pride are not only supporting your school but also your personal health.

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