Beyond the Gym: How UNC Charlotte Students Use UREC to Balance College Life
By JOEL BAUCOM

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — At UNC Charlotte’s University Recreation Center, or UREC, the sound of sneakers squeaking on the courts and weights clanging in the fitness areas is part of the daily soundtrack of campus life. For students, though, the impact of UREC extends far beyond the gym. It has become a central hub for mental health, academic success and the development of lifelong wellness habits.

For physical education teacher Gina Thompson, who has worked with students from elementary school to college for more than 20 years, the importance of staying active cannot be overstated. She sees college as a pivotal moment when young adults set the tone for their future.

“Activity is especially important for college students,” Thompson said. “They need it to help keep them focused, be creative and create a healthy lifestyle after college. College is the first step into adulthood, so creating that lifestyle is really important.”

Thompson said the benefits of physical activity go far beyond muscle strength or endurance. Over nearly two decades of teaching, she has witnessed how movement supports academics and emotional resilience.

“I believe that any student — middle school, high school and college, benefits from being physically active,” she said. “It keeps them sharp mentally, they’re able to do well academically, and it creates a healthy lifestyle, like a good work-life balance.”

For many students, UREC provides that balance. Senior Miles Bell said the facility plays a major role in how he manages the stress of campus life.

“UREC helps me balance college life by just giving me time away from studying or anything that’s giving me stress,” Bell said. “I go to the rec center because it gives me everything I need to stay active and fit, strength training, the track, playing basketball or even getting on the stair master.”

Bell’s experience reflects a larger trend among college students: using recreation not only for physical fitness but also as a mental outlet. In an era when stress and anxiety levels among young adults continue to rise, spaces like UREC are more important than ever.

Thompson said the habits students build now can shape their well-being long after they leave UNC Charlotte.

"College is your first step into adulthood,” she said. “So creating those great habits, whether it’s good nutrition, being active, participating in yoga or intramurals, will serve you very well after graduation.”

In this way, UREC serves as more than a gym. It is a classroom where students learn how to take care of themselves, manage stress and establish routines that will guide them into the next chapter of their lives.

From boosting focus in the classroom to encouraging lifelong health, UNC Charlotte’s recreation center shows that wellness is more than just a workout. It’s a foundation for success that stretches far beyond the walls of the gym.