This article is part of Northwood School’s Peak Pathways Program—a year-long, student-driven independent study that empowers students to explore topics they are passionate about in depth. Through research, creativity, and real-world application, students take ownership of their learning and produce meaningful work that extends beyond the classroom.
Many Peak Pathways projects culminate during Publication Week, when students share their work with authentic audiences. By publishing in The Mirror, these students contribute to a broader conversation, offering original perspectives, insights, and creative expression to the Northwood community and beyond.
The WHOOP band and phone interface. Photo: whoop.com.
I am a third-year senior here at Northwood, and I have been in the Peak Pathway for two years now. It has taught me many real-world lessons and given me a chance to earn credit for learning about topics and developing skills I truly care about. Last year, I helped the Lake Placid community by volunteering in a learn-to-skate program with little kids. This year, I took my focus in a different direction, focusing on the wearable technology WHOOP and how it can help me improve as an athlete.
At the start of this project, I was most interested in how data could be used to improve training and if the WHOOP was accurate. I did not realize at the time how detailed and impactful WHOOP’s data could be. Throughout the project, I collected and analyzed my WHOOP data, focusing on key metrics such as heart rate, variability, resting heart rate, sleep quality, and daily strain. One of the most important things I’ve learned is how closely these variables are connected. For example, when I slept poorly, my recovery score dropped, directly affecting how I performed the next day.
This graph shows the positive effect water had on my WHOOP recovery score.
Another thing I did throughout this project was to conduct many experiments, such as comparing working hard and overworking, how hydration affects you, the effects of Screen Time, the effects of morning light, the effects of naps during the day, and many more. I learned a lot about these topics and about myself through doing them. My favorite experiment was hydration; I did a week of drinking lots of water, and my WHOOP recovery showed how powerful the impact was for me.
Another experiment that taught me a lot was the difference between hard work and overwork. I looked at my data for a few days. I would work hard, not recover, and continue to over-push for the next few days, which ended up setting me back instead of improving, as shown by my WHOOP data and how I would wake up feeling. I also listened to many podcasts about this, which taught me it is OK to take days to recover.
Overall, this project changed the way I think about training and recovery. I now understand that performance is not just about working harder, but about finding the right balance between effort and recovery. This experience helped me build self-awareness around topics I am passionate about and gave me tools and knowledge that I can continue to use in the future.
