One year ago, on September 7, 2010, I joined weight watchers. That same day was also my first day at a new school, teaching music to students in grades 6-12. I had been a substitute teacher for a year and a half. While I valued that time because I learned a lot, my heart was aching for a school "home". Going to the same building every day, at the same time, teaching the same students...I longed for stability.
When I received a job offer, I was ecstatic! I had been waiting for a full time position for so long, and I was thankful to be able to plan for what the next year would hold. I began thinking about the person I wanted to start this new school year as. I had a rare chance at a clean slate.
I wondered about the students I would be teaching. What would they be like? Would they like me? Would they like music? How would they react to the changes I might make?
I knew I wanted to be a person in their lives that they could respect; I wanted to be a good role model for them. I knew that I couldn't continue to live my life as an inactive, heavy person. I wanted to be a healthy, active, positive example for my students.
So, before I had even met them, I knew I had to change if I was going to be the person I wanted to be for my students. September 7, 2010 was the beginning of that change.
Over one year later, I look back, and I am so glad that I made that choice. I can move the piano in my classroom around, I can run back and forth between the stage at school and my office, I can go up and down the stairs as many times as I need to in a day to track down students for lessons. I am not hindered by my activity level. I have the energy I need for my students because I am a healthier person. I am constantly striving to maintain and improve my weight loss journey as well my abilities and strategies as a teacher. My students were a driving motivation to make positive change in my life.
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