This essay was written by a guy about my age who also happened to be black. It was something he struggled with all of his life because he didn’t “act black” or wear “gangsta clothes”. He was also very smart, and on his first day of high school, he walked into his Honors Math class where immediately people thought he was lost. “What is a black kid doing in honors?” he heard one kid not so quietly whisper. Throughout most of the essay we get a glimpse of his struggle, and what he believes through it all. He believes in being true to himself. Yes, he wears tighter clothes than people expect him to, and he talks different and is in Honors classes, but that’s what makes him himself. He is staying true, and he wont change himself just to avoid stares and comments.

What intrigued me the most about this piece was the fact that people do make a bid deal when others do things or are something they aren’t “supposed to do or be”. It’s amazing that he stood strong through all the difficult times and situations.

I think in order to have a good This I Believe essay, the writer has to let the reader into their lives and emotions. Most of the essays I read were about overcoming struggles and hard times, and also sharing life experiences.

Ford Elementary school in Atlanta is starting habits early. They have designed a program to get younger kids to walk or run before class each day. The kids are given prises for the distance that cover, and they are also forming habits they don’t even realize will last them a lifetime. It is said that it takes 21 days for something to become a habit. Well, for these kids it has become one. Many of the children have even began to take to walking or running with their parents at home in addition to their morning routine. The average size of kids now would have been considered heavy 20 years ago. “Our nation’s young people are, in large measure, inactive, unfit, and increasingly overweight.” says the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Over 16% of kids today are over weight. 1/3 of high school students do not take part in any regular physical activity in a normal week. Physical activity should be strongly encouraged by parents, but not forced. The many many pros of physical activity include weight control, lower blood pressure, lower risk of diabetes and some cancers, and a huge gain in self-confidence. Exercise, along with good nutrition and proper sleep, is essential to a healthy lifestyle. Parents need to make and effort to talk to their children about taking care of their bodies. Exercise should be portrayed as fun, not work, and it should include what the kids love doing. Simple things such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, biking rather than driving, or any other substitute for our simplistic lives will make a difference. An easy 60 minutes a day is all it takes. If it’s a few minutes before school, a jog to work, or a yoga class, one out of 24 hours really isn’t that unreasonable for improving the lifestyles of adults, and children alike.

Having a fairly regular routine of being active, this article really caught my eye. Knowing what a simple hour a day can do for your body, as well as your emotional well being should be enough to get anybody motivated to involve themselves in some sort of physical activity. I think more schools should start programs to get kids into a habit of a healthy lifestyle. It is, more importantly, the parents job to get their children interested in exercise and good nutrition to better themselves in the long run. I also think that parents need to lead by example, because I know that I would question why I need to run around outside and eat carrots if mom and dad don’t have to. The best way to reverse the steady increase of childhood obesity is to start good habits early, and those will last a lifetime.