Before high school, I had never been the active type. Most of my long summer days consisted of sitting indoors watching television, playing video games, or some other activity that didn't require any strenuous effort. For me, exercise was almost considered a demon. Also, the fact that from sixth to eighth grade I was a little overweight for my height and age meant I didn't want to do anything. The fact that I was this way probably added to the lack of willpower to leave the house and change the fact that I was out of shape. Going into high school, I started running Cross Country and Track, not knowing I would be successful in them. The only reason I signed up for Cross Country my freshman year was because a girl I liked ran it too, not because I wanted to get in better shape. As the years went by, my reasons for continuing to run changed. They went from trying to chat up a girl, to wanting to get back into physical shape. Doing this, I had no idea that it would affect me mentally so much. My belief is that exercising to stay physically fit plays a role in determining how happy you are mentally. As I am today, looking back on my mindset back then, I can see drastic changes to this day. I am much more assertive in most of the activities I do, I like to participate much more and I don't always want to be stuck in or around the house "hating everything". The reason is that I am in a fitter condition, physically, thanks to running. Before high school, I never thought that exercising, especially running miles and miles, would result in making me a happier person. From 6th to 8th grade,...halfway through the task......ool, I can say my mindset changed a lot. I know that being in better physical condition has definitely improved who I am. I am no longer limited in the things I do by what my body thinks it can handle. Being this way has made me a much happier and more confident person in who I am or can be. Since I've been running I've had more positive emotions than negative ones. I am much less depressed and upset and have become a much brighter person. I think everyone should at least try to get into good physical shape, not saying they should be able to run for miles, but at least get some sort of good physical shape. It would really surprise some people how much this would affect them. Thanks to my grandfather Will and, above all, thanks to running, I am a better person, physically and mentally.