Year End Self Report Card

This year in PE I have improved significantly when it comes to being a leader, as well as in my own fitness  and health. Because of this, I've reached almost all my long term, and short term goals I set out for myself.

Every class, I come to PE ready and willing to partake in whatever the day's activity may be. Not once this year I have I not had proper PE strip and shoes.  Rarely have I miss class, and when I have I've brought either a note or had a parent office call to excuse me from class. 

Due to my consistent dedication and best efforts in PE, the changes in my fitness have become easy to see. Firstly, my thirty minute run laps have increased. In the spring/summer of 2012, my average number of laps was a five, only once did I reach six laps which was extremely exhausting and challenging at that time. This year, in both semesters, I was able to improve myself. First semester, I was able to run a solid six laps plus a little walking of a seventh, without being too tired. My exhersion level was probably a four, opposed to a  five. Second semester, when we ran, I was very pleased when I reached seven laps with a little spare time! My  exhersion level was definitely a high four. Secondly, my community run times have decreased. In September I could run the regular route in approximately 22 minutes. Running it for a second time a few months later, I was able to complete it in just under twenty minutes. Furthermore, when we did the backwards, or alternate longer community run, I finished in twenty three minutes, though I had ran a further distance. Thirdly, I have gone up almost two whole levels on the beep test. In grade eight, my best was a 9.6. Last semester, with lots of hard work I pulled a 10.3, and then a 10.7. This semester, I was extremely proud when I got to level 11.4. 

To make these physical changes, I had to make mental ones as well. I have to tell myself that I can do it, and not let my body shut down on me. I've had to get comfortable with allowing myself to be uncomfortable. To make change it required a bit of sweat, and pain, but in the end it payed off. My changes in fitness have happened because of this as well as my constant effort levels in class, plus my better hydration and more out of class activities. I've taken charge of being responsible for my own fitness and been able to figure out what activities will benefit me and my goals and have spent more time on these specific workouts. 

With my improved results in my fitness activities, I've been able to reach all my goals in my fitness area. As seen in my January blog post, my goals were too complete the regular community run in under twenty minutes, and hit level eleven on the beep test. Both, which I accomplished this semester.

Another one of my goals I mentioned in my March, was that I was wanting to update my blog much more often. As of now, I can say I am proud and pleased with blog. I have shown tons of photo as well as written evidence of my physical activity efforts outside, and inside gym class. 

Some of the changes outside class that I have made include family outings, and better eating and drinking habits. Most of these, I have shown in individual posts. Since September I have started doing a few outdoor activities with my family, such as bike riding, and time at the driving range as well as a few more things. Another change I've made this year is eating better and hydrating myself. I have never been much of a water lover, and infact I used to have to be told to drink. Since the fall however, I have been drinking a lot more water. Most days I have about three, sometimes four glasses, ranging from 6oz to 12oz cups. Eating wise, the biggest change I've made is eating breakfast! I used to despise of eating early and would just the meal completely. However this year, my family has committed to eating breakfast together every single morning, and it is always a healthy one. This has helped my health because my eating is more balanced, and I'm  not starving my body all day and then becoming extremely hungry later on.

Another accomplishment I've made this semester is encouraging others even further. Instead of ditching my low energy friends, I included one of them in my fitness activities with me and Kate, even though she had her own goals. I encouraged her a lot and wouldn't let her give up or quit. This resulted in her getting personal bests in her own fitness, as well as just a well round better effort. I'm proud of myself that I was able to help make the change in someone else's PE experience. Another way I've been a leader is being more vocal in class discussions. I helped choose activities for our class, as well as with others, modified games to suit our classes needs better. Being a leader to me also meant always having a positive attitude and outgoing personality to make classes more fun for myself and everyone around me. Additionally, I think I showed leadership and encouragement just by completing my own goals, so that others can see with hard work and a firm mind set you can improve yourself to reach any goal you set out for yourself.

To me, summarizing all this is the true meaning of being physically educated. I've gotten to know my body, and the areas I would like to improve on. I've figured out what activities and what steps it will take to improve in these areas, therefore this means learning how to accomplish goals. Completing my goals also shows that I know how to set reasonable but challenging goals for myself. As well, Ive learned how to be a leader and see the potential in my peers that may just need a little extra encouragement. In a nutshell, to be physically educated is to know what about your own strengths and weaknesses, how to improve yourself (fitness and diet wise) and be healthy. Additionally part of being physically educated is being able to have enough knowledge to lead others to a more healthy lifestyle.

Though all this said, I still have future goals and improvements I would like to work on. I would like to improve on my sprints which is the one running exercise I found extremely challenging.  Two more longtime goals I'm working on currently are being able to do the splits fully and I'd also like to be able to do more pushups. Another area of improvement for me is going to be voluntarily doing activities which I don't necessarily enjoy. Similar to Mr.Neufeld and his hatred for running but still running half marathons, I'd like to push myself to do more frequent and longer bike rides, which is something I have not loved too much in the past.

These next summer months without PE will be the ultimate test to my fitness dedication and determination. Though it will surely prove to be hard I'm ready for the challenge. I will stay active over the summer no matter where I am, I hope to always find a way to stay healthy. I'm proud of the strong friendships I've made in this class, as well as the knowledge I've gained about my own body and leadership. I feel I've had a very successful year in PE all the way around, and I hope my success is just as great in grade 10.

This year in PE i feel I am deserving of an A.