Every year I come back to school saying the same thing: “This year, I’m going to lose weight!” And every year, I spend each semester guilty for every snack food I eat, even though it’s the only thing I’ve eaten all day. It’s a terrible cycle – I never lose weight, and I add more stress to my life every day worrying about what other people think of me.

I’m done with that. I’m done hating my body every year, basing my self-worth off what my peers may or may not think of my weight. So what if I don’t fall toward the “underweight” end of the BMI chart? That doesn’t mean I can’t keep a high GPA. I’m way too busy to worry about looking attractive. Beyond that, it shouldn’t matter: I’m here to learn and grow as a person, not to impress people with my looks.

I’m done feeling guilty every time I grab a snack from the Student Union or drink a Rockstar to keep me focused during a marathon essay-writing session or a few hours of research. My worth as a person and a student should be completely separate from my appearance or health. I need to focus on the tasks at hand, and I’ll never be able to do that if I just spend my time feeling regret over eating (which, by the way, is something humans need to live).

What my peers think about my body doesn’t matter. I need to love it. It keeps me alive, protects me from illnesses, and helps me accomplish my dreams. If I weighed less, I wouldn’t be able to donate double red cells or fit in my favorite vintage dress. My school year should be filled with education and experience, not constant anxiety over how I look to other people. I want to be a good person and a good student – and I can do that no matter how much I weigh.