I remember the exact same feeling, you're running the forbidden 1 mile run and you keep seeing people pass you up. You keep falling further and further behind and all you can think about is "I hate running, I really hate running". All of the other girls are already grabbing their waters as they finished the run while you still have a lap to go.

You've never been able to do a pull up at the bar, you've never been able to climb the rope and ring the bell at the very top. You've never been able to surpass all of the other students doing push-ups and pull-ups even though you are trying your hardest.

I have a secret to tell you.

None of that stuff is going to matter!

Don't be ashamed to be the girl who would rather focus her time on academics or art or other extracurricular activities. Each individual has his or her own strengths and talents and not everyone is made to be an athlete and that's perfectly okay.

There are students who excel in theater. There are students who excel in math or science or even art.

I was in your place once. I absolutely loved theater and music and art when I was in high school. I loved my classes and academics but I dreaded gym class. I loved the thought of working out and doing something to make me stronger and more physically fit but I hated the fact that everything was a competition.

When you're in gym class, everything is forced upon you. You are forced to complete the one-mile race. You're forced to do as many push-ups and pull-ups as you can within the minute. And you're doing this with everyone else watching you and judging you. This can create doubtfulness and fear within students who may not be as fast or physically strong. With that doubtfulness and fear, comes a very negative perception of working out.

I certainly had those fears and it may not seem like it, but many other girls do too. I eventually made it through the dreaded gym class years where I had a very negative attitude towards working out. But surprisingly, after learning that working out doesn't have to be so bad, I started doing it on my own time.

Now that I'm in college, I love going to the gym to exercise after a long day of classes and work. I rely on that time as personal "me time" because I can work off my stress and do whatever I feel comfortable doing.

I even discovered that I love to run. Running has been one of the major outlets that I rely on to release my steam and stress from the day. I am not rushed or timed, I don't have to run a certain distance or run a certain way. I just do what I need to do and still feel happy and confident at the end.

Some people may rely on dancing to relieve their stress. Others may rely on walking through nature or riding their bikes. Some may even rely on swimming, doing yoga, or pilates. Exercise doesn't have to be running and doing high intensity activities.

If you are a girl struggling through gym class, I guarantee that none of this matters and it will get better. This is coming from the girl who finished the one mile race in the absolute last place in 7th grade. You will make it through and discover that you have other talents that you love and excel at. I guarantee it.