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\"Michael is a young man who aspired to be able to be a better person for himself. We're not talking about athletic accomplishments or academic accomplishments, this is a personal development success,\" he said. \"We need to pay more attention to personal development successes with students.\"

Watson plans to find a full-time job after graduation, possibly in the food industry. He studied in his school's culinary program during his weight loss and credits his teacher in the program with helping him learn more about healthier food choices and cooking.

\"I hope I can be an inspiration to others,\" Watson said, adding that he achieved his weight loss by reminding himself that \"every day is a new day.\"

\"That’s what I said on my diet all the time because I’d mess up some days,\" he said. \"I'd tell myself, 'Tomorrow is a new day. You’ve’ got to start over and eat the oatmeal in the morning.\"

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