Let me tell you about my journey to getting my first degree black belt. When I first started Taekwondo, I honestly just wanted my black belt and I didn't expect to get anything else out of it, but I soon discovered that it was much more than I thought. Taekwondo not only enhances you physically but mentally. Looking from the outside in, one would think a black belt shows that you can physically take care of yourself. However, looking from the inside out, one would know that a black belt symbolizes much more. A black belt represents patience, discipline, determination, responsibility, and leadership skills.
As I attended my two classes a week, I eventually advanced to green belt (almost halfway to black belt). Now I was eligible to be a part of the leadership program called SWAT but I had to be invited. SWAT is the leadership training program that prepares students to become exceptional martial arts instructors and leaders in all aspects of their lives. One day Grand Master Atoun handed me an envelope with my name on it, it was an invitation to the SWAT team. At first, I was very hesitant to accept the invitation because I doubted my abilities; but after thinking about it, I decided to join because it’d be a great opportunity. I’ve been a SWAT member for three years now and it’s been the best decision I have ever made. I am now a paid instructor.
Being an instructor hasn’t only helped me with my performance but it has also helped me develop leadership skills. Just being a student shapes you into a better person by improving your patience, discipline, perseverance, and goal setting skills; but being an instructor teaches you how to work with people of all ages and religions which prepares you for the future. The most valuable thing I have taken away from taekwondo is getting to learn about others. Before I started practicing martial arts, I was in my own little bubble; I was hardly ever exposed to different religions or races. But that isn’t the case anymore, I’ve gotten the privilege to teach and be a part of a such diverse group of students. Outside of the taekwondo academy, it’s hard to find people who are so accepting of others whom are of a different race or religion, I wish everyone could get along so well and treat others with the same respect as we treat everyone in taekwondo.
During one of our SWAT meetings Grand Master Atoun said something that I’ll hold onto forever. He said, “there is nothing more satisfying in life than being proud of where you are in your life, what you have done, and what you have accomplished.†I have never heard anything so true. I am extremely happy with the person I am becoming, and without taekwondo I’m not so sure I’d be the person I am today. My experiences and lessons learned from taekwondo have helped me pursue my dreams in life. It has given me the courage, confidence, and goal settings skills necessary for me to follow my dreams and do whatever I have to in order to achieve my goals. I aspire to be a pediatrician and taekwondo has given me the state of mind that I need in order to turn my dreams into a reality. I’ve been taking many different medical classes and I am on the right track to achieving my ultimate goal in life. I know it’s going to take time and hard work to fulfill my dreams but I know I have what it takes because I have determination which is the key to success. Like Grand Master Atoun says, “a black belt is a white belt that never quits!â€