August 10, 2013
Several years ago I heard someone say, or I read somewhere that a good friend should make you a better person. This idea made me stop and think about the friends in my life. The friends that I have had since high school do make me a better person. I would not want to disappoint them with bad decisions, and they are wonderful people who I consider role models. I will be married 25 years in October and I have often been amazed at the amazing things that my husband does. He inspires me to do my best and I hope that I help him along the way also. As I was thinking about writing this essay, I asked myself if Tae Kwon Do is a "good friend" to me — does it make me a better person?
Over the past 4 years I have learned a lot from the experience of earning a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Perseverance is just another word for setting a goal and overcoming the obstacles in your way to reaching those goals. For me, the physical aspect of Tae Kwon Do is the most difficult. I am still trying to improve my technique and get my body to move in the correct manner. I want to be able to demonstrate the skills and so I continue to try to improve my physical fitness, flexibility, and coordination. Improving my balance is also a goal. Balance in the physical sense, but also the balance in my life between job, family and other relationships. Tae Kwon Do offers me a time and place to focus on my physical health, mentally concentrate on the forms and techniques, and relive the stress of worrying about things out of my control. When life got too hectic this past year, I took a vacation from Tae Kwon Do classes to focus on other activities. I came to realize that I was not as productive, energetic, and that sense of well-being was absent. I firmly believe that the weekly routine is an important ingredient for me to maintain a balanced life. So when to cold, dark days of winter set in, I will make myself get to class.
The last question to ask myself is whether I am a good friend to Tae Kwon Do? This has become my new challenge as I have been preparing for this black belt test. I have been meaning to subscribe to the Taw Kwon Do times for a couple years and I finally got it done. This will provide me with inspiration and information as I am able to read about people who are passionate about the martial arts. As school starts and I get to know my freshman students, I could share my knowledge about what the Edgewood Branch of Jung's Tae Kwon Do can offer them. If you start as a 9th grader and work hard, you can graduate with a black belt. This is an opportunity for any student, but maybe especially appealing for students who are not interested in the traditional team sports that high schools offer. The best contribution I can make to Tae Kwon Do is probably commitment. I can demonstrate commitment by being at class, helping instruct others, and encouraging them. I am also committed to practicing the basic tenets on a daily basis. I hope curtsey, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit are evident in how I live my life. This is the greatest gift I can give to Tae Kwon Do and it is the reason that Tae Kwon Do has been and will continue to be a good friend to me.
