Edgewood Branch
February 8, 2014
The
Building Behind My House
My name is Ethan
Staner. I am in 5th grade at
Ed-Co Elementary. I live in Edgewood,
Iowa. Edgewood is a town of about 800
people. I’ve been involved in baseball,
youth football, soccer, basketball, and cub scouts. I love to ride my bike around town and
explore as I go. I have explored many
places and I already know that when I turn sixteen I want to work at Kendrick
Forest Products in Edgewood. Although I
knew a lot about what was going on in Edgewood, I always wondered what was in
the white building that was tucked away in cornfields behind my house.
This white
building was the home of McDowell’s Tae Kwon Do. My mom gave me the option to go out for
wrestling or try tae kwon do. I thought
I would try tae kwon do since I always wondered what was in that building. My first visit I meet Mr. Fisher
Woodley. I thought right then and there
that I would love tae kwon do. I
couldn’t wait to stand on the mat and do all those cool moves. I am
glad I continue to participate in tae kwon do because it gives me something to
do all year round.
I have grown so
much since starting tae kwon do in 3rd grade. I have also learned a lot about tae kwon do. Soon after I started, I quickly memorized the
tenets of tae kwon do. As months went
on, I realized I knew them better than memorizing them. I was confident in my skills and I began to
help others at class. With that, I
earned a Junior Leader badge from Master McDowell. Master McDowell was proud of me and I was
too. I was his first ever student to
receive such a patch. Each class I make
sure to help those belts lower than me and be involved in the class.
My favorite thing
about tae kwon do is going to the tournaments.
The best thing about the tournaments are sparring random people. I have been fortunate that my parents have
taken me to many tournaments. One of the
best tournaments was the one in Louisville, Kentucky just this past October. I also participated in the Iowa Games this past
Janaury. When I am sparring at
tournaments, I think about getting points and getting the gold. I have done well over the few years I have
participated in tournaments. I have many
medals hanging on my wall and trophies sitting on my shelf. My most memorable tournament is winning
first place in Louisville, Kentucky by doing the form Toi-Gye. I was very confident and proud!
As
I continue through my tae kwon do adventure, I am learning more stuff each
class and making new friends. However
after all these years, I am so nervous to test for temporary black belt. I will put aside those nerves and reach for
indomitable spirit and make myself proud.
As far as that building tucked away in cornfields in the back of my
house, I am sure glad my mom and I explored that building and I that I have
learned the art of tae kwon do.
