Dared to Grow / Thank you

       There were a lot of things that happened from last October to now. And I feel like sense that time has passed I've learned so much that not a single teacher in the world could ever teach me the things that you all have taught me. When I was called to sit in that chair on testing day and tell my story as to how I got here I wanted to say so much, but my emotions got the best of me so I said the things that I felt like would sum up why I am where I am today. Why am I here?
         When I was five or six ( I can't remember ) I wanted to join a sport and my mom agreed with me so we set out looking for... a sport. I tried ballet ( lasted for one week or two before I left ), tried gymnastics ( lasted less than a week, ( I remember it being three days or four before I left) and I think I did a basketball camp for a week, but didn't continue with it further. Some way or another we found out that there were tae-qwan-doe classes upstairs in Hawthorne Farm. My mom signed me up and the next thing I knew I was in my very first class with my hands up and learning how to kick. My very first instructor was a Mrs. ( her name slips out of my mind at the moment ) and her two kids and some other students... maybe about a good ten of us or so. After awhile Jacob and Chandler joined.
            I think about a good few months or so went by and all we were doing in class was the same thing everyday. I remember we would stretch with some kicks, do forms and earn one stripe on our belt once a month. By the time I got to yellow belt I was starting to get uninterested and wanted to leave the martial arts. I told my mom and she told me to stay with it and if things didn't change after another few weeks or so I could stop. But the next week ( some time close after I wanted to stop ) SBN walked in through the workout room doors. I remember this scene so clearly. I  remember SBN walking through the doors and just walking around and watching us. ( I kicked higher then usual and tried my best to stay balanced )
            I blink and we're at the corner of the gym, I blink and we move into our own building, I blink we expand that building, I blink we move into a bigger building. I blink we expanded that building and I blink and now we're here. Every time we moved or expanded, my connection to Aim High is stronger, my connection to my team mates and teachers have grown unbelievably strong. But what I love so much about our school is that we connected to other schools, connected with other martial artists, improved our state of minds and attitude and we learned how to set goals, treat each other with respect, had fun, learned something new each day and some how we meshed together into a family.
             But when an event in my life changed my perspective of martial arts, that's when it clicked as to why I want to continue with this. My dad was attacked in front of my own eyes by someone I never knew. When this event happened I saw one reason why I wanted to continue. I wanted to learn how to protect the people that I loved and how to protect myself.
              What does getting my Black-belt mean to me? Everything. What does being faster than a Lamborghini mean? It means I can go beyond my limits in whatever it is I am doing.
           
              My family has supported me so much that I could never repay them. You guys ( and gals :) have supported me so much that I may never be able to repay you. YOU have all influenced me to be a better person, YOU influence me to go above and beyond my limits. YOU should be as proud as I am to call YOU my teammate and instructor for DARE TO DREAM. I am so proud of each and every single one of you. Thank you all for being my mentors, teammates and extended family. Thank you.

    - Z0E