My journey started August 1st, 2016 when I decided to not spend a week at home lying around doing nothing, but instead to try out a martial arts board breaking camp. Before camp even started, I was absolutely convinced that I was a complete master at karate and was clearly a ninja. When I first got to the camp, I found out just how wrong I was. It was so different and so much more advanced than anything I ever would have expected from martial arts. After that week, I probably would not have been willing to try out my first class if it wasn’t for that camp’s instructor, Mr. Berndt. Mr. Berndt was super enthusiastic and supportive, as well as strict and skilled. He would teach us the lesson while adding his own spin and making it fun. That is what made me want to start classes. I was signed up for classes before the end of the week.

Right away, I knew I wanted to be a black belt and an instructor, just like Mr. Berndt. Class was fun, and I was having a great time, but after a while, I had started to feel self-conscious. I was the oldest one in my class and I was sure that people would make fun of me behind my back because there were black belts younger than me. Even though I felt that way, I was loving martial arts and I decided to keep going. After a few weeks of classes, I was told that I had a talent for forms. That gave me the confidence boost I needed for my upcoming belt test! The day came and I was so nervous! I had never done a belt test before so I was not sure what to expect or whether I could do it. I stood up in front of my parents and my classmates and I did my best. I passed! I was so happy and very excited to get working on a brand-new form!

Several belts later I learned that there was a second class available for dedicated students who wanted to learn to use weapons and learn leadership skills. I had the opportunity to join the Black Belt Club, now called Legacy. I loved it mostly for the weapons program, but the leadership skills and life lessons helped me to become more comfortable speaking in front of a group. That confidence left me wanting to become an instructor more than anything. When the Spicar’s added the S.W.A.T program to prepare for the instructor test, I was anxious to join and show them my perseverance. I was intent on proving to Mr. Spicar that I was up to the task. Once I was accepted onto the S.W.A.T team, I started helping out with classes every so often to start preparing for my instructor test. Around that time, I started struggling to balance my martial arts training with school responsibilities. My parents helped me to learn to manage my time and free up nights to help out with classes. Knowing I needed to work hard to get the 100 S.W.A.T. classes in seemed impossible, but that only made me appreciate it more.

The next step in my journey was to begin helping with summer camps and parents’ night outs and discovered that I really enjoyed working with the younger kids. I asked if I could help with activities like those every chance that I got. Working at the summer camps started as mostly cleaning bathrooms and sweeping up crumbs. I was proud to work hard every day and show the instructors my integrity and strong work ethic. The more time I volunteered at camps and parents’ nights, the more the instructors started to trust me. This summer I was asked to run quite a few of the games. Volunteering to work at summer camps and other events played a pivotal role in growing the confidence and skills I needed to earn my instructor certification.

After about a year of hard work and dedication I finally graduated the S.W.A.T program! It felt amazing to see my hard work pay off like that. I realized that all those classes I helped with and all the time it took, was worth it. I was finally prepared to test for instructor. The day had finally arrived, and I was nervous, but felt confident and well prepared. I had already read through all the course material. I knew what I needed to do to accomplish my goal. I enrolled in the instructor supersession and worked hard to be the strongest, the loudest, and the most dedicated student. Towards the end of the class, I was asked to run through the warm-up with the class of instructors. It was unnerving to be the instructor for them, but I trusted them and knew that they would support me. I know that I must have looked nervous as I led them through the warm-up. I was not sure how I did and must have looked visibly worried because my martial arts family came up to me and gave me high-fives and congratulated me. This made me feel a lot better, but I was still awaiting the official word from Mr. Spicar. Once I found out that I had passed I was ecstatic and infinitely grateful to all those who had helped and supported me on this four-year journey.

A few days ago, I received my instructor jacket and certificate proving that I passed my instructor certification. I never could have accomplished any of it without support from my parents and mentors. And I am excited to be part of the Reveal instructor team! I am excited to continue learning and training to become as amazing an instructor as some of my mentors, like Mr. Berndt, Mr. Garcia, Ms. Lepp, and Mr. and Mrs. Spicar. I look forward to mentoring other kids in martial arts and life skills, to set them on a journey of their own.