Here is a letter I got from a parent of a fine black belt. Athletically, she went on to win many accolades and championships. Silver medal in US Junior Olympics for Karate, and of course, a Gold medal for US International Open. These events were held back to back on the same weekend.
Moreover, she grew stronger as a person mentally and emotionally, learning to go passed her limits, and set new goals for herself. Part of many things that she may not have learned how to do, if she had quit her training, which she almost did a few times.
She and of course her parents, decided to heed my advice, and continue on. Here's the result of that perseverance. Read it carefully, and then decide, if it is worth quitting.
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| Alana Chetlen - Black Belt (A black belt, is a white belt that doesn't quit) |
Dear Shihan,
It has been a long time since we have corresponded with you, and for that, I apologize. I hope things are going well with you and the family. I read your emails and your Facebook info, so I keep abreast of what is going on. I hope you are healthy, although I read you are having some difficulties. I hope they are not too serious. As for us, all is well.
This has been an extremely busy time for all of us. Mira is in college at San Francisco State University, and is doing very well and loves it. Martin and I are still working hard at our jobs, and I am now writing a book on Genetics. And I still do my sports. Marathons, triathlons, and last summer I even hiked up Mt. Whitney-which I loved and hope to do again this summer. And Alana has just finished applying to a dozen colleges. She has already been accepted to three schools, all with scholarships. So far they are University of Oregon, University of Arizona and University of the Pacific. We are still waiting to hear from the UC's, and some private schools, but her first choices are the UC's.
I am writing to share with you Alana's essay for all the colleges. I was so very impressed on her topic and how she wrote it. I hope you will be proud of her and yourself, for it focuses on you! I still get tears in my eyes when I read it. Here it is:
Prompt: Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?
Standing hot and exhausted in the small dojo waiting to receive my black belt was the greatest feeling I have ever known. I was fourteen years old and already had my provisional black belt, but that is nothing like the first degree black belt that I earned that day.
The black belt testing was comprised of many hours of hard performance and fighting. Right before the end of the test, I was worn out, but determined to finish strong, and I did. On the final fight I gave it all I had and won. Standing there waiting to receive my black belt, I knew that I would never be the same. I looked back at the six years I worked to achieve my goal of a black belt and realized how much I had really learned in those six years.
I had learned more than just Shotokan Karate. I had transformed into the person I am. From that day, I realized that I could achieve any goal I set my mind to. Karate taught me leadership and discipline, but most of all, how to achieve a goal. Six years for a child is no short time, and it felt like a lifetime to me and still does at times. I thought that I had spent that whole time just to achieve my goal of getting a black belt, but I did not.
I learned so much about myself in that time. I learned my limits, desires, strengths, and weaknesses. I learned how to be the leader I am today. I learned that it is not all about the goal in the end, but about what you learn about yourself along the way.
I am now seventeen years old and continued Karate until I was sixteen. I will never forget all that I learned and achieved at my dojo, and I carry that knowledge to all that I do today, including Student Council at my high school. In Student Council, our job is to prepare and execute many student events. This requires us to set goals and achieve them. Without the hard work I spent in Karate, I do not know if I would have believed that I could successfully put on the Prom Court Elections, Student Council Elections and Homecoming Parade, but in the end I did. I know that no matter how hard the challenge or however long it takes, I can achieve my goals.
Waiting to receive my black belt in that small dojo was worth it. Seeing my instructor slowly and proudly walk over and hand me that black belt became the proudest moment of my life because I knew after that, that I could achieve any goal I set.
Bruce, you will always have a special place in our hearts for all you have done for Alana and for all the times we shared together. I hope we will forever stay in touch, as you never know when friends are needed. I will let you know in the end where Alana ends up going to college.
Stay well, and best wishes to you and your family,
Susan
Susan M. Zneimer, Ph.D., FACMG
CEO and Clinical Cytogeneticist MOSYS Consulting
