To be honest, I never thought about me reaching this point on my Taekwondo journey. I’ve always been so focused on the moment, and to look back now, it’s incredible how much I’ve grown, both physically and mentally.
I recall learning Karate when I was around 8 or 9 years old, then quitting as I found it too boring. I joined Weiwu Taekwondo in 2019, which also happened to be my first year of high school. At first, I was afraid that this may turn boring quickly, like what happened with previous martial arts. I did not expect however, to be standing here today, remembering that I somehow finally found something that suited me, and challenged me to my limits.
Though there were hard times throughout the last two and a half years, I’ve learnt that achievement is not always easy. I remember when the lockdown took place in 2020, and online classes started. At first, it was manageable, and as I progressed during that lockdown through online lessons, I realised that I wasn’t pushing myself as much as I used to. I did not always have the motivation, as I found that it was just the same thing over and over again, I had missed the face-to-face training and being around everybody.
This was a big turning point on my journey, as it helped me see things in a different way, like not focusing on others, but on yourself. Being on separate sides of a screen really put that into light.
I don’t remember my first day at Weiwu Taekwondo, but however, I do recall feeling nervous and anxious for the first few months I was there. Sometimes, even now, I catch myself feeling unsure about the way things were going, but to know that I had people there to help and encourage me boosted my confidence.
Taekwondo didn’t just change my outlook on the activity itself, but rather impacted my attitude and perspective life in general and many other things. The best part of my journey so far would have to be meeting new people and watching myself and others grow throughout the years. I will always be grateful for the opportunities that I have come across so far, and also for the challenges that I faced, I’m looking forward to taking on many more. I also wanted to say thank you to Master Brian, Master Joyce, Master Benecia, Master Bryanna and friends for helping me get here today, whether it was by guidance, reassurance or encouragement.
