Sensei,
This week, at school, we had a speaker come to lecture us about bullying. This got me thinking as to the reason as to why I began my karate training.
I was in the fifth grade when I had my first bullying experience. I was friends with two girls in my grade and both were close to me. They were both in a fight with one another and I observed that one of them was bullying the other. Making this observation, I stepped in between the two of them, facing the one bullying the other and advised her to stop. As you could imagine, no one had the guts to do what I had done. Little did I know that being a potential hero for one person, led me to be the victim of another.
For approximately a year I had to withstand being a victim of bullying. I would make the attempt to stay away from the one who used to be my “friend,” as she had become the bully. I withstood a year of taunting and fear. That is, until, another friend of mine told me about a new karate place opening up, “Canada’s Best Karate.”
I attended karate classes twice a week. After a while at training, I began to notice a change. A change in self-confidence and my abilities. I quit hiding from the taunting and the final time I was bullied was because I opened my mouth at home. For a while I hid from my family the fact that I was a victim of bullying. My mother, the terrific person she is, settled the “score.”
It was only after that I had regained my freedom that my school grades, which were declining, had begun to increase. I was able to concentrate more on my studies, and less about if I could remain emotionally stable.
I just wanted to thank you for aiding me in my self-confidence and aiding me in recognizing my abilities. I am currently in the 11th grade and still striving for excellence, just as karate has taught me to. With the help of my father and my karate training, I have finally realized what I would like to do with my life. I plan to continue with my education and my goal is to become a surgeon (preferably a heart surgeon).
Thank you once again and I look forward to all of the hard work it will take to achieve my Black Belt.
Sincerely,
– Alessandra Viola, student
