Dear Master Lee,
I just wanted to wish you a happy holiday and a healthy 2009. I also wanted to share with you the great news that I was accepted into Stanford University and will be playing softball there on a partial scholarship. I believe that what I learned from you is a key part of why I am where I am today and I wanted to thank you. I really appreciate everything. I have included a copy of my Stanford admissions essay because I thought it might interest you.
Thank you again for everything,
Tegan Schmidt .
Stanford University General Admissions Essay
by Tegan Monique Schmidt
Although school and softball have played a huge role in my life, there are other things that have taught me important life lessons. I started Martial Arts as a shy timid nine-year-old girl. I was a follower and went along with whatever was going on around me. The form of martial arts I studied was the Korean Tae Soo Do. The belt order is white, orange, yellow, green, purple, blue, brown, red, half black and finally black.
One thing I learned was to not let others opinions get in the way of what you want to do. I remember the first day I participated in a class. It was intimidating because every time the other kids punched or kicked they let out a yell, like a battle cry. I caught on very quickly with the actual physical part of things; it was the vocal part I had trouble with. I just could not bring myself to yell.
This went on for months. Then, though a mixture of coaxing and reprimanding I began to at least make noise. The noise I did make cannot be considered a yell. I continued to work hard and I moved up in the belts. Yelling when you do kicks or punches is supposed to let out all of your inner energy and strength. It comes from deep within and focuses all of your power into that one punch or kick.
The master of the Dojo, the Tae Soo Do studio, was Master Lee. Every belt test was the same; “Good job Tegan, but you MUST be louder,” he would say. Finally, one day during class, Master Lee was fed up with telling me to be louder. he started interrogating me about why I refused to turn up the volume on my vocal cords. Then hem made me yell in front of everyone. My yells started out quiet but I was asked to do it again and again until finally I was so frustrated that I put everything into a yell. He smiled and went on teaching the class as though nothing had happened.
That day i learned that it does not matter what others think of you, as long as you do your best and are happy with yourself, you can go anywhere in life. From that day on, my yells were just as loud as everyone else.
What really helped me become a leadrer was when I was a green belt, i was asked to be a member of a program called TGT. It was comprised of the more advanced students helping teach the younger beginning students. I toook my responsibility seriously and did my best to becomea good role model, by leading through example. Helping others to learn was a very enjoyable experience for me. I talked when necessary but most of the time I guided students with positive reinforcement of the basics. I am still this way today, leading through my actions but speaking up when needed. Tae Soo Do made me a leader instead of a follower.
Learning to sacrifice was another important lesson that i learned on my journey to my black belt. Every time I tested for my next belt, my parnts had to fill out a survey about my behavior at home. It was always top marks, except for getting along with my sister. Every belt test, Master Lee would ask my sister and I why we did not get along.
I remember one test in particular, when he was not in a very good mood. he told me taht since I was the older one, it was my responsibility to make sure that we got along. “If you both want to lok at something, you need to let her look at it first. You are older so you need to make sacrifices to get along,” he said to me. At that time, taht sounded like the most unfair statement I had ever heard. As I got older, I realized taht what he had said made sense. We did our best to get alongg vetter and gradually, things improved. Now we hardly ever fight, and usually when we do, we are laughing ten minutes later. Sacrifice is an important ingredient in overall happiness.
The experience I recieved through Martial Arts was on of the most rewarding in my life. I learned to always give my full complete effort no matter what. While working to earn my black belt, I recognized that doing what you think is right to achieve your goals may not always be the most popular thing to do. Through sacrifice and discipline I became a leader, finding comfort in creating my own path.
Note: Tegan was accepted to Stanford University this year. Congratulations Tegan!