John F., Oakwood High School
Positivity is Key
“We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone” was a quote by U.S president Ronald Reagan that really stood out to me when I worked with a certain student in the Karate school that I currently volunteer at. When I see him now, I can see the difference in the quality of his work ethic, his ability to engage in class, and the amount of commitment he puts toward being a better student than when he started as a white belt.
About a year ago, my brother and I started to volunteer at a karate school after being in the class for about five to six months. Because I had gone through a couple of different belts, I had a good understanding of how the class worked and what should be expected of the students in the class. Through helping out monitor the younger students, I learned many things: confidence when talking to other people younger than me, a sense of how to teach them to be respectful, considerate for others and engaged in most activities in the time that they have in the presence of the teacher.
On his first days as a student in class, it was as clear as glass that Henry wasn’t as excited or interested in what the Sensei was trying to teach him. It was often that he’d be looking around, presenting his father with sad looks, or giving certain gestures to the fact that “his tummy doesn’t feel so good”; however, as I incorporated fun games, amusing activities, and positive phrases–I started to notice that he was doing much better. For example, when we finished practicing a specific technique, I would play Simon says or the knee game, in which both included various underlying ideas to help him stay focussed on the topic at hand. When we took these breaks, he would release this laughter and excitement that most people would only get from doing something they love.
Every day in class now, it is almost certain that he will answer at least one of the questions that Sensei asks, even if he gets it wrong. He will put 100% into his stretches, any new or already practiced techniques. The way he acts today allows me to feel better about the fact that I helped someone. In my mind, Karate is a great way to relieve stress, work together with others (if in a class like ours), and build up one’s health, which is why getting Henry to enjoy it was a major success.
