Rebekah Cornelius
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Through my journey of Martial Arts, I have learned confidence,
self-discipline, and honor. I believe that I have learned these
attributes from the instructors that I have had over the course
of my martial arts journey. So I have to thank Kick Start Kids
for introducing me to 4 amazing instructors that I have had the
pleasure of learning from; Master Alice McCleary, Master Alberto
Borjas, Master Brandon McRae, and Master Dona` Pettway Sr.
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i officially started taking classes in January of 1998. However,
I attended karate classes' months before then just to hang out.
You see, my best friend Patricia was in the final weeks for training
for her black belt. To support her, i went to her classes, and this
is where I first met Master McCleary. After that first class, I was
always asking Patricia to teach me something, anything. Of course,
she started off with Design Kata Form #1. Master McCleary started
an adult class that following January, so I just had to sign up. She
saw in me a desire to learn, and had many times taken me aside
to personally instruct me in the martial arts and in my personal
life. She is someone I would like to mold myself after for all of her
qualities; strength, confidence, insight, and patience; especially
with me. From her I learned confidence. I'm no longer the shy little girl who was afraid to be myself instead of the person everyone else wanted me to be.
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Master McCleary was given a promotion and Master Borjas took over her classes. At the time, I was in college dealing with the pressure of managing studying, working, and somehow make it to karate. Master Borjas taught me self-discipline, which helped me juggle all these commitments. I learned that you have to make time for the things you really want in life. I also learned how to slow down and concentrate on one thing at a time. Suddenly, certain events in my life came up that caused me to postpone karate for a couple of years.
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In 2001, my grandfather passed away. He was and remains my bestfriend! After his death, i was just going through the motions of just living. Nothing mattered any more to me. The following year, i started working at Patrick Henry Middle School, and if your wondering, yes, the entire staff thought Master McRae and I were brother and sister. One of his students asked if I knew karate and I told him I knew a little. In fact, I actually went through the same program that he was going through. That student later told Master McRae, which lead to a discussion about who my instructors where, and why I was no longer training. He told me about his after school class and said that I should check it out. At the time I was dealing with the loss of my grandfather. It was several weeks before I showed up for that first class. I still didn't feel the passion for karate I had felt once before, but I kept going thanks to Master McRae's constant "I'll see you after school", I owe alot to Master McRae. He has done more for me than I will ever know. Through him I rediscovered the joy and desire that I once had for karate, but the most important thing he helped me find inner-strength.
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In 2008 I was given the opportunity to teach Martial Arts full time. I was able to give back to the program that helped me find myself. It was through teaching students that I wanted to better myself to give more to them. That is when I started training with Master Pettway. Through Master Pettway I have learned honor. The honor of being part of the Martial Arts and what it means to help the next generation find their place in the legacy.
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My training in Martial Arts has changed my life completely, it's not just a sport or an activity that I go to twice a week. It's how I live my life, and it has changed my attitude and how I think. My life is more organized, and it has given me a future. It has also helped me achieve things I would never have thought possible. I am more confident, ambitious, determined, and focused than before, and I can only continue to grow stronger from here. I know I would not have accomplished any of this if it weren't for these amazing instructors.
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