The Will to Win Anonymous

Confucius once stated, “The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.” This quotation has inspired me to strive for and accomplish all the goals to which I set my mind. My continual endeavor to attain my fullest potential, better my life, and stretch the possibilities of my future has led me to accomplish one of my greatest feats, one that helped transition me from a naive child into a mature adult.

Since the age of three, I have participated in Taekwondo. This martial art has been a large part of shaping and forming the person I am today. Taekwondo has taught me valuable life lessons, ranging from the respect I show for others to the dedication and self-discipline I use to succeed. One of the most influential moments in my life was my competition in Korea. After years of experience in local, state, and national competitions, and months of intense training, I competed in the 5th World Taekwondo Culture Expo, an international tournament taking place in Korea. At the age of fourteen, I sparred in the seventeen to twenty-five year old black belt division. In the end, I defeated a twenty-two year old Korean master and achieved...