I began participating in martial arts when I was five years old. I walked into tae kwon do class on the first day intimated and nervous; I would never have expected that I would grow to love walking into this same studio almost everyday for years to come. Tae kwon do is based off of Korean culture, which demands respect for the people around you. When I began classes the studio was like a different world. There were new customs to follow and at first they seemed strange. We would enter and bow towards the flag and say yes sir and no sir. These customs transferred into my life without any recognition. In my everyday life I show respect for my elders and my peers, even count in Korean. As a class we worked together to progress to the next belt, each learning a skill and passing it on to another. With each belt test I grew to be more confident in myself. After many years of practicing I received my black belt, but this was not the end of my learning. With the confidence I gained I was able to teach others the skills I had learned. This art form teaches to have peace within and to be empowered with not only skills but with a clear mentality. Tae Kwon Do has transformed who I am and has progressively made me into a stronger and more compassionate person.