The Challenge I Chose

In the spring of 2017, I decided I was going to earn my black belt.

There were many reasons, but one stood above the rest: I wanted to challenge myself with something many people said I couldn’t do. I wanted to find out for myself what was possible.

Living with cerebral palsy, I have heard plenty about limitations. Some require me to find a different way of doing things. Others are expectations people place on me before I have even had a chance to try. Taking on this challenge meant being willing to discover the difference.

It was hard. Very hard.

Making the decision was the easy part. Following through meant putting in the time and effort, including when progress felt slow. Wanting a black belt couldn’t do the work for me. I had to keep learning, keep practising, and keep showing up.

Then COVID arrived, and training changed.

Instead of being in class with other students, I was training on my own in front of a camera. My goal was still there, but the way I worked toward it looked very different. I had to make space for training at home and keep putting in the effort without everyone physically beside me.

Some days, simply getting in front of that camera and starting was an achievement. It would have been easy to put my goal aside until things returned to normal. But I had already worked hard, and I wanted to keep going. So I continued, one training session at a time.

There is something humbling about choosing a challenge you cannot accomplish right away. You have to accept being a beginner. You have to listen, take corrections, and work on things that may come more easily to someone else. That can be frustrating, especially when you are already working as hard as you know how.

But I had chosen this goal because it would challenge me. When it became difficult, I had to remember why I started.

My family has helped shape that determination. My parents gave selflessly to make sure I knew I mattered. They opened doors and committed their time to giving me opportunities. My siblings made room for my extra needs, and my brother stood beside me through some of my hardest times. Their support has meant more than I can explain.

I carry that belief with me as I keep working toward my black belt.

I haven’t earned it yet. My goal is to earn my black belt in 2027, and I’m still working toward it.

I am proud of how far I have come, and I am proud of the effort it has taken to get here. That includes the hours spent training on my own in front of a camera during COVID. Those sessions are part of my achievement, too.

I wouldn’t tell someone that determination makes every challenge possible or easy. We each have different abilities, circumstances, and support. But I would encourage them to give themselves a chance to try. Ask questions. Find people who can help. Be willing to learn what works for you.

In the spring of 2017, I made a decision. I couldn’t know everything it would take.

Today, I’m glad I started.