*Spoiler Alert*

Summer has made itself apparent lately in the presence of blockbuster movie releases and the absence of a lot of students from class.  With so much going on, quite a few people seem to have let Taekwondo slide to the back of their mind and list of priorities.  So, let’s bring it to the forefront again with a topic that’s on everyones’ tongues: Harry Potter.

When thinking about Harry’s struggle through seven long years, and progressively longer books, one word comes to mind that sums up the entire story from start to finish.  No, not magic. Perseverance.  It’s a little word that you hear about at the start of class and can even read on the wall here at the Taekwondo school, but most students don’t give it a whole lot of thought.  The truth is, if most people knew how hard it was to reach the rank of black belt they would quit after their first class.  If you really wanted to you could order a black belt online or perform an “Accio Black Belt” spell if you happen to be more magically inclined.  So, why log over 200 classes, take a risk getting hurt sparring, learn all those forms, or struggle learning to break wood?

As Mr. Lacy says, what we do isn’t easy and if it was it wouldn’t mean nearly as much.  After all, a black belt is just a piece of cloth with some gold thread in it.  It is the memories and hard work that goes into EARNING that belt that makes it so special.  Perseverance, continuing to strive for your goal even when things are tough, is what separates black belts from all the other Taekwondo students in the world.

Think of all the obstacles Harry Potter, and even his parents, faced along the way.  If Harry’s parents had given up they may have been alive to watch him grow up; of course, they may have also been killed anyway and they wouldn’t have instilled the importance of integrity and perseverance in young Harry, nor would Harry’s mother’s love have protected him.

If Harry had given up his dreams of attending Hogwarts when his aunt and uncle tried to keep him out then he may have managed to stay out of danger; but, he may have also just made himself an easier, unskilled target for Voldemort to track down.

If Harry had chosen to be friends with Draco Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, rather than Ron and Hermoine he could have saved himself a lot of tormenting and grief throughout his years at Hogwarts; however, he would have compromised his integrity, been more vulnerable to the forces of evil, and never been as great of a wizard.  After all, Voldemort wouldn’t have wanted to have a rival in power.

Surely Harry had an excuse to give up when he lost his beloved Sirius, or when Dumbledore was killed, or at any number of points within the story, but he never does.  Harry begins the story with a set goal and while the goal does change a little bit along the way he always has a new goal in mind to keep himself motivated and working towards his desired end result.

Taekwondo is no different.  Everyone has a goal when they start out, but setbacks along the way often discourage students and lead to them giving up; or, they set a short-term goal and once it’s achieved they forget to set a new one.  It’s important to have both long and short-term goals to keep yourself motivated and make sure, like Harry, you persevere in the face of the obstacles you are sure to face along the way.  Whether that means coming up with new goals, getting extra help outside of class, or just finding ways to stay positive we’re here to help.  It was once estimated that of the people who start any martial art, less than 5% actually ever achieve the rank of black belt.  As long as you don’t quit, we won’t quit on you.  Take the time today to set a few new goals, persevere, and keep aspiring to perspire.