In school, my teacher, Baba Marcus has taught me to think critically about questions. My Sensei has taught me to embrace pain as well as protect myself. My friends have shared various tips and tricks on how to play certain games, such as Valorant or Roblox. These experiences have taught me valuable insights about my own personality. Before we start, I want to talk about why I picked these topics. I have attended private school for around 12 years, and I have learned a lot regarding math, science, and anatomy. Martial arts is something I have also been doing my whole life. Though I have taken multiple breaks from it, it always finds a way to return to my life. Finally, gaming with my friends allows me to have fun playing against other people competitively. This paper gives a glimpse into who I am and how school, martial arts, and gaming have influenced my personality. 

 

School has taught me how to speak and learn in everyday experiences. In my interactions with people, I have realized that articulating thoughts and feelings is important in conversation. For example, when asked my opinion on “The Guest,” a book by Albert Camus, which revolves around Daru, a polite schoolmaster who, when given a task to take a criminal to prison, ultimately gives the criminal a choice to either turn his life around or serve time in prison. My lessons in school have taught me to form my own thoughts and feelings regarding humanity and to express what I have read in ways that others can understand. When I express myself, I make sure to practice vocabulary I have learned from school. My teacher Baba Marcus introduced me to SAT practice words at the young age of four, so naturally I speak with complex words and I think critically. I don't spend all of my time at school working; I also talk to my friends, and we play games on the weekend.

 

Lions Paw Dojo has taught me how to be a better fighter. I practice for tournaments, self-defense, and overall body mechanics. I loved participating in tournaments. It is a great way to show my skill and how I measure up against other fighters. Self-defense is one of the most invaluable lessons I have learned at my dojo. The ability to protect myself from someone trying to be violent or disturbing towards me keeps me out of harm's way. Additionally, the overall body mechanics of martial arts can lead to better command over movement not only in activities such as fighting but also in simple things such as walking, running, and surprisingly gaming.

 

Gaming has influenced me in a way similar to martial arts. The competitive part of a game is the most fun to me. I challenge my friends all the time to see who is the better fighter at a game. Aside from competition, there is a lot of entertainment and adaptability in gaming. You must keep adapting to new updates and changes throughout the game. Different games help me train my thought process on a myriad of subjects. Strategy games allow me to think about prediction and calculating odds. Fighting games improve my bravery and teamwork skills with other people; it shows me when to be patient and when to take charge in an activity. Player vs. player games improve my hand-eye coordination. This allows me to catch something one of my friends throws at me and teaches me how to type faster.

 

To conclude, I am thankful for my teacher, Baba Marcus, for teaching me how to think critically about questions. My sensei’s for teaching me how to embrace pain and never give up. Lastly, my friends have taught me the importance of being a team player. These activities influence who I am and my personality.