Raining in October
I awoke that morning feeling the same way I always had--just another day of school. It was raining in Longview just like it always did. As I walked to school I tried to forget about the tragedy I would soon face just as I had for the past two years. I had become numb. Everything seemed the same. Life had to be the same; it hurt too much to let feeling in.
School was the same; it was a new year, and I had a new resolution to be a diligent student. That night as I was doing my homework the rain continued to pour down. The sound of the rain was a constant vibration that reminded me of the numbness I felt. While in the living room my mother lie in a hospital bed not far from my reach. Suddenly, I heard a car door slam and footsteps sloshing through the puddles to the door. It was my father. As he came in the door I could see a loss of hope in his eyes. He had been so tired the past few months. I think he hurt just as much as my mother did.
Before he even put his things away he called us to the dining room for a family meeting. My brother, sister and I gathered around the dining room table as my father closed the wooden curtains that would separate my mother and us. He walked to the head of the table with that same loss of hope in his eyes and, looking at each of us, said, “The doctor told me there is nothing more we can do. She should die in about two weeks…”
I remember thinking, “Can she hear us? What is she feeling? Why is this happening?”
He continued, “Do we want her to die at the hospital or at home?”
At that point it was a no brainer for me; my brother, sister and I all took a quick glance into each others eyes and simultaneously said, “At home.” That was it; it was decided. My mother would die. Not only would she die, but also she would die at home.
The weeks passed by so quickly, and with every day I wondered when it would happen. She had been suffering for so long now, I just wanted her to be healed. I pushed all the feelings away that a grieving child should have; I was numb. My principle at school noticed that I had changed, and she called me into her office to try and console me. As my principle spoke to me all I heard was a hum in the background, and my mind just kept thinking, “Would she die today? How can this be? Could she miraculously be healed?”
Then I heard a woman at the desk in the front of the office asking for me; as I went out to see who it was I had a gut feeling that my mother would soon die. I was right. The woman asking for me was Mrs. Green, a woman from our church. The first thing that came out of my mouth, even before hello, was, “Is she dead?”
Mrs. Green looked at me to respond carefully and said, “No, not yet. Soon.”
My heart sank. I was scared. I left school that day knowing the next time I entered those halls my life would be different. No more would I wonder when she would die, no more would I hope that she could be healed, I would no longer have an excuse for not listening to my teacher in class. The biggest change of all, though, was that I would not have a mother.
Driving home that day was the longest drive of my life. I kept wondering if she would die before I would even arrive home, I missed her already. I missed her smile, her hugs, and her Christmas cookies. I missed the way she loved me and the way she called my name.
Though I miss my mother dearly, I have learned so much since that day. Even though my mother is not here on this earth I still see her smile, and I still feel her presence with me all the time. I know she is proud of me and that she can see my potential. That rainy day in October changed my life forever.
The Highest Form of Dedication
REXBURG, Idaho— What would life be like to wake up, go to school, do homework, and then practice, practice, practice, wake up the next day just to do it all over again?
Trason Lamb, student at BYU-Idaho, said, “It just feels normal. I admit some mornings it’s hard to wake up because I’m so sore, but it’s normal.”
For Trason he has a goal in mind, he wishes to compete at the Tae Kwon Do U.S. Open in 2010. To accomplish his goal he must work harder then he ever has before. Trason has dedication, discipline, and what it takes to achieve this goal.
Tae Kwon Do is an interesting sport that requires much dedication and determination. This sport takes much time and patience, but is well worth the effort because of the principles it teaches.
“To be great at this sport you must be willing to allow yourself to dedicate your life and heart to it,” Benjamin Hupe said. Benjamin Hupe has been a Tae Kwon Do addict for 15 years, and has achieved the highest degree of the black belt. He has gone from a student to an instructor, and he knows what it takes to become great.
There are several levels in Tae Kwon Do. Those levels are expressed in belt colors. The order is: White, being the lowest level, Yellow, Orange, Green, Purple, Blue, Brown, Red, and Black, being the highest with eight degrees within the color.
Trason is a first degree black belt. In August of this year he will go to Master Augustine, his instructor, to be tested to become a second degree black belt.
At first glance Trason seems to be just another student, some typical preppy boy from Oregon.
One might think he is shy but arrogant. At one look you would see he takes pride in his appearance with his hair styled perfectly in a faux-hawk, and the front of his pink collared polo tucked neatly into his stylish jeans as if to show off the belt buckle.
Based on appearances alone would you think that this boy had a mystery about him? Would you think that he had a hidden desire that he would accomplish? Would you think he had the dedication and power it would take to make it to the Tae Kwon Do U.S. Open in 2010?
Trason Lamb attends Brigham Young University-Idaho as a junior. BYU-Idaho is a private school that requires every student to live by certain standards. By even going to this school you sign a contract stating that you will live by your honor.
The core principles of the university add to the core principles of Tae Kwon Do.
Among many things this sport has taught him he carries the “5 Tenets of Tae Kwon Do” with him wherever he goes so that he may remember what he stands for.
As Trason pulled out his cell phone, to reveal these “5 Tenets”, he said, “The “5 Tenets of Tae Kwon Do” are first, courtesy, second, integrity, third, honor, fourth, perseverance, and fifth, indomitable spirit.”
Trason appreciates these principles in his life. Not only has Trason enjoyed practicing Tae Kwon Do, but also he has learned how to integrate the “5 Tenets” in his own life.
Trason said, “I noticed a change in myself when I started Tae Kwon Do. Before I started this sport I was hard to control, but because I learned about these “5 Tenets” I was able to control myself. It also made it a lot easier for my parents to control me too.”
Trason grew up with a loving family in Oregon, where he was home schooled. As part of the home schooling process his mother decided that each child should pick at least one athletic activity to be involved with to meet and interact with other children.
“My sister picked gymnastics, but I wanted to do something manly,” Trason said.
At age ten Trason started his Tae Kwon Do experience. He smirked as he said, “As a kid I just did it to do it. Now that I’m older I appreciate all aspects of the sport.”
When Trason is at home with his family he has a team that he practices with, but since he is at school 7 months out of the year, he has to practice by himself.
There are many aspects in the sport of Tae Kwon Do including: sparing, forms and attack and defense. This leaves much to practice for each day. Within each aspect of Tae Kwon Do there are different styles. Trason prefers the Olympic style.
“It’s more about the art and control of sparing rather than the fight,” Trason said, concerning his love for the Olympic style of the sport.
A typical day for Trason would be waking up in the morning, going to school, coming home, accomplishing homework, working, and then from 7:00 p.m. until about 11:00 p.m. he trains.
He has a strict regimen of diet and exercise. The first hour of training is dedicated to strength and aerobic building, he runs a few miles then builds muscles and strength. At about 9 p.m. every day he then strictly practices Tae Kwon Do until about 11 that evening. This strict schedule shows much diligence on Trason’s part. This control that Trason has learned has aided in his quest to the Tae Kwon Do U.S. Open, where he will compete against national teams across the world. He is very motivated and diligent in his practice.
“Tae Kwon Do consumes my life right now. I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Trason said concerning his schedule, “Just getting to the competition is good enough for me.”
The Tae Kwon Do U.S. Open is a tough competition. The National Teams involved in the competition have mostly been practicing Tae Kwon Do for several years and have a discipline that cannot be measured to anything else.
Alexis Burris, a Tae Kwon Do expert of two and a half years, said, “It’s hard to get that far in Tae Kwon Do and not love it.”
Alexis has enjoyed Tae Kwon Do since her family first started and her passion for the sport is what pushed her to become an instructor a year after she first was introduced to the sport. Alexis expressed that you must have ‘passion’ to get any where in the sport. Alexis said that if you want to make it to the Tae Kwon Do U.S. open you must have ‘determination and desire to stick with it.’
Benjamin and Alexis both agreed that Tae Kwon Do really helped them find out who they were and what they wanted out of life.
“It gave me confidence, it helped me come out of my shell,” Alexis said.
“When I first became an instructor my mom was very ill with cancer. She actually passed away from cancer while I was teaching one night. This sport became a way for me to overcome the pain of my mothers death. I was really quiet and Tae Kwon Do helped me let all of that baggage go and become myself,” Benjamin said.
Tae Kwon Do is a great sport that teaches self-discipline, determination, patience, and what it means to never give up.
Alexis said, “To make it as a Tae Kwon Do U.S. Open Competitor it will take “a lot of time and practice.” Competitions are intense. It takes a lot of pain.”
Benjamin and Alexis both have a passion for Tae Kwon Do. They both agreed that after a good practice every muscle hurts and sometimes its hard to get up the next morning, but if you have a passion and a drive for the sport it can be overcome.
Through lots of hard work and determination any one can become a Tae Kwon Do addict. “The passion and life lessons gained as a Tae Kwon Do addict has benefitted my life forever. I am ever grateful to the sport for what it has taught me and what it will continue to teach me,” Benjamin said.
Trason Lamb feels the same way about the sport, which is why he is working so hard to get to the Tae Kwon Do U.S. Open. For Trason Lamb getting to the Tae Kwon Do U.S. Open means that he can do anything he puts his mind to.
Trason Lamb is ready and willing to prove to himself that he can be dedicated and accomplish any thing. What are you ready to do?
