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My name is Alicia Parascondo. I'm a third degree black belt. In the studio, I'm called
Miss Parascondo because we call our black belts by titles, Miss or Mr. I started training
with Master Dillow in 2006. A couple years after that, I went up through the ranks with
him and I earned my first degree black belt. Me and my brother, actually. I started with
my brother. And we went up until third degree black belt together. So we've been training
together for a long time. But when I first started, Master Dillow always -- he makes
fun of me, because I had my hair in front of my face. I was never a really confident
person. He always makes fun of me that I would flip my hair a lot when I did my form.
So I started in a basic program, Leadership Basic, and Master Dillow, maybe for like six
months to a year, was badgering me, "You need to do Leadership. You need to do Leadership."
So I finally did Leadership, and then it took him about six more months, "You need to be
an instructor. You need to be an instructor, you need to be an instructor," and I told
him no, I didn't want to do it.
Finally, he got me into the instructors program, about the time I got my first degree black
belt, and that is when I started becoming the person I am today. I got a lot more confident
just because of the position I was put in. I went through a lot of training to be able
to talk to people confidently, to be able to be out in front of a class and to lead
positively. So that's definitely been one of the best choices I've ever made in my life.
My favorite thing about Tae Kwon Do are the forms. I think they're very unique from any
other style of martial that I've seen before. I like that we also have a form for each different
rank going up through the belts. I've done all the forms going up through the belts,
so it's given me a lot of variety because I've always been a really quick learner. And
I like the way that they all flow. I really like the Songahm style of Tae Kwon Do.
I just love seeing people learn. I'm actually studying Elementary Education in college right
now, so obviously Tae Kwon Do has had a big impact on why I chose that field of study.
I love working with kids. I think being able to help them develop and grow, it makes me
feel so good about myself. I have a personal relationship with every single one of these
students, and every time I can help another kid achieve their goal of a next rank or earning
their black belt, it just makes me feel so great about myself and the whole program that
we teach here.
I would invite anyone who's on the fence about taking lessons or on the fence about having
their child taking any kind of lessons to come in, try out a class, and really see what
this program is about, because you'll get into this for the martial arts and you'll
stay in because of the relationships that you build. I myself, I didn't start because
I wanted to; I started with my brother, because I wanted to be a part of something that he
was doing too. Through that, I have grown so much. I've met so many people, and I've
really found something that I have a passion for and something that I'll want to continue
doing for the rest of my life. So it's the best investment you could make. I encourage
you to come in, train with me, and see all of the great things that we're doing.