October 25, 2014
Dreyfoos sophomore Jillian Wrieden has broken the glass cieling with her taekwondo skills after applying them to win first place in her division for sparring and form in a karate tournament.
“It was very intimidating at first. I walked in and saw the different teams and saw them practicing ,” Wrieden said. “I was not really familiar with karate since I stopped at a young age.”
Wrieden, who transitioned to taekwondo in February of last year, practiced karate as a child.
“I did karate when I was younger but I did not enjoy it. I think it was just because I was little and you know parents want you do this and that but I just did not want to do it,” Wrieden said.
Taekwondo has helped Wrieden in multiple ways and has helped her in her everyday life.
“I have a lot more perseverance not just in taekwondo but just in school and school work,” Wrieden said.
Wrieden also looks to the challenge of learning taekwondo as a way to fulfill the application requirements for the Congressional Award, which rewards 13-23 year-olds who can demonstrate meeting a significant series of goals. Wrieden is now a green belt and she only started almost two years ago and has made real progress.
“I am currently a green belt but I really want to get as high in rank I can. I at least want to make it to a first degree black belt,” Wrieden said.
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