BRYAN McCULLOCH

Rank: Advanced 5th Degree Instructor Level: Purple Started Taekwondo in: 2004 Favorite Book: The Ranger’s Apprentice Series Favorite Movie: “Last Samurai” Favorite Color: Blue Favorite Ice Cream: Mint Chocolate Chip The reason I started Taekwondo is a simple one, my name. My parents have owned a Taekwondo school since before I was born and so when I turned 4, I was more than ready to join. Being involved as both a student and an instructor at Taekwondo has changed my entire perspective on being a student and learner in life. As a student, I have an engrained confidence that has me believing I am able to do anything that I put my time and effort into. Being comfortable with my fine and gross motor skills and memory has given me that confidence. I understand what I am capable of and it provides me with the understanding and the know how to improve on the areas that I struggle in. That applies to everything not just Taekwondo. It helped me enormously from football to academics. I have developed a sense of understating on how to set and achieve goals that I learned from our curriculum. The curriculum that we have is tough, and it gives confidence in the moment that you succeed but also long-lasting self-confidence knowing you are able to achieve your goals. Being an instructor has been the best thing that could have happened to me. Before I had one perspective at going at problems that I faced. I was very one sided with my problem solving and I would get very frustrated at myself and the problem I had. I would just be stuck and think I just could not do it. Once I became an instructor, I began to not only understand that everyone had a different perspective at learning, but I also developed a strong understanding of myself. I could not only understand what I need to know, but also how to change my thinking. I developed the ability to change my perspective to help others understand what I already do. The knowledge I have gained being an instructor has changed my life. Before I would be happy when I learned or achieved something but being an instructor has shown me that teaching someone and having them also understand the knowledge that I know doesn’t even come close to how fulfilling learning it myself was. I do not know what kind of person I would be today without being an instructor here, it has helped me develop my leadership and organization skills tremendously and most importantly my patience and social skills.