A feeling of a college student when

he is learning and instucting Taiji Quan

Taiji Quan is a very important part of my life. Since the age of fifteen, I have been practicing and studying this ancient martial art form.

I have practiced many individual movements including all of their sequences and studied its histories evolution to present day. Beyond practicing, I have started to lead the beginner classes for the past year.

My ability to lead a class has been one of my most cherished accomplishments. Moreover, my progress as a student instructor has influenced who I am as a practitioner, a leader, and as a college student.

I have gained a greater mental focus, discipline, and health awarenessfrom the years and effort I have dedicated to Taiji Quan. Sharing those benefits with others gives me a sense of pride and triumph.

For example, when one of the students is struggling due to injury, it gives me pleasure to inform them and instruct them with different exercises geared towards helping the student regain mobility.

Similarly, when a student completes an entire sequence correctly, I feel I have helped pass on a gift that they will value for the rest of their life. Practicing and teaching Taiji Quan's benefits allows me to share my passion for this art form, by helping others experience the same satisfaction I have gained through its practice.

Although I have been practicing Taiji Quan for many years, leading a class has made me a better practitioner of the art. Leading and instructing a class has helped me to refine my own technique and improve my communication skills.

When leading a class, I must impart the same principles to students who have various learning styles and skill levels. In so doing, I am forced to sharpen my skills and keep my presentation flexible and adaptable.

Teaching Taiji Quan has been a particularly transformative experience for me not only as a practitioner, but also as a college student. Despite an unsuccessful semester of a mixture of classes and thirty plus hours of a paying job, while volunteering last fall, it was my teaching that sparked a change in my life.

Teaching Taiji Quan helped me maintain a balance, while increasing my focus and enthusiasm for my studies. As I became more efficient, I was able to maintain my work schedule and increase my class load to 20 units and gain a 3.8 GPA. Now, I feel I am able to better apply myself in school, have an unsurpassed determination, all while feeling calm and balanced. Lastly, leading classes has improved me as a practitioner, allowing me to be a superior leader and a better student.