I started training in tae kwon do (跆拳道) by accident. But in the first class, I learned something exciting—how to 1 someone grabbing your arm. I loved it, so I kept practicing and earning higher ranks.

At every rank, I found something 2, whether it was the kicks in the air or the increasingly complex patterns. But over time, "I can't"3"How can I?" which then became "How will I?"

One day, I showed up to class and students were 4 wooden boards. I was convinced that they were all crazy and "I can't" voice yelled again.

I watched, in 5 as student after student walked up to solid pieces of wood and broke them with their hands or their feet. When I was given the opportunity to 6 I chickened out. But my 7 were extremely patient. They invited me to work individually with them. I refused their first and second offer, but 8, I agreed to try.

They told me that board breaking was more a mental 9 than a physical one and taught me how to line up to break that board. And the first time I went to 10 it, I was so afraid that I missed and accidentally kicked the board holder's fingers. I felt 11 but he encouraged me to try again. I told that doubting voice in my 12 to "shut up!"

I focused on the 13. I thought about how much I had improved and how I had surprised myself. I told myself I 14 to believe that I was able to do amazing things. And then—suddenly that board looked a lot less 15. I kicked with everything I had and it worked.