Faust's USA Karate

Dear Sensei~

I wanted to share with you some observations about my middle son. My son was born with an attitude. He had a chip on his shoulder the size of Texas and he was firm about whom and what he liked, and whom or what he did not. (And in his earlier years, he disliked a heck of a lot more than he liked.) He didn’t sleep through the night until he was 14 months old, and his temper tantrums made the Tasmanian devil look like a kitten. He disliked being read to, preferring to hop about the room playing Power Rangers (his passion) rather than look at the books. If he was in time out, I had to hold the door shut as he kicked and screamed on the other side.

Having a September birthday, we chose to have my son start Kindergarten when he was almost 6, feeling the need to give him a year of maturity before he took the plunge. It was a good decision. My wild child was a quiet, reserved perfectionist in school. He was blessed with some of the best teachers Fairport schools had to offer and he excelled, quietly. At conferences, I always thought they were talking about the wrong kid. (He can read? Hmmm, I guess he listened as he danced around! He helps another student get her snowsuit on every day? Really?! ) It was about this time that he went to an event at USA Karate and met… who else, but Tommy the White Power Ranger. Although he could not be convinced to join the dojo for classes, a fascination with karate was born. At that point, he could not be convinced to join ANYTHING…and we tried it all: soccer, t-ball, swimming, summer camps…But Connor has always chosen his own path, even in not choosing one! When he was ready, in 4th grade, He asked to take karate. The rest is history. Suddenly he had a channel for his energy, a direction for his need for order. You took my shy, quiet child and showed him just what he could do with perseverance, focus and practice. He excelled. He learned those katas, he worked to be better, quicker, more agile. All of those qualities lurking inside this boy began to surface and he started to look outward, show some confidence, take more risks. And so it continues. He does this because HE wants to. I don’t mean that in a selfish way. Although he knows we are proud of him, he doesn’t do things to please us. He sets his own goals, and has high expectations of himself. This has helped him tremendously in choosing friends. He has chosen friends who live healthy life styles. He can proudly and honestly say that he is not interested in drugs and alcohol. He is a member of the Principal’s cabinet at FHS, and an assets team member. He can stand by a football team, and be a TEAM player, even when the team was not faring well and he watched somewhat helplessly from the sidelines. He can be coached by a tyrannical youth lacrosse coach who screamed rather than coached and still get on the field and show his stuff, which is good stuff!

He is great student, athlete, friend, son, brother, and team member. He is a first degree black belt!! He is sincere, honest, hard working, focused and humorous. (Ok, so house chores…not so much!) He is learning the importance of giving back and paying forward. We are proud of this boy and we thank you for all you have given him. Your belief in him and your willingness to draw out these qualities will serve him well throughout his life. Thank you, Sensei.



Sincerely,





Lori, Parent & Elementary teacher