Edward Soto

I joined the Texas Taekwondo club at the Austin Friendship games where I ran the computers during the sparring matches held. The Austin Friendship games was an event where many people gathered to showcase the taekwondo art form by displaying their form (choreographed movements similar to a dance). Other taekwondo fighters gathered to spar for competition and exhibition matches. I ran the computers that tallied the scores during the sparring matches. I doled out the foul points for ring outs and other foul moves. I was helped by the referee who ran the mat i was scoring at and was very friendly. I joined and practice with the Texas Taekwondo club in the fall of 2015 and have enjoyed every minute of my experience in this organization. To be given the chance to score their matches at an event like this in a big arena was very educational and entertaining.

The event was held in the TIP office but was eventually split into two rooms; one for group entertainment and the other for the packing of materials. We all gathered together and made an assembly line of items to be packed and sent off to a local homeless shelter. I found this task to be highly rewarding. Knowing that all of these items were going to someone in need before the winter time really kicks in and gets worse gave my efforts meaning. I was glad to be apart of such an effort.

It was very interesting to be surrounded by the ULN class of 2017 and 2018. I saw familiar faces and plenty of new faces. Everyone seemed in good spirits as they snacked on the delicious cookies provided by the Leadership program. We were afforded the opportunity to learn about the Iron Rakkason division of soldiers who are in Afghanistan fighting for our freedom. I wrote two full page letters expressing my gratitude to the men and women in this division. It felt very gratifying to do such a thing as I began reflecting on the simple luxuries in life that i take for granted. I thought about how there are many more people who do not know me at all and are yet still fighting to maintain the freedom in our country that I and so many others enjoy.