Wyoming Women in Taekwon-Do -- Colleen Thompson

      Colleen, a delightful young lady, is currently a full time student at the University of Wyoming.  While majoring in French and Animal Veterinary Sciences, she's juggling a school schedule totalling 17 credit hours this semester, along with working at Wal-Mart and the State Vet Lab.  She says her classes are 'horrendously boring' this semester, with the exception of organic chemistry, which she does like!  A multi-talented young lady, she enjoys reading, history, drawing, playing the flute, and almost anything to do with being outside and in the mountains.  In her spare time, she also participates in a bible study group and community band this semester.  As she puts it, "Band is an incredible challenge because I just started learning to play the flute last summer, but, as well all know, perseverance is the key.  And practice, of course, lots of practice!"  She has three siblings, two brothers and a sister.  Joel, her younger brother, is a second Dan, and is attending college at Princeton.  Her older brother is a police officer in Cheyenne, while her older sister is a 4th grade teacher in Las Vegas.  Of course, we all know who her father is -- Mr. Bob Thompson, a third Dan from Sheridan.  Quite an outstanding family group!
      As Colleen is very articulate, I'll let her continue her story from here . . .
      "Well, I originally got involved in Taekwon-Do through my dad and brother.  Joel joined, and since my dad was taking him three nights a week to class, and then sitting through class, he decided, like many tkd moms and dads, to join.  It took some two years of encouragement and prodding, but they convinced me to sign up for just one session, and I’ve been in ever since.   That was almost ten years ago!
      "Having been in Taekwon-Do since elementary school, it’s hard to really note the changes.  However, I did notice some pretty big differences between me and other kids, namely the amount of time I spent in class or in Casper for different occasions.  Coming to college here in Laramie was quite a shock, since the club here only meets twice a week.  For the first time in years I had nothing to do on Friday nights and it took me nearly a semester to get used to the idea.  My first semester here, I confused one of our new white belts when I told her I would get the information to her on Wednesday.  For those people who meet on MWF, the first tkd class of the week means it’s Monday, and since it was the first class of the week . . .
      "Getting my black belt was one of my goals early on, though I vividly remember when I was a white belt some years ago working on the four directional block.  I was very excited that first time I made it all the way through with the proper crosses for the blocks.  As for future goals, I would absolutely love to attend an ITF school when I study abroad next year, and of course, hopefully test for second Dan before I leave.
      "What makes Taekwon-Do fun for me. . . I like working out, and I love patterns.  I like how it not only works the body, but the mind too, and the history of Taekwon-Do and how it’s worked into this martial art amazes me.  On a bigger scale, the people in Taekwon-Do are simply awesome.  When I talk about Taekwon-Do and my Taekwon-Do family, I really mean family.  I’ve never come across a nicer, more genuine bunch.  All in all, I just love it.  I really couldn’t imagine how life would be without it."

Miss Colleen Thompson

2nd Dan