Tonight was testing night at the dojang. As a group, Masters Knight and Foster were both happy with everyone's progress, but there was one young man who stood out. He was initially told by both of them that he wasn't ready to test, but he wouldn't take no for an answer. He was determined to test. He put in the extra work he needed to, so much so that Master Foster recognized him to the parents and students after testing was over. Listening to Master Foster talk about this young man reminded me of a quote I read by Calvin Coolidge a few years ago that has always stuck with me. It concerns the importance of persistence. You can google the quote if you aren't familiar with it, but, in a nutshell, he says, "Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." He probably doesn't know it (he's probably somewhere around 10 years old), but that young man is what this quote is all about.