Spring 2026 Black Belt Cycle

Candidate Journals

King Tiger Tae Kwon Do Black Belt candidates blog daily about their journey: their thoughts and feelings, their struggles and successes; their pain and their encouragement. Follow along on their journey; words of encouragement are always welcome!

Sep 8 day #36

Today was pretty good. I woke up, got ready for school. After school I went to my grandmas house, then my dad picked me up. We went to taekwondo, and I helped with a shin kickers class, and then I did another white-yellow belt class and I did my white belt challenge which went good. Then I went home and had a delicious dinner.

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Entry 26

Today I ran one mile without taking any breaks! I am so exhausted. I will be helping out with the lower belt class and will do a mentee and mentor session. My number one word of the day: TIRED. 

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Movie Night

Tonight was the first of many movie nights with some people at the Chinese House. I watched Marry My Dead Body, a Taiwanese comedy, and it was pretty good! I sort of miss the movie nights I had last year with people I used to hang out with, but I am recreating that here! Anyway, I did a zoom mentor session and it went well. Between Friday and yesterday's training sessions, I'm pretty sore, as I found while doing some workouts.

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Entry 25

September 7 - Entry # 25 Today I woke up and ate breakfast, then knocked out some requirements. I played video games with my friends. Hung around the house with my family a lot today too. Just got out of the shower, now im playing with my dogs for a few minutes before bed. Today was our only day "off" from everything so that was nice. Back to school and class tomorrow. 

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9/7

Today was a pretty packed day when I woke up I had to go to hockey practice for the preseason. Then once I got back home from hockey practice, I had A thing for Boy Scouts anyway now I’m about to go to sleep

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Sunday

Today I woke up and went to church then I went to run and I chilled and then I went to my confirmation class at youth and then played kickball at youth group then I went home and ate pizza. Goodnight.

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good day

Today was pretty good. I was mostly finishing up homework due this week because we had a lot of things assigned to do over the weekend. I did my requirements and got a good run in. Lately I havent been able to run that long without coughing because I'm a little sick. Everyones getting sick lately, its just that time of the year i guess. Anyways today i was able to run without coughing too much so that was good. I played volleyball with my friends but it was a little cold. After that I just came home, showered, ate dinner, and finished some more homework. The workload for school is getting higher and im going to have to stop procrastinating things. Anyways thats it, byeee

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9/7

today was mine and parkers show, we sounded really good and had a great turnout. im not excited for school tomorrow but ill live. did requirements and headed to bed.

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9/7

Got in a great study session for the written exam today, as well as a great run. After my run I took a nap and finished up some requirements, watched some tv before bed and got some journaling done also.

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Weekend

This weekend was semi relaxing. Yesterday we went to blackbelt class, had a mentor and mentee session. Then today we went to Carowinds and watched the Ravens game this evening. I've been getting up and doing 3:15am Amazon shifts the past few days, and I have another one tomorrow, so I'm going to bed now.

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9/7

Today was a fun day, first I went to Sunday school and that was pretty fun. Then, I went to Carowinds with my friend for a majority of the day, then I came home and did homework and went out to watch football (Go Ravens!) and that’s it for the day.

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9/7/2025

The thing about the cycle is that it has 4 weeks left. If you want to catch up you need to be better. On an unrelated note I am happy that soon I don't have to stay up late & wake up so early & I get to "Rank up" as I belive the children are saying nowadays.

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#57.

Today I watched football with my friends and my family and my dad grilled a lot of steaks, hamburgers hotdogs chicken and fried chicken.

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9/7 Curtis Journal

Sunday, nothing exciting today I can’t believe this is week 9! I’m hoping to catch up on my mentor/mentee sessions and finish a few essays, I’m feeling good about everything else!

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9/7

Today was my rest day! I had to get up early to go to a meeting for an organization I’m part of. I carpooled with a family friend and we had to go to a housewarming function right after so that’s where we went. My mom and sister came there too later on. We were there for some time and we had lunch there. After I finally went home after a long morning. I was chilling mostly, took a shower, played with my dog, ate and did some homework. Thats been my day.

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9/7 #43

Today I woke up and I started to plant my seedlings and water them, soon after I went to walmart with my dad to go look at and buy halloween decor. Later I had to go to my moms house, but before we did I had to run 2 miles which was "fun". Then I got home and did my requirements and cleans my room. But bye yall.

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Day #45 9/7

Today I did a lot of homework and worked on some of my essays. I went for a run with my dog and did my other requirements. I cleaned my room and did some laundry. I watched a movie and am gonna go to bed. 

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9/7

Another exhausting day on cycle 😅😐🙁☹️😟😫 aaanyway we really had a couple of smaller things today it was Sunday so I got to play Minecraft for longer than I usually do mostly played on servers and then I went to Mass and came home and to my surprise the Panthers were on 🏈🏈🏈 which I did not know that the official season started but anyway the other big-ish thing was that after dinner I had to run to Carter's house Carter's my friend and bring a grill back that we had gotten for free which is a little nice since I got a little running time in as well it wasn't much but it was still kind of nice anyway that's basically it bye

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9/7/25

Today was a pretty good day. I slept in and did my requirements. I watched some football, and I also played some video games with my brother. Tomorrow, I have to wake up early for school which I am not excited for. But I have to get ready for bed so I'm ending this post. Goodnight!

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Sept 7

Today was a good standard Sunday. We went to mass this morning and then I spent the afternoon working on stuff for our first Monday Feast day tomorrow!

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9/7/25

Today was a normal day. First I woke up and had my math class. Then I walked a mile and did some work. After that I read a book for some time and then had a mentee session at her house. Finally I went outside and played volleyball with my friends.

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Journal Entry #44 9/6/25

Yesterday was Friday. I played the new season of siege. With Avery. And we lost badly. We lost all the games we played so far. And Avery keeps on using the new operator. But the thing is it's near impossible to put all his abilities down before the round starts. So he takes so long then he just gets killed. And Avery just keeps using him round after round. And hopefully today if he finally gets home we can win a match.

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#49

Today I got to sleep in a little and it was so nice. I walked the dog with my mom and did my homework. Then I did my requirements and worked on an essay. I did my run while watching Wednesday.

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September 7

Today I woke up went on a run and I was so happy because I ran a 6:20 minute mile then I hung out with some friends that’s all. Nighttt!

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8/7

i wrote a couple of essays today, im almost done with all them. i did some requirements and got some cool food today. i forgot a journal yesterday too

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Hi

So today was simple I went to poomsae class then I went home and played with my friends . Then I ate dinner  then I played games with my siblings. Bye-bye.

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Fun

Hello today I woke up and went to poomsae class we use these shaker things then I went to  Starbucks then we went home and played with my friends then played roblox well that was all byyyy.

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Football is back!

Today I did absolutely nothing. I went to church and rushed back home to catch the 1pm games. Anyone who knows me , knows I am a football fanatic. I am talking four game on the screen at a time and glued to the couch. Today I did not get any requirements completed because I was so fired up about football. I am ok with this , because I have pushed so much for the last about four weeks to do extra so incase I get sick or something happens  I will be ok. I will get back on things tomorrow. 

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9/6/2025

Today is my last practice for band. I am really nervous because I will be singing in front of a lot of people. 

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9/7

today was very busy In the morning but this afternoon I got all my exercises done and then I did my poomse self-defense and kicks. that's all have a good night.

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9/7 #17

Today I woke up and played with my cousin I did some requirements and work on a challenge so far I’m having a very good day and I started playing with my cousin again 

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09/70/25

Today I did some requirements then watched a Bengals game they won. I came home and did 2 miles. And now I am going outside to play with my friends.

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9.6.2025

My day was good. I woke up feeling a little bit sluggish and then I did my exercises. I then went on a two  hour road trip to a wedding. Because my cosuin was getting married  The food there was great. The wedding was fun (My cousin his name is forest and the girl he was getting married to  was named Mariah. I had a fun time there and then we got home around 11pm    

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9/7

Relatively boing day. I just got my mile done in under 13 minutes, that's all.

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September 6

I forgot to journal last night so I’m doing now I woke up finished a lot of essay and that it night!

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9/6/25

Today was a normal day. First I woke up and went to taekwondo. I took sparring did a mentee session and helped out with the junior tigers and the family class. Then I came home and changed and I went to dance class. After that I came back home and read a book and watched tv. Finally I went outside and played volleyball with my friends.

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9/6

Today was a pretty good day. I went to the Whitewater center with my friends after I went to my black belt class. I’m about to go to sleep now.

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September 6th

Got in a good run this morning before black belt class. We worked a alot on fixing hapkido 1-3, and reviewed some forms. Finished working through my requirements by 3:00 so I took some time to sleep and relax before the end of the day.

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9/6

Today I had black belt class in the morning and it was just normal then I did some of my requirements at home before going to my piano class. I got a little annoyed because my jump rope got really tangled. I had a good piano class and then my dad took me to my school to run at the track but there was a game so I ran on the field instead. I came home played with my dog, finished my requirements and was talking to my grandma for some time. Then I ate and I was pretty much chilling the rest of the day. I was supposed to go to this wedding reception this evening but my sister wanted to stay home and I wouldn’t know anyone there so I stayed home too. We watched these 2 really good movies. That was it.

Continue reading
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Todays journal

Today i woke up and went to sparring which was fun. Then i went to lunch with my family and my sisters husband and his parents. Then we tried to go to the park to play disk golf but we got rained on. Then i came home and ate dinner and chilled. Goodnight.

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fridays journal

Today i went to school and my new teacher was there and we had gryphon groups and mine was boring but after school i went to taekwondo then to run. 

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9/6

Today I woke up went to black belt class then helped with the following class after that I chilled for a bit then did my requirements then I went to my grandmas for dinner.

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Journal #48

Today I had black belt class and a mentor session in the morning. Then I went over to my grand fathers to see my aunt. I also went to my friend’s birthday party. 

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Entry 24

September 6 - Entry # 24 Woke up and went to Saturday black belt class. After class, I went home and did requirements. The rest of the day I just hung out with my family and played video games with a friend. Got a mentee session in as well. Mom made spaghetti for dinner and my sister has her friend staying the night tonight. Im going to bed.

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9/6

today I went to sparring class and got a mentee session in. Then I went to a pool party and ate lunch. Then I came home and ran my mile.

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9/6 #17

Today I woke up and felt really bad in my head and shoulders later I went to my friend Henry’s birthday party and had a blast when it was done I was exhausted 

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Good day

Taekwondo was fun, had a good time sparring and learned bolo today for Conner. Got to relax at home afterwards. Hope you had a good day.

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09/06/25

Today I went to BBC then had two football games. then went shopping. and had viva chicken for dinner.

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9/6

today me and my girlfriend hung out after i took my taekwondo photos. i also had dress rehersal for my show tomorrow. thats all ive done today, and now im gonna eat dinner and relax hopefully.

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Babies

My mom's friend brought over her twins, named Jahyel (JAH-Yell), Jonae (JOE-Nay). To our house around 12 o'clock after black belt class, and we cared for them until 5 and I even got to hold them. They cried a lot but we got them to sleep. The friend came and picked them up, and it was just a pretty cool experience. I did two miles on the treadmill since it started raining when I was getting ready. I did my requirements pretty fast, and me and my sister saw a giant patch of mushrooms in our backyard.

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Test Taste?

Seems like we got a little taste of the blackbelt test this morning. No worries, though... we've got four weeks to tighten it all up. 

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Week 9 - Perseverance

There will be days when the body feels weak, and the mind wavers. On those days, perseverance carries us forward. To keep going is itself a victory.

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Locking in

Today I am locking in on getting these journals done. I have about fourteen more to do , for some reason I keep forgetting to log on them daily. As things wind down for the second half of the cycle I plan having more time to focus on other things. I am looking forward to finishing strong. 

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9/5 #16

yesterday i went to school and had some help on my science fair project but when i got on the bus musules started to feel tense and my throt got dry i was thinking that i was sick when i got home i videm c and went almost strate to bed

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9/5

nothing to crazy, i had black belt class and today was picture day for taekwondo which was cool. i got a black belt and a leadership picture. also did some requirements. 

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9/5

Today was pretty normal day at school, not too much work yet. Usually I rest little after school before starting my requirements but today my dance class was early so I had to finish everything fast. Everything was going okay but my run was just my breaking point. I’ve been so tired lately because I just do my requirements after school and then have tae kwon do classes till 8:30 or 9. So I barely get a good break. Anyways I went to my dance class for 1 and a half hours and then calm home, practiced piano, ate and was chilling. I started studying for the written test. The actual tae kwon do part is fun but doing all these other physical requirements is what I don’t like. Just 4 more weeks!

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9/5/2025

My second band competition of the year, down. We did so much better than last week & we actually won the football game, that dosen't mean I support the team but I am proud of our school. Our band has been doing great this Year & I think we'll be able to win the grand chamionship.

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Day #44 9/5

Today we just played games at school so that was pretty chill. When I got home I went on a run and did my requirements and watched a show with my mom. I was supposed to go to a movie night tonight with my family, but I didn’t feel great so I stayed home and worked on stick form 1. I watched a movie and am about to go to bed. 

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9/5

Today was Friday. Yay! I got to hang out with my friends after school and did My run and requirements. Tomorrow town is picking me up to go to the boat class, which will be pretty good.

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9/5/2025

Today I got a bunch of school work done. When I was done I went to sparring and had a lot of fun. I went home to talk to my friends.

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9/5

Today I Friday yay, I went to school then I went to tkd after that I had dinner then did my requirements.

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9/4/2025

Today I helped out at TKD and had a good time. After helping out I went back home and played guitar and I also listened to one of my records before bed.

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9/5

Took sparing and black belt class at the Knight and Foster location tonight. We worked on some basic blocking and mobility drills today. Got a chance to get ahead in my requirements as well

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Friday

Slacking off on my no-sugar diet again for the past couple of days. I need to get back on track with that. Training is going well. Neck is feeling much better. Or it was before doing rolls and falls tonight and getting my neck cranked over and over during Hapkido. It's all good though. I'm going to take a muscle relaxer and go to bed. 

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9/5/25

Today was a normal day. First i woke up and went to school. Then I came back ate a snack and went to black belt class and sparring. After that I came back and went to go play volleyball with my friends. Finally I watched tv and ate dinner.

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9/5/25

School was pretty fun today, we had hour classes in the morning, then after lunch we did some activities. We did this scavenger hunt thing where we had to take selfies of our group with the item we found. It was pretty fun. Then after that I had art club. The candidates who were running for art club president and vp did their presentations and then we voted. The people i voted for didnt win but its okay. fter school I went to taekwondo and did black belt and sparring class. Then I came home and I played volleyball for a bit. Then I came home and showered and ate dinner and stuff. Thats it, byee.

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#56. LET’S GO KC

Today not much i had footbal pictures.  I am watching the KC game. 

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Sep 5 day #35

Today I woke up, went to school. After school I wasn’t feeling great, but I got a little bit of my essay done. I will have to catch up on my requirements tomorrow.

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9/5

today i spent 1 hour at school. then after school, me and my mom went and looked at cars. then we got dinner, and now im going to play the game.

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Sept 5

Today we had a good day at school and I'm just trying not to focus on a lot of the emotional and psychological stuff I'm going through right now and we went to black belt class tonight and then we had a really awesome mentor session with Master Marcus. Thank you, Master Marcus!

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Friday

Hello today I woke up and headed to school it was so fun then I went to king tiger after school and then helped out with little tigers then I did mentor session then BBC well that was my day byyyy.

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09/05/25

Today I came to KT for BBC and we worked on hapkidos. I also got a mentor session done then got dinner and now I'm watching a show with my mom.  

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9/4 and 9/5

9/4: I had a very busy day today, I had a ton of homework plus taekwondo, plus workouts. 9/5; today was lighter. I didn't have as much homework and I got most of my requirements and taekwondo stuff done.

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September 5

Today I woke up went to the gym, then I did a lot of stretching and threats all. Nighttt!!

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Friday

Today I had my math map testing. Then I went to king tiger and helped out with little tigers class then I took black belt class. That’s it 👋 bye 👋

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9/5

Today was the last school day of the week and I have 3 large homework assignments for the weekend so that’s fun. I remembered that Carowinds is this weekend and the birthday party is happening next weekend so my previous entry was wrong.

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9/5

So I've been nursing a sore wrist for a while now.  I went to the doctor today to get a steroid shot to try and speed up the process.  IT HURTS SO BAD!  I'm so glad I did all my requirements before my appointment.  The shot itself was fine, but now there is just a throbbing ache around the whole wrist and a very sharp pain right in the middle.  I am not enjoying this at all!  If it's still hurting in the morning, I will have to skip Sat BB class.  

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Happy Friday!

Today I got up early and delivered a bunch of Amazon packages to Plaza Midwood. It was an easy route, and a great start to the day. Right now I'm working, then plan to get my requirements done during lunch, and then go to the black belt class tonight. 

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thursday

today I went to school which was ok and then I went to taekwondo and my sister and her husband came home from colorado and we had enchiladas. Goodnight.  

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Ohio State ain't ready for this

Today I had my early morning lab and my afternoon lab. Yeah, Thursday is lab day for my schedule. It wasn't too bad though. I have a Chinese lab that I can't really fit into my schedule so I ended up agreeing to do office hours every week to make up for it. I found some new people to talk to in my new schedule. I've basically completely replaced my social circle from last school year, probably for the best. Hopefully I find people who won't hold me back from progress. Speaking of which, I got a nice long gym session in this evening. Everything felt much easier today and as usual it felt good afterwards. I want to keep that momentum because it's working very well thus far.

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9/4

Today I missed my first period of school today because i wasn’t feeling well in the morning. It was a normal day of school. My grandma has come to visit and she’s staying with us for around a week. I was chatting with her for some time then I did my requirements, ate and had a meeting for an organization I’m in. It was a pretty okay day.

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9/4

thursdays are the worst day of the week for me. they are busy from daylight to dark, nonstop. saturday me and parker have dress rehersal for our show. the show is on sunday so wish us luck.

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Journal #47

Today I ran 1 mile on the track at school. Then after school I helped with a Jr Tigers class. We went to my auntie’s house to celebrate my cousin’s birthday. After we got home I did my homework and finished my requirements and run. 

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9/4

Today at school it was pretty boring but there were a lot of quizzes, on a better note, on Saturday I'm going to a birthday party then going to Carowinds (after blackbelt class of course) so I'm really looking forward to that. But not much else happened today.

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9/4/25

Today was a normal day. First I woke up and went to school. Then I came back ate a snack and did my requirements. After that I did my homework which was mostly social studies because we had a sub since yesterday and we will have a sub until Monday and my social studies teacher assigned so much work and all of it is due tomorrow so I had to finish it all up today. Finally I did my dance practice and watched tv.

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9/4 Journal

Today was good, morning workout, pretty standard day at work and then class and sparring, I had a mentor session with master Marcus, working on Bolo which was good,  grtting closer to testing. I need to finish my essays!

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#55.

Today I went to curriculum night at school with my mom to see my teachers.  I really like my teachers.

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9/4/2025

Today I got to make garlic bread because I had a leftover baguette. The mixture was created in a food processor & baked on the bread for 7 minutes without cheese & 3 minutes with. The cheese & garlic toasted & everybody liked the final product. Garlic bread is just one of the simple things everybody likes.

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9/4

Today was another day at school, I got home then after that I went to sparring and the classes before that. After that I had Chick Fil A.  

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09/05/25 #34

Today I went to school like normal then I came to king tiger. After I left I went to a National junior Beta interest meeting which is like a club for smart kids. Then I came home and had chicken and mashed potatoes for dinner  

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9/4

today after tae kwon do when I it was thundering and lightning which was scary and cool at the same time. Other than that my day was pretty normal.

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Sep 4 day #34

Today I woke up, went to school. After school I stayed home from taekwondo and worked on my Kwans essay. Im about half way done. Anyway, today was great and I’m looking forward to the black belt class because we are doing rolls and falls the whole class. BYE!

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9.4.25

My day was good I woke up Did my workout then I went to school. After school I went  Taekwondo for sparring. That was a really good work out. After I got home I decided to lift a 35 pound dumbell about 28 times on each arm. I'm trying to get to a 50 pound dumbell that is my goal. I love working out first thing in the morning it is a great way to get the sleepiness out of your system. And now I am just chilling.

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September 4

Today I woke up went to the gym did a lot of heavy weights. Then I went on a walk and went to tkd! Nighttt 

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9/4 #15

Today I went to school and had a good day went to teakwondoe and we tryed to fix the website for me but we could not find out what to do and I had a good workout in sparring class.  

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Day #43 9/4

Today I woke up late for school so that wasn’t fun. School was pretty normal after school I had to do some at home quizzes for my history class. Me and my dad had to run to the store to get something. When I got home I went on a run and did my requirements. I watched a movie and am about to go to bed a bit early tonight. 

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9-4-2025

Today was a good day. Went to school,it was ok. Lots of homework, thankfully its due on Monday. I fell asleep on the bus and now I am home. I'm able to do requirements again so I made up for almost all the time I owed. Now I am about to eat then relax. Bye :)

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8/4

School was boring again, just notes in every class. I have a quiz tomorrow in science and get to go to YCI as well. Got all my requirements done for the day. I also have picture day at taekwondo, black belt class, and sparring as well. Hope you had a good day. 

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8/4

running is becoming easier and easier each and every day, which is great. school is going the complete opposite though, the teachers dont understand whats happening and well yeah thats kinda it.

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Journal Entry #43 9/3/25

Today is Wednesday. Today was the first day of our three day school week. And tomorrow we have picture day. So I can’t wait for that. And Friday I can’t play 2k26. It drops for everyone Friday. And I can play the new season of siege. I need to apply the new 2k codes. And buy the new battlepass for siege. So there is a lot on Friday, game wise.

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