UT TKD?
The temptation to found a Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do Club at the University of Texas is steadily growing. I greatly miss teaching, among other things, but most of all I miss having family.
I'm going to be here for the next four years, minimum. That's enough time to kick-start such an organization. Plane tickets are inexpensive between DC and Austin, so slightly elevated testing fees could accommodate biannual testing. I'd have to convince John J. to come here twice a year, true; and I'd need permission from Master Khan.
The hardest part is recruitment. In order to get things going, I'd need at least a couple of committed people. They'd be completely responsible for administration, and I'd be responsible for teaching. I have time to teach, but I don't have time to write a constitution, reserve rooms, place Century orders, and arrange parties. Also, after a year or so, it would be nice if some of my students would be willing to help teach beginner classes. And I'd need some kind of vague assurance that in five years or so the Club will have produced black belts, who can continue what I started.
Unfortunately, I'm not really sure where to advertise for this. I'm also a little worried this semester is going to be much harder than I expect. But Erica teaches TKD in vet school successfully; I can pull off the same thing, can't I?
Is this really worth it? Or am I just reaching a life I've now lost, a life that was lost when I left Virginia Tech? Part of me says, "Move on. Keep doing TKD, but get good at something else. Go do outreach in schools as preparation for that NSF application you've got to write. Or go read scientific papers, work on your degree." But the other part, the ambitious side, says, "You can do all that and this. You've got it in you."
I'm going to be here for the next four years, minimum. That's enough time to kick-start such an organization. Plane tickets are inexpensive between DC and Austin, so slightly elevated testing fees could accommodate biannual testing. I'd have to convince John J. to come here twice a year, true; and I'd need permission from Master Khan.
The hardest part is recruitment. In order to get things going, I'd need at least a couple of committed people. They'd be completely responsible for administration, and I'd be responsible for teaching. I have time to teach, but I don't have time to write a constitution, reserve rooms, place Century orders, and arrange parties. Also, after a year or so, it would be nice if some of my students would be willing to help teach beginner classes. And I'd need some kind of vague assurance that in five years or so the Club will have produced black belts, who can continue what I started.
Unfortunately, I'm not really sure where to advertise for this. I'm also a little worried this semester is going to be much harder than I expect. But Erica teaches TKD in vet school successfully; I can pull off the same thing, can't I?
Is this really worth it? Or am I just reaching a life I've now lost, a life that was lost when I left Virginia Tech? Part of me says, "Move on. Keep doing TKD, but get good at something else. Go do outreach in schools as preparation for that NSF application you've got to write. Or go read scientific papers, work on your degree." But the other part, the ambitious side, says, "You can do all that and this. You've got it in you."