Many people have goals; some goals are big and some are small, but all are important.
Since I was young, it has always been my dream to study martial arts — taekwondo — and to compete on an international level one day.
For me I always struggled with being able to physically do martial arts because of a rare heart condition, mitral valve regurgitation. For years it held me back. When I was finally cleared to do a sport, taekwondo was where I started.
I was unsure at first of how well I could really do, but soon met someone who believed in pushing me to always have good energy and to stay focused. Along with my family and a small group of very close friends, I began to feel like I could really make this dream of mine a reality.
I have competed in many tournaments now and have won gold in every tournament I’ve been in.
I am very happy with my accomplishments thus far and look forward to what the future brings.
My goal is go to the 2015 USA National Taekwondo Championships, a national tournament in Austin, Texas, at the Austin Convention Center on July 4-11, 2015.
The best and brightest from our country will be gathering to compete there and it is an honor to even be going.
Nationals will be the start to a long journey, one that includes huge international tournaments like the US Open and eventually the World Poomsae Championships, which is my long-term goal.
I am very determined to compete, and bring home gold.
Recently I have lost someone who was, and still is my motivation, my role model, and my best friend. He knew I had a heart condition and he knew I was not sure if I could even make it, but he always kept me positive and encouraged. We had planned on going to Nationals together; unfortunately this can no longer happen.
However, I plan to continuing my journey in his memory, to honor him and continue what we started together to make him proud. He will continue to inspire me in our journey. I want to carry on his work, his dreams and his energy and never leave him in the past; that’s not where he deserves to be.
The world deserves to know how amazing he was and how important helping others was to him. I want to carry on what he started and what the two of us discussed doing together.
I will never try to benefit from what happened to him, but will only do my best to turn a negative thing into the most beautiful and positive thing ever. Taekwondo, Nationals and Martial Arts were something he and I dreamt of doing together in such a way that we could lead and inspire others and I look forward to continuing what we started together.
For my country; GO USA and for GMS.
You can visit www.alinakent.com to donate/sponsor even if it’s just $5. Any support would be greatly appreciated. You can also follow Alina’s journey on Instagram @alykattkd or on Facebook under Alina Kent. Thank you again and please feel free to share.
Any donations or sponsorships that are not needed for this trip will go to the Grady Merritt Stimpson Memorial Scholarship.
Alina Kent
Fayetteville, Ga.
