One of my sweetest, kindest, hardworking students is also really shy and quiet. So shy and quiet that I worry that the wind will blow her away. I have learned something most interesting today. She has won a gold metal at 7 different kung fu competitions.
It is a great thing to get acquainted with people - they are full of surprises!
ReplyDeleteI would say to watch out for the rowdy jokesters; one of my students was a class clown extraordinaire. One morning in the classroom before classes he told me with a big smile he had a job working for one of the more prestigious shopping places in town - - - and I laughed and said that was a good one.
The next time I went there to pick up an item that I could get only at that store, there he was that evening, working away in the store. How do you tell the difference between joking and not joking when someone is known to be a crack-up all the time?!!!
Your quiet student has taken an interest in a serious activity and has practiced and become a great kung fu artist. I would tend to believe upon my experience that quiet students often are very talented in something, but are raised to not be forward about it.
Also, I think the people who know martial arts and do not make it a public show every time someone is around has embraced the true ideals of knowing this art. It should be used for self-defense and be a surprise to the unwanted behavior of an attacker, in order to be more effective. Just my thoughts on this.