When I first went to Aikido, the thing I really liked about my dojo was how helpful people were.  If someone saw me struggling with something, they would come immediately and start helping me. At home I was the youngest of the family and everyone would always help me, and it was the same in Aikido.

For me the dojo is more than just the people I train with, it's more like a family once you get to know everyone.  Crane Sensei is like the mother of our dojo, and most of the people who are wearing hakamas and black belts are like my older sisters, brothers, aunts and uncles. So, when I started helping out in the kid's classes, I felt older, more mature, and I felt like the big sister I always wanted to be.

During the kids' testing, when Crane Sensei told me to guide my partner through a difficult movement,  I felt as if I was responsible for helping her pass her test (which she did) and I thought "Gotta do this right now".  Aikido has helped me build up a sense of responsibility to others which I had never had before.

                                                                                           Zana Itoh-Cohen (age 13)