IKS Thoughts: Calissta Rohrpasser

Editor's Note: Prior to the 30th anniversary celebration that we had, I asked people to submit to me their thoughts about the school to share with the headmasters. I have gathered these essays and will be adding them to this blog as "IKS Thoughts" over the next several months. Today's submission was made by IKS black belt Calissta Rohrpasser, who used to be Cheryl Reed. 


When I was thirteen years old I had just moved from Mass to New Hampshire and did not know anyone. I was having a hard time making friends and had this one group of girls picking on me constantly. I spent a lot of time hiding in the girls room with my feet up so no one could see me, crying. I never went into the lunch room and I used to run as fast as I could from one class to another hoping to avoid these girls. If I ran into them I would put on a good "face" and talk just as mean as they did to me back to them. Then one day one of the girls shoved me. Then another shoved me. Everyday it was slowly getting worse. I was getting worried that someday soon I was going to be beaten up by all of them. That Saturday I opened up the phone book to "Martial Arts" and started at the first one. I called and asked if they would be willing to trade lessons for me cleaning the school. Needless to say I received "No." after "No." until I reached the number for Independent Karate School. I don't know what exactly it was that I may have said differently or if it was just simply kindness but they agreed. I was so happy I told my Father what I had been doing and begged him to rush me right down. I was immediately in my first class and I LOVED it. I knew I had found a part of myself that I never knew was there. After class I was vacuuming and the instructor that had told me to come down approached me and brought me into the office. He asked me why I wanted to join so badly. I did not give the main reason but the second one...To make friends and hopefully find some place that I would fit in again.

I could go on and on but I found out that I did not need to fight these girls (which like any other after school movie could have told you was the reason I initially wanted to learn) I was lucky enough that me simply telling one of the girls I was learning was enough because I don't think I would have tried to use what I was being taught. I learned very quickly what I was being shown was a gift to me. It was a gift because of the knowledge itself and was a gift because I was there every free second I had. It was a gift because I made friends and it was a gift because I found a second home. I got confidence as well. Not by the trophies I won (which helped too hehe) but by having a whole group of people that never saw me as an outcast but as another lover of an amazing art form and lifestyle that everyone should be lucky enough to learn.

Thank you IKS for giving me that chance that day when others would not. Even though my M.S. prevents me from being as active as I was, I will always see myself as a black belt, grand champion, and blessed for being an instructor in your family.

Calissta Rohrpasser
(Formerly Cheryl Reed - N.E. Champ 1988 - Black belt since October 22, 1988)