The most wonderful teachers a child could ever have

My name is Leslie Buchalter. I am the founder and director of Adventures Through Open Minds Science Club for Kids. I have a background in teaching Anatomy and Physiology at the Junior College level as well as tutoring and teaching science to young children for over 33 years. I have two children who are now 18 and 21 years old. I would like to state the powerful influence that Sensei Mark Cameron had on both of my children during their most important formative years of ages three to thirteen. Sensei Mark taught my children martial arts for ten years. During that time he was the most important mentor in both of their lives. I not only made sure that they took martial arts class three days a week on a year round basis, but in addition, and what turned out to be possibly even more important to their personal development, were the private one on one lessons each of my children took on a weekly basis. I gave them this weekly private lesson to ensure they would have a chance to receive Sensei Marks incredible gift of guiding young children's minds to learn: 1) to respect them self as well as the laws and morals of society 2) to be kind and patient to their fellow students and 3) to seek wisdom in order to discover their dream and then have the courage to tenaciously pursue it. In the karate school each students black belt hung on a wall with the words above them "A DREAM IS A GOAL WITH A DEADLINE." Because of Sensei Mark my son became a black belt martial arts instructor. In addition to that profession he is also going to college. The words of wisdom and training by their Sensei Mark still, to this day, have a strong influence on both of my children. For example, this year my son in a speech class took martial arts as has topic to speak on and took first place in a Bay Area public speaking competition. I hope my words are helpful in explaining who I have come to know as one of the most wonderful teachers a child could ever have the good fortune to be taught by.