Dreyfoos sophomore Jillian Wrieden has broken the glass cieling with her taekwondo skills after applying them to win first place in her division for sparring and form in a karate tournament.

“It was very intimidating at first. I walked in and saw the different teams and saw them practicing ,” Wrieden said. “I was not really familiar with karate since I stopped at a young age.”

Wrieden, who transitioned to taekwondo in February of last year, practiced  karate as a child.

“I did karate when I was younger but I did not enjoy it. I think it was just because I was little and you know parents want you do this and that but I just did not want to do it,” Wrieden said.

Taekwondo has helped Wrieden in multiple ways and has helped her in her everyday life.

“I have a lot more perseverance not just in taekwondo but just in school and school work,” Wrieden said.

Wrieden also looks to the challenge of learning taekwondo as a way to fulfill the application requirements for the Congressional Award, which rewards 13-23 year-olds who can demonstrate meeting a significant series of goals. Wrieden is now a green belt and she only started almost two years ago and has made real progress.

“I am currently a green belt but I really want to get as high in rank I can. I at least want to make it to a first degree black belt,” Wrieden said.