Empower and uplift Youth Mental Health through teaching martial arts
Passion
Growing up, I had struggled with my mental health, fitting in, and was always sickly. However, I relieved my anxiety and improved my mood by working out not according to how I looked, but rather, how I felt. Through kickboxing, Muay Thai, boxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and taekwondo, I have practiced for an accumulative 10 years, and participated at the competitive level. Participating in martial arts and adopting fitness into my lifestyle truly brought out my confidence, my love of teaching, and passion for community. Martial arts and fitness gave me the courage to improve myself socially, maintain discipline academically, and work hard in everything I do professionally.
- Megan Wikowsky
@missAsianChicago
@chiasianwomenempowerment
Due Diligence
I am skilled enough to lead the workshops. I have trained in taekwondo (4 years), muay thai and kickboxing (2 years) Brazilian jiu jitsu (1 year), as well as boxing (3 years). I have competed at the collegiate level and won the United States Intercollegiate Boxing Association’s national tournament, ranking me nationally among other college boxers. I taught boxing fitness classes at UIC as well as instructed children at summer camps, and I have been a manager for several sports camps including Pedalheads and YMCA. I currently run the UIC Boxing Club as the first female president, planning events, instructing individuals, training competitive collegiate boxers, and instructing groups of up to 80 people. I helped recruit over 100 members for the Boxing Club at UIC raising over $7000 in club funds. I have written lesson and workout plans, and I understand the format for teaching a workout. Now, I currently compete at the amateur boxing level as well as collegiately.
-Megan Wikowsky
@missAsianChicago
@chiasianwomenempowerment
Execution
- Chicago Dragons - I will spend approx. 4 hours a month, 2 hours each program running the Chicago Dragons Youth martial arts/fitness program.
- Chi-AWE - I will host at least one (1 hr, 30 min) mental health + fitness workshop with the Chi-AWE GirlPowerment Series.
- I’ve drafted a detailed agenda for the workshops. The following is an overview of the agenda:
- Intro of my personal story using martial arts to improve my mental health
- Balsa-breaking activity
- Workout and stretches
- Intro to boxing
-Megan Wikowsky
@missAsianChicago
@chiasianwomenempowerment
Partners
