28 year-old Jen Ulrich recently accomplished something that's been years in the making.
"I just knew I was going for a black belt, no one had a different choice," exclaimed Ulrich.
But Jen's rewarding journey to attaining her black belt took a different road than most.
"Being disabled, I've always been bullied and I've always just taken it," said Ulrich.
She's lived her whole life with cerebral palsy and spina bifida.
Ulrich explained, "If I want something, I know I have to work for it and keep at it. I'm also able to be very patient."
Being in a wheelchair hasn't stopped her from breaking through barriers and now, she's breaking through boards.
"This sport looks like, for able bodied only, but I'm able to show that no, there are ways to make it for everybody," said Ulrich.
Jen's instructor Shawn McNeil explained, "If there's one positive quality that I attribute to Jen, it's her work ethic for sure. Once she realized that black belt was in reach, she doubled down."
In order to pass her testing, you may ask, how does she get around completing kicks?
Ulrich explained, "I actually have to be able to teach someone how to do a kick and that's like ten times harder than actually throwing a kick."
"It's a testament to how good she is as a student to be able to take that, internalize it, and then modify it as needed and spit it back out into something that works for her," added McNeil.
Jen's rewarding experience has also inspired her friends along the way.
"I could see in her eyes, somebody's going to have to drag her out of here before she's going to give up, and that's just the way she is," said Jen's friend Al Rebman.
Everything she's gone through made the moment she passed even sweeter.
Ulrich exclaimed, "I screamed and started crying."
"It's those moments that when you teach that you live for, and you keep those close to your heart because those are your victories," added McNeil.
And there's no question, Jen's driven to continue to prove any doubters wrong.
"If you have perseverance and determination you can achieve whatever you want," said Ulrich.
