12/01/2025
Hi guys, my name is Sensei James Shaw, and I’d like to talk to you for a minute about my youngest daughter Elizabeth, who is my top student and inspiration. When she was 5 years old, she used to come to sit by the training mats I had in my basement and watch as I trained in my home in Ottawa and she could not wait to come with me to meet what would become her second family at Therien Jiu Jitsu Ottawa South, where I was teaching at the time. Her passion for the martial arts has never wavered, and I've come to learn over the years she has inside her a determination that she applies to all aspects of her life. She now has her sights set on a career in Criminology and is determined to study at Oxford University in England in order to achieve her dream!
We weren't sure how serious she was about all of this until she took it upon herself to apply to a summer program there a couple of months ago. To be considered for admission she had to write an application letter on her own and compete with other students for a place in the program. She is a voracious reader with excellent writing skills and did not fail to impress the head of admissions at Oxford - she was accepted!!! Her mother and I could not be prouder of this bold and confident 14-year-old who did what her friends and peers told her was only a pipe dream, a goal that was out of reach. She has now received glowing letters of recommendation from her teachers who, like the rest of us, want to see her succeed.
So far, have gotten together enough to save her spot in the summer program. Now we're asking for your help through a GoFundMe page to make the first steps of Elizabeth's dream come true!
There are few things more inspiring than watching your child grow into a confident young adult who has the courage to stand up and say, 'I can!', turn a deaf ear to those who say it can't be done, and reach for the stars. Any donation no matter how small will be welcomed, appreciated, and will mean the world to our family. Thank you for helping to support Elizabeth's dream!!!
Please use the link below to donate:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/lets-send-elizabeth-to-oxford?lang=en_CA
