Dean and Monica Gallagher

Quinn Gallagher joined ATA in March of 2009.  Quinn’s first intention of joining ATA was to learn karate like Kung Fu Panda.  Both my husband and I were pleased that Quinn wanted to join an activity and if karate was his choice, then we would support it for him.  Neither one of us ever imagined the impact that karate would have on our lives and home.

Quinn acclimated quickly to the structure and discipline of karate.  He is a child that thrives on order and routine.  He enjoys the classes and the friendships that he has made in the school.  Quinn enjoyed karate so much he talked and talked about it at his school.  Now two other children from his academic school are enrolled in ATA along with Quinn.  Not only his friends joined, but his Dad is doing it right along with him too.  Karate is truly a family affair in the Gallagher household.

Learning the core values of confidence, discipline, respect, focus, and integrity have added value to Quinn’s day to day life.  While at his academic school he was having an issue with another child.  Quinn would seek assistance from us and tell us that that the other child wasn’t being respectful towards Quinn or others.  I don’t think that Quinn, at his age, would have ever put weight towards the value of respect and the injustice of not being respected in words or actions, had it not been for the teachings at ATA.  Quinn continues to hold these core values in the highest regards for him and others.  Quinn learning these values and our encouragement of these values has made him a better child/person.  I believe that Quinn Gallagher has a great level of integrity at such an early age and that these values will help him be the best person that he can be in the future.  If at anytime there are questionable actions happening in our house, we ALL fall back on and ask each other . . . “Is that being respectful . . .?”  We have all learned from ATA and enjoy being part of the ATA Chesterfield Family.

Dean and Monica Gallagher