Dawn began her karate journey at The Dojo Billerica in 2019. She
holds the rank of Shodan (1st degree black belt) and is preparing to test for 2nd degree black belt.

She is a resident of Billerica, MA and a graduate of Billerica Memorial HS. She holds a degree in Liberal Arts & Sciences with a concentration in Global Studies from Middlesex Community College. Her favorite subjects are literature and history.

After high school she worked as a nanny to 4 young children and later held a lead position at a local bookstore. During college she began her career as a calibration technician in the analytical sciences field working with XRF technology and spent the past 18+years performing chemical/spectral analysis, developing applications, and assisting customer service.

In 2022 she joined The Dojo Billerica part time as an assistant instructor and in 2024 decided to pursue karate full time as our business manager and instructor.

Message from Sensei Dawn -

“Hi Everyone! When I was a kid I loved watching ‘3 Ninjas’ and ‘The Karate
Kid’ movies and I always wanted to learn martial arts. So, when my son was 5 years
old, and he asked to try karate, of course I said “Yes!” I called The
Dojo Billerica and needless to say it was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

I knew before the first lesson ended that The Dojo Billerica
was the place for us. Sensei Steve and Sensei Janine (who are incredibly talented and
never cease to amaze and inspire me) demonstrated clearly their deep
understanding of martial arts, and also their dedication to making karate
fun. They were exactly the “sensei” or teacher that we were looking for.

My son, who at the time was very shy and reserved instantly
took to Steve and Janine’s outgoing and warm personalities. He was so excited to
‘learn the way of the ninja’ that we signed him up that very first day. By
weeks end I decided to pursue my childhood dream as well and signed up for
lessons. And my husband, much to my surprise, also decided to join. Now, here
we are 5 years later, still kickin’ it at The Dojo as a family of martial artists.

If you had told me then that someday I would be out there on
the mat teaching karate, I would have told you you’re crazy. Yet, here I am,
living proof that inside all of us lies the potential for growth and greatness.
Karate has not only become an everyday part of my life, and my family’s lives,
but it has become a passion, one that instills in each of us a confidence to achieve
our dreams. It has challenged and empowered us, both mentally and physical, to
overcome obstacles and become better people. As the world around us constantly
changes, it is a comfort knowing that we are better prepared to navigate, withstand
and defend ourselves in the face of adversity.

For me, The Dojo Billerica is not just where I study, teach and work…in countless ways it has become my second home and its members my second family. I love getting to know the students and watching them grow into themselves. That is a reward all in of itself. I look forward to creating new and unique ways to inspire and excite the kids, whether it’s through special events and programs, or simply being actively present in their lives. It’s wonderful being able to share this passion for martial arts with them each week.

Aside from being a full time mom, when I’m not out kicking it
up on the mat I like to spend my free time reading and writing, scrapbooking
and crafting, making photographs and gardening. I love the outdoors, especially spending time at the ocean shore with my family. As a child I spent my summers in northern Maine and as a teenager I enjoyed traveling to new places. I’ve been fortunate to visit several countries including Canada (Nova Scotia), Australia, Ireland, Germany and Bermuda. I continue to learn how to speak German and have recently pursued learning to play the violin.

Every day I remind myself that life is a journey, one with many twists and turns and numerous possibilities. It is also a gift, and not one to be wasted. You never know what the future holds in store, for yourself or for anyone else. If you have a dream, chase it. Never doubt that it might be too late for a change and don’t listen to anyone who tells you otherwise. It’s never too late to start learning something new, especially karate. :) Strive every day to be a better person than you were the day before. Go out and find what you love to do and do it. I dare you, to go out into the world and boldly inspire someone else to be a better version of themselves. You’ll be surprised how one small act can change your life, maybe change your community, or even change the world. And consider for a moment how one small word of encouragement from you could change the life of another person, especially a little person. Be the one who makes a difference just by being present. You never know, your friendly greeting might be just the thing that someone needs most today.

Thank you for letting me share my story with you. And if karate
is of interest to you, then I hope to see you sometime at The Dojo! Come on
down and have some fun with us. It’ might be the best decision you ever make”