Great story Lyn!  Your story sort of reminds me of mine.  I took Tae Kwon Do for a couple years reaching black belt in sophomore year of high school.  Though I never really had combat experience outside the dojo.  I also would be a rummager between social circles at high school while I had to take the short bus to high school.  My confidence came with being authentic in the stories I told growing up.  Captivating fight scenes that you were part of in your formative years is a testament to learning martial arts vs brandishing a gun.  I’m always advocating the use of martial arts to the general public instead of gun violence.  Your martial arts story lives on because you live on.