David Rall

Student

“Karate actually helps me a lot with school because it’s such a terrific discipline for your mind.”

David Rall is a very clear-eyed young man with a face that radiates the intelligence at work. And when he calmly states that he is definitely going to be a U.S. attorney, you tend to take him at his word. David is very certain about who he is and where he’s going. “I’m taking a full load right now: Western Civ, Art History, English and Poli Sci. Then it’s on towards USC Law School, eventually,” he says. “But I’m really loving going to SMC because the classes and teachers are great. I was accepted at the University of Alabama,” David continues, “but I chose SMC because it’s a good place to start. Most people who go directly to universities aren’t really ready for it, so they have to fall back. But the education here is top notch. The whole school is mellow and quiet. I always tell people, ‘Give SMC a chance. You won’t be sorry.’”

David is very focused on whatever challenges he faces. And one of the biggest challenges he’s had to deal with is a rare form of muscular dystrophy which he was born with. But he has not let his disability break his stride. Indeed, David Rall is a black belt karate champion who has won national titles in his division two years in a row. “I’ve been fortunate to have a really good teacher who was the world’s kickboxing champion,” says David. “I’ll be going for my second-degree black belt pretty soon and I’ve been training very diligently.” David works as a manager in a video store in addition to helping his karate mentor teach. “Karate has been a very big influence in my life,” he says. “The discipline it gives me spills over into whatever else I’m doing. And no matter where I end up,” he says, “I’ll continue with my karate for the rest of my life.”

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