- / ' I - have to work extra hard to main- tain my firsts." In fact, looking at Lee's busy schedule, rest is something most people would find hard to get at all. Besides her two-hour training sessions three to four times a week at the dojo, Lee also finds time to play lacrosse, field hockey and volleyball at Albert College. And, she's on the school's honor roll for aca- demic excellence with a law career in mind for the future. "A good teacher needs a good student," says Dozono of his prized pupil. "I would like to congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Lee (Richard and Winnie) be- cause they did a heck of a job bringing Jennifer to this level. "After Jennifer, my job will be easier because everyone will follow her. Having a good student is so important to the rest of the students." Dozono smiled when he re- called the six-year-old moppet who first came to his classes and who 10 years later would be an example for future stu- dents. The days of having to constantly remind her to pull up her belt or straighten her uniform are over. "Jennifer recognizes as she gets stronger she gets gen- tler," he said. "She can smile with ease. The pressures of tournaments has developed her fortitude." Dozono, who says Lee fol- lows "the three D's: discipline, dedication and desire" at his school, believes her concentra- tion on proper technique is an- other key to her success. "The basic technique is so im- portant," he explained. "The same as hockey with skating or stickhandling. Jennifer became very, very good after she got her black belt." Lee, who hopes to win a medal at this year's world champion- ships (last year she placed sixth), says shell continue practicing karate for the rest of her life. It's already a family affair as her fa- ther, older sister (Denise) and younger brother (Matthew) also train regularly. Perhaps, she added, she might even be a sensei (teaching master) herself some day. "I know that if you work hard you'll be rewarded for it at some time in your life," she says. "Ka- rate is different from a lot of other sports. It takes a lot of self- discipline. A lot of times you feel like bailing out, but then you're back the next week. "Karate makes you honor your elders, it teaches you a lot of pa- tience. You learn a lot of dedica- tion because karate can't be learned overnight. It's a modest sport." Lee will be presented with her award Saturday night at the Quinte Sports Centre just prior to the beginning of the 7:30 p.m. OHL game between the Belleville Bulls and the Ottawa 67's. Belleville's Athlete of the Year « i Jennifer Lee Intelligencer Photo by Paul Svoboda