I’ve always been nervous walking around campus at night. Recent robberies around the university area have made it more difficult to feel safe. But I’m feeling more confident about getting around this semester because I am a student in Michael Rocco II’s self-defense class for women.

The class, which is open to female students each semester, offers basic defense skills to help prevent potentially dangerous situations such as robbery, physical attacks and rape. But the course teaches one important lesson that I believe every student on campus should learn: how to be assertive.

On the first day of class, Rocco showed us exactly what we would be learning this semester – and I was the target. I grabbed him, and he punched my arm off of him so fast that I knew I had much to learn. By the end of that class I knew how to knock someone out and break an arm.

I was surprised by how intimidated I became during our routine exercises. I knew I was a strong woman, but I wasn’t sure if I could really kick some butt. Over time, I found myself moving and shouting out, ‘No!’ with more assertion alongside my fellow classmates as we practiced our techniques each week. I became so much more capable of defending myself in a dangerous situation. With my new moves, I now feel prepared for anything that may come my way.

‘(Rocco) said, ‘It doesn’t give you a huge edge, but it gives you an edge over everyone else,” said Dana Roberts, a student in the class and an undecided sophomore in The College of Arts and Sciences. ‘It’s made me a little more aware.’

As I hope to see the university increase safety measures to protect us, I’m going to do my part in remaining safe. In truth, I may not get to use all the self-defense I learned during a real attack, but I’ve educated myself on what could happen and how I can prevent it.

Even if I am nervous, I’m not going to be an easy target.