The Courage of Children: Boston and Beyond XXX

Kailyn Willa
Sara DeOreo, Teacher
Proctor School
Courage to me is taking risks and being brave. I think courage means that
because of my grandfather, Papa. My grandfather was the one who taught
me important life lessons. He also taught me how to be a strong family
member. We listened to a lot of stories about his risk-taking and bravery,
which then encouraged me to do the same. The stories were about protecting
his brothers, sister, and friends. I came to realize that these stories were his
lessons. Papa would tell me that he would always help someone he knew
if they were being bullied at school, or if they just needed a friend. I try to
do the same with my brother and friends, and it takes a lot of courage. My
grandfather would also talk about how you have to take risks even if you
are not sure you can do something. I tried doing that by playing hockey on
an all-boys team where I was one of the only girls, and his courage lessons
encouraged me to continue to play on a girls team with all older girls. Little
did I know that his biggest lesson around courage was yet to come.
Two years ago my grandparents moved to Massachusetts and rented an
apartment in Danvers. I would normally see them once or twice a year for
the holidays and for our yearly summer trip, but once they moved, I got to
spend every afternoon with them. With my grandparents living near me, I
had a lot of responsibilities. I was their assistant chef, mail person, organizer,
teacher to my brother, and helper to my grandmother. Mitzi and Papa (my
grandparents) would pick me up from school every day, and then they
would take us to the store to get ingredients to make dinner for that night.
Papa and I would cook together. Papa and I often talked about our secret
lightning bolt and wave.
Our secret lightning bolt symbol and secret wave were used to tell each other,
and other family members, we needed help or to show love. As a family, the
symbol of a lightning bolt meant a lot to us. Every time I would get new sports
equipment, like a new pair of hockey skates or soccer cleats, the first thing
I would do with them would be to bring them to my grandfather and have
him draw a lightning bolt on the equipment. Papa and I would always do our
secret wave to each other, which reminded me to be brave and take risks,
to show courage.
Papa would always ask us, “Who’s got it better than we do?” and we would
always respond with, “Nobody.” Together we learned a lot from each other.
My grandfather would always talk about patience and how to use humor with
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