The Courage of Children: Boston and Beyond XXX
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Keira Mccluskey<br />
Sarah Hoisl, Teacher<br />
South <strong>Boston</strong> Catholic Academy<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> means allowing yourself to do something you were always afraid <strong>of</strong><br />
doing. It means gathering up all your fear <strong>and</strong> throwing it away. When you do<br />
something you have always wanted to do but never had the courage to actually<br />
do, you’re proud that you did it. It is such a fulfilling feeling, you never want<br />
that feeling to stop. It’s like when you go down that water slide you were always<br />
afraid <strong>of</strong> going down, <strong>and</strong> once you do it you never forget it. I did something<br />
similar to that in a different way.<br />
My courage showed in my ability to open up to my teacher. I never had good<br />
relationships with my teachers until I went to sixth grade. In fifth grade I<br />
struggled a lot because <strong>of</strong> the excessive amount <strong>of</strong> drama. My class was not the<br />
greatest, <strong>and</strong> I felt like I had nobody to talk to. I never felt like I could confide<br />
in my teachers, <strong>and</strong> therefore always felt alone. <strong>The</strong>n I went to sixth grade.<br />
I will never forget the day I joined sixth grade. That was the day I didn’t feel<br />
alone anymore. That was the day I finally knew I had someone in my corner.<br />
Nobody ever really wanted to talk to me about my life, but Ms. Hoisl did.<br />
Ever since that day I have dared to do anything <strong>and</strong> everything. Ms. Hoisl<br />
is that one person who will always be there, that one person you can always<br />
depend on. Someone you can trust, someone who will listen to what you<br />
have to say. It was late September when we talked, <strong>and</strong> opening up that way<br />
was something that allowed me to feel comfortable in my own skin. <strong>The</strong>re<br />
have been many obstacles in my life that included people leaving without<br />
warning, or a constant lack <strong>of</strong> support. It was so hard to get through every<br />
day when I knew I was alone. But after opening up, I knew that after that<br />
day, I was never going to feel isolated. I never felt alone again after my first<br />
day back at South <strong>Boston</strong> Catholic Academy. I chose Ms. Hoisl because she<br />
is always the person I go to when I need to talk about my life. <strong>Courage</strong> isn’t<br />
something that comes naturally, it’s something you have to build up over the<br />
days, months, or even years.<br />
South <strong>Boston</strong> Catholic Academy is a school that I will never forget. I went<br />
to a bunch <strong>of</strong> different schools before this school. When I came to this<br />
school I knew it was perfect. New friends, new students, new teachers, new<br />
faces, <strong>and</strong> most importantly new perspectives.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Courage</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Children</strong>: <strong>Boston</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Beyond</strong><br />
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