The Courage of Children: Boston and Beyond XXX
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Derek Michaud<br />
Carolyn Westgate, Teacher<br />
Roosevelt Middle School, New Bedford, MA<br />
Sometimes I think about what being courageous really looks like. <strong>The</strong> first<br />
person I can think <strong>of</strong> is my mom. She has shown me that anything is possible<br />
if you put your all into it. I know I have let my mom down sometimes. I want<br />
to be better <strong>and</strong> do better than my father. I don’t want his absence in my life<br />
to have anything to do with my outcome. I want to be proud <strong>of</strong> myself as well.<br />
I know my mom will guide me <strong>and</strong> always be there to help me along the way. I<br />
believe I have been courageous the last few years.<br />
My dad walked out <strong>of</strong> my life when I was five years old. He was very mean to<br />
my mom <strong>and</strong> I am glad that he left. It was hard for my mom to raise me <strong>and</strong><br />
my little sister alone, <strong>and</strong> I tried to help my mom out as much as I could. My<br />
mom was able to go to school <strong>and</strong> now has a degree. I saw her struggle <strong>and</strong><br />
I helped her as much as I could by listening <strong>and</strong> doing chores around the<br />
house. My mom met my step-dad <strong>and</strong> now she is very happy, <strong>and</strong> so am I. My<br />
mom deserves the world. She is so selfless <strong>and</strong> will do anything for me <strong>and</strong> my<br />
sister. I showed courage by being there for my mom <strong>and</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ing up to my<br />
dad when he tried to come back into our lives. I told him to leave us alone <strong>and</strong><br />
go away because we are better <strong>of</strong>f without him.<br />
We went through a lot <strong>of</strong> hard times. My dad decided to sell everything, <strong>and</strong><br />
we had nothing. We had to move into my gr<strong>and</strong>mother’s house for a few<br />
months before my mom could find a new place to live. When we first moved<br />
in we didn’t even have a TV. My mom would work double shifts <strong>and</strong> we would<br />
stay home with my gr<strong>and</strong>mother, <strong>and</strong> I would make sure that I would clean<br />
for my mom. I know it wasn’t much, but I tried to stay positive even though<br />
everything had fallen apart. My mom worked so hard, <strong>and</strong> she got everything<br />
back <strong>and</strong> much more. I would make sure to help with anything I could to<br />
make things easier for my mom <strong>and</strong> sister.<br />
My mom worked two jobs <strong>and</strong> went to school online to make ends meet so we<br />
could move <strong>and</strong> have a better life. I remember not having much <strong>and</strong> telling<br />
my mom that we had everything we needed. My sister would cry <strong>and</strong> I would<br />
try <strong>and</strong> explain to her that we had everything we needed. She was too little to<br />
underst<strong>and</strong> what was going on, but I didn’t want my mom to go through any<br />
more bad things. She put up with a lot <strong>of</strong> stuff from my dad to try <strong>and</strong> keep<br />
our family together. But the most courageous thing was how she took care <strong>of</strong><br />
us once we left. I believe it inspired me to be more courageous <strong>and</strong> try to help<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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