The Courage of Children: Boston and Beyond XXX
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Defne Deniz Arslan<br />
Sedef Seker, Teacher<br />
ide Okullari, Istanbul, Turkey<br />
I need to admit it, I didn’t think I was courageous at first. But courage means<br />
being yourself, being happy, <strong>and</strong> being the best version <strong>of</strong> yourself. <strong>Courage</strong><br />
is also believing in yourself <strong>and</strong> achieving what’s on your mind. My favorite<br />
quote is “Believe in yourself. You are braver than you think, more talented<br />
than you know, <strong>and</strong> capable <strong>of</strong> more than you imagine,” by Roy T. Bennett.<br />
I love this quote because, even when I don’t think I can be courageous, this<br />
quote reminds me to believe in myself.<br />
I said I didn’t think I was courageous, but that doesn’t mean I never showed<br />
courage. <strong>The</strong> time I showed courage is a really sensitive topic <strong>of</strong> mine. Two<br />
years ago in August I went to my mom’s hometown by myself. At that time,<br />
I was scared <strong>of</strong> leaving my mom <strong>and</strong> I couldn’t sleep without her. I went there<br />
with my aunt; we had a deal. First week, I was going to see my cousin <strong>and</strong> her<br />
children. Second week, I was going to see my cousin who normally lives in<br />
Germany, <strong>and</strong> for the last week alone I was going to stay with my aunt. It was<br />
all right, at first. In the first week, my cousin was being kind <strong>of</strong> rude to me.<br />
I was just a kid that was 9-10 years old, <strong>and</strong> I didn’t know a lot <strong>of</strong> things. She<br />
sometimes told me to look after the babies, <strong>and</strong> not eat c<strong>and</strong>y around them.<br />
I understood her, but I was just a little kid <strong>and</strong> I thought the way she talked to<br />
a 9-year-old was rude.<br />
I started to have nightmares in the second week. My cousin was with me <strong>and</strong><br />
sometimes she <strong>of</strong>fered to stay awake with me at midnight. I was hesitant to call<br />
my mom because I didn’t want her to stay awake for me. I was having fun with<br />
my second cousin, <strong>and</strong> she stayed awake for me at midnight when I was having<br />
trouble sleeping. Sometimes I would call my mom <strong>and</strong> she would watch me<br />
sleep on FaceTime. When the second week ended, I went to my aunt’s house<br />
to stay there. I was more comfortable with my aunt. I could sleep for the first<br />
couple <strong>of</strong> days, but after Wednesday, I became sick. I couldn’t sleep, I would<br />
throw up, <strong>and</strong> that was the lowest point <strong>of</strong> my holiday. I now wished I had<br />
never gone there in the first place.<br />
By the time I was feeling better, the week had also ended. My parents came<br />
<strong>and</strong> I was happy, but I still couldn’t sleep. I was having nightmares about how<br />
my parents would leave me. When we came back to Istanbul, I cried every<br />
night because I couldn’t sleep. One day my mom came to my room <strong>and</strong> asked<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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