The Courage of Children: Boston and Beyond XXXII
THE COURAGE OF CHILDREN: Boston and Beyond Award-winning essays on courage written by sixth grade students participating in The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum
- Page 3 and 4: THE COURAGE OF CHILDREN: BOSTON AND
- Page 5 and 6: Table of Contents Dedication Champi
- Page 7 and 8: Lucia Ortega — Amy Higginbotham 6
- Page 9 and 10: International Programs 143 Courage
- Page 11 and 12: Champion of Courage Award The Champ
- Page 13 and 14: 2023 Essay Judges Edward Albright L
- Page 15 and 16: Participating Schools Taunton Famil
- Page 17 and 18: Participating Teachers Barbara Smit
- Page 19 and 20: Preface by Elizabeth Evans D’Asce
- Page 21 and 22: “Mom,” Max said one day, “do
- Page 23 and 24: Boston, barely slowing down for the
- Page 25 and 26: You could see the kids were relieve
- Page 27 and 28: Then, on November 28, the hospital
- Page 29 and 30: But it wasn’t. Before long Max wa
- Page 31 and 32: Volume XXXII xxix
- Page 33 and 34: NATIONAL PROGRAMS Volume XXXII 1
- Page 35 and 36: This year, we worked remotely with
- Page 37 and 38: “A lesson I learned from my mom i
- Page 39 and 40: “The pandemic led me to experienc
- Page 41 and 42: “At that moment, I felt as if all
- Page 43 and 44: “I now have confidence and pride
- Page 45 and 46: “I was brave enough to tell the a
- Page 47 and 48: “Having courage to live through t
- Page 49 and 50: “I decided that I must do everyth
- Page 51 and 52: “It took courage to make my own c
THE COURAGE OF CHILDREN:<br />
<strong>Boston</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Beyond</strong><br />
Award-winning essays on courage written<br />
by sixth grade students participating in<br />
<strong>The</strong> Max Warburg <strong>Courage</strong> Curriculum
THE COURAGE OF CHILDREN:<br />
BOSTON AND BEYOND<br />
VOLUME <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
2023<br />
Award-winning essays on courage<br />
written by middle school students participating in<br />
<strong>The</strong> Max Warburg <strong>Courage</strong> Curriculum
<strong>The</strong> Board <strong>of</strong> Trustees <strong>and</strong> staff <strong>of</strong> <strong>The</strong> Max Warburg <strong>Courage</strong> Curriculum, Inc.<br />
would like to express their sincere gratitude <strong>and</strong> appreciation to those individuals<br />
<strong>and</strong> organizations who have given so generously <strong>of</strong> their time, talent, <strong>and</strong> energy<br />
to THE COURAGE OF CHILDREN: BOSTON AND BEYOND, VOLUME <strong>XXXII</strong>.<br />
Editing<br />
Molly McCafferty<br />
Elizabeth Evans D’Ascensao<br />
Alex<strong>and</strong>ra Marshall<br />
Carrie Coughlin<br />
Photos<br />
All photographs were kindly submitted by students’ schools or parents/caregivers.<br />
Credit for Max’s photo: Condée N. Russo<br />
Northeastern University Reprographics<br />
Marina Flessas <strong>and</strong> Andrew Boucek, Cover Design, Book Layout,<br />
Pre-press <strong>and</strong> Production<br />
Founded in 1898, Northeastern University is a private research university<br />
located in the heart <strong>of</strong> <strong>Boston</strong>. Northeastern is a leader in experiential<br />
learning, interdisciplinary scholarship, urban engagement, <strong>and</strong> research<br />
that meets global <strong>and</strong> societal needs.<br />
www.northeastern.edu<br />
THE COURAGE OF CHILDREN: BOSTON AND BEYOND, VOLUME <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
is a publication <strong>of</strong> <strong>The</strong> Max Warburg <strong>Courage</strong> Curriculum, Inc.<br />
© 2023 <strong>The</strong> Max Warburg <strong>Courage</strong> Curriculum, Inc.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Courage</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Children</strong>: <strong>Boston</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Beyond</strong><br />
ii
Table <strong>of</strong> Contents<br />
Dedication<br />
Champion <strong>of</strong> <strong>Courage</strong> Award<br />
Elsie Wilmerding Award for Excellence in Teaching<br />
<strong>The</strong> Max Warburg <strong>Courage</strong> Curriculum, Inc.<br />
viii<br />
ix<br />
ix<br />
x<br />
2023 Essay Judges xi<br />
Participating Schools<br />
Participating Teachers<br />
Executive Director’s Note<br />
Preface by Elizabeth Evans D’Ascensao<br />
Max’s Story by Stephanie Warburg <strong>and</strong> Charlotte Harris<br />
xii<br />
xiv<br />
xvi<br />
xvii<br />
xviii<br />
National Programs 1<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> in My Life 2<br />
Julienne <strong>The</strong>lusma — Erin Hannon-Foley 4<br />
Roosevelt K-8 School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Kalmen Ye — Thu-Hang Tran-Peou <strong>and</strong> Emily Wu 6<br />
Josiah Quincy Upper School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Alej<strong>and</strong>ro Roa Martinez — Amy Rojek 8<br />
Community Preparatory School, Providence, RI<br />
Laneyah Henley — Aaron Kesler <strong>and</strong> Alison Spade 10<br />
<strong>Boston</strong> Renaissance Charter Public School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Jaydalise Williams — Aaron Cohen 12<br />
Blackstone Elementary School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Nathan Neves — Mary Wall 14<br />
Barnstable Intermediate School, Hyannis, MA<br />
Carlos Roa Geraldino — Joan Arches <strong>and</strong> Jeffrey Mestre 16<br />
3Point Foundation / BCLA-McCormack School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Kevin Nguyen — Lindsay Worstell 18<br />
Norm<strong>and</strong>in Middle School, New Bedford, MA<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
iii
Glory Regis — Melissa Ma <strong>and</strong> Nicole Precourt 20<br />
Salemwood School, Malden, MA<br />
Helena “Nina” Taylor — Jaclyn Poremski <strong>and</strong> Sarah Tran 22<br />
St. Agatha School, Milton, MA<br />
Mark Curran — Faith Smith 24<br />
South <strong>Boston</strong> Catholic Academy, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Harrison Leerink — Merrill Hawkins 26<br />
<strong>The</strong> Park School, Brookline, MA<br />
June N. — Jeanine Stansfield <strong>and</strong> Kristen Spadafora 28<br />
Warren-Prescott K-8 School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Raw<strong>and</strong> Omar — Joan Arches <strong>and</strong> Jeffrey Mestre 32<br />
3Point Foundation / Dever Elementary School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Finley Sylvia — Michael Andrews 34<br />
Barnstable Intermediate School, Hyannis, MA<br />
Mehreen Shaik — Sara Coyle 36<br />
Beverly Hills Academy, Beverly Hills, MI<br />
Camila Orantes Huezo — Aaron Cohen 38<br />
Blackstone Elementary School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Ivy Eskin DeMarrais — Amy Higginbotham 40<br />
Haley Pilot School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Binta Diallo — Alicia Reines-Leo 42<br />
Josiah Quincy Upper School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Sarah Br<strong>and</strong><strong>of</strong>f — Peter Bulmer 44<br />
Lesley Ellis School, Arlington, MA<br />
Akai’yah Colton — Dionne Manchester 46<br />
Keith Middle School, New Bedford, MA<br />
Shed Bonnet — Melissa Ma <strong>and</strong> Nicole Precourt 48<br />
Salemwood School, Malden, MA<br />
Ella Lam — Dan Cesario 50<br />
Tynan Elementary School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Wyatt Gaspar — Lindsey Daigle 52<br />
Roosevelt Middle School, New Bedford, MA<br />
Saida Muhammad — Hanna Shibles 54<br />
Mother Caroline Academy, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Georgio Cordova — Mariya Timkovsky 56<br />
Lesley Ellis School, Arlington, MA<br />
Elias Valencia — Helen Sullivan 58<br />
Hurley K-8 School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<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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Lucia Ortega — Amy Higginbotham 62<br />
Haley Pilot School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Arabella Gonsalves — Sabina Kozak 64<br />
Our Sisters’ School, New Bedford, MA<br />
Dakota Vieira — Kyle Farnworth <strong>and</strong> Jason Cornaglia 66<br />
Norm<strong>and</strong>in Middle School, New Bedford, MA<br />
Isabella Amaral — Stefanie Lyn Machado 68<br />
Keith Middle School, New Bedford, MA<br />
Katherine Ramos — Amy Rojek 70<br />
Community Preparatory School, Providence, RI<br />
Alan Chen — Melanie Smith 72<br />
Josiah Quincy Upper School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Noemie Maria Alice Xaviera Pinto — Hope Bynoe 74<br />
Keith Middle School, New Bedford, MA<br />
Khalil James — Jessica Tsai 76<br />
Josiah Quincy Upper School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Anne-Sagine Nicolas — Hanna Shibles 78<br />
Mother Caroline Academy, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Benissa F. — Taenari Phillips-Thompson 80<br />
Menino YMCA After-School Program, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Kiara Diakite — Kate Lynch 82<br />
Roosevelt Middle School, New Bedford, MA<br />
Amsale Tewodros — Jaclyn Poremski <strong>and</strong> Sarah Tran 84<br />
St. Agatha School, Milton, MA<br />
Sasha Farb — Alex Jones 86<br />
<strong>The</strong> Park School, Brookline, MA<br />
Anosha Khan — Sawsan Mezyan 88<br />
Al-Noor Academy, Mansfield, MA<br />
John Martinez — Joan Arches <strong>and</strong> Jeffrey Mestre 90<br />
3Point Foundation / Tech<strong>Boston</strong> Academy, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Ehan Uddin — Peter Laboy 92<br />
Bellesini Academy, Lawrence, MA<br />
Riley Dixon — Aaron Kesler <strong>and</strong> Alison Spade 94<br />
<strong>Boston</strong> Renaissance Charter Public School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Cora Dias-Mourao — Valerie Carvalho 96<br />
Keith Middle School, New Bedford, MA<br />
Owen Hannigan — Mary Budrose 98<br />
Proctor Elementary School, Topsfield, MA<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
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Briella Nesta — Melissa Ma <strong>and</strong> Nicole Precourt 100<br />
Salemwood School, Malden, MA<br />
Nadia Ashrafi — Sawsan Mezyan 102<br />
Al-Noor Academy, Mansfield, MA<br />
Jordan Eldredge-Bryant — Michael Andrews 104<br />
Barnstable Intermediate School, Hyannis, MA<br />
Gracia Veras — Peter Laboy 106<br />
Bellesini Academy, Lawrence, MA<br />
Javier Gonzalez — Helen Sullivan 108<br />
Hurley K-8 School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Amir Al-Bakkour — Sara Coyle 110<br />
Beverly Hills Academy, Beverly Hills, MI<br />
Bella Barrette — Dionne Manchester 112<br />
Keith Middle School, New Bedford, MA<br />
Gianna Silveira — Lindsay Worstell 114<br />
Norm<strong>and</strong>in Middle School, New Bedford, MA<br />
Philip Chamian — Patrick Moran 118<br />
St. Paul’s Choir School, Cambridge, MA<br />
Maya Bekheirnia — Scott Larivee 120<br />
Mary Lyon K-8 School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Josie Swift — Bonnie Hickey 124<br />
Barnstable Intermediate School, Hyannis, MA<br />
Laraeya DeGrace — Ryan Kaplan 126<br />
Norm<strong>and</strong>in Middle School, New Bedford, MA<br />
Cyra Anvari — Sara DeOreo 128<br />
Proctor Elementary School, Topsfield, MA<br />
Baotien Nguyen — Debra Mendes 130<br />
Norm<strong>and</strong>in Middle School, New Bedford, MA<br />
Molly Kilpatrick — Sara DeOreo 132<br />
Proctor Elementary School, Topsfield, MA<br />
Rayssa Aquino Paula — Michael Andrews 134<br />
Barnstable Intermediate School, Hyannis, MA<br />
Shiri Wang — Jeanine Stansfield 138<br />
Warren-Prescott K-8 School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Aniylah Barkon S<strong>and</strong>ers — Erin Hannon-Foley 140<br />
Roosevelt K-8 School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<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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International Programs 143<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> Around the Globe 144<br />
Abdulrahem Faiz Al-Tamimi — Omar Karamah, Tariq Hadi, 146<br />
<strong>and</strong> Khaled Omair<br />
Faisal, Hadramout Governorate, Yemen<br />
Hafith Mohammed — Noaman Abdullah 148<br />
Al-Rasheed, Sana’a Governorate, Yemen<br />
Saeed Al-Khamsi — Aish Mohammed Deeb 150<br />
Ibn Zaidan, Hajjah Governorate, Yemen<br />
Abdulaziz Bin Shaiban — Adnan Awadh <strong>and</strong> Yasser Abd 152<br />
Faisal, Hadramout Governorate, Yemen<br />
Fatima Al-Zahra — Boshra Hamed <strong>and</strong> Samira Ali 154<br />
Al-Afak, Sana’a Governorate, Yemen<br />
Chantha Pea — Phalla Ol 156<br />
<strong>The</strong> Cambridge Cambodia School, Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia<br />
Makara Run — Phalla Ol 158<br />
<strong>The</strong> Cambridge Cambodia School, Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia<br />
Gansuvd Gankhuyag — G. Nasanbayar 160<br />
Secondary School <strong>of</strong> Baatsagaan Soum, Bayankhongor Province, Mongolia<br />
Undarga Purevdorj — D. Munkhjin 162<br />
Mongolian State Conservatory School, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia<br />
Amina Nergui — G. Davaajav 164<br />
Kids Wider World Development Center, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia<br />
Misheel Ankhbaatar — D. Munkhjin 166<br />
Mongolian State Conservatory School, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia<br />
Ganbolor Boldbaatar — N. Bolortuya 168<br />
“Setgemj” Complex Secondary School, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia<br />
Sodbileg Ulzii-Orshikh — N. Ariunbulgan 170<br />
Secondary School <strong>of</strong> Tuv, Tuv Province, Mongolia<br />
Quincy Petersen — Dawn Austin 172<br />
American School <strong>of</strong> Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain<br />
Ayşegül Birdeste — Elliott Ruso 174<br />
Hisar Okulları / İstiklal Halil Arık Ortaokul, Kahramanmaraş Province, Turkey<br />
Ecrin Nur Taşköprü — Zeynep İşeri 176<br />
Hisar Okulları / Pazarcik Cumhuriyet Ortaokulu, Kahramanmaraş Province, Turkey<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
vii
THE COURAGE OF CHILDREN: BOSTON AND BEYOND<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
is dedicated to Turkey program coordinator Sedef Seker,<br />
the incredible teachers <strong>and</strong> students <strong>of</strong> the MAX<strong>Courage</strong><br />
Turkey program, <strong>and</strong> their families <strong>and</strong> school<br />
communities—who, shortly after submitting their stories<br />
<strong>of</strong> courage for publication in this volume, faced an<br />
unimaginable test <strong>of</strong> that courage in the 7.8-magnitude<br />
earthquake which struck on February 6, 2023.<br />
We honor the memory <strong>of</strong> those lost <strong>and</strong> celebrate the<br />
strength <strong>of</strong> those who move forward, <strong>and</strong> we encourage<br />
our global MAX<strong>Courage</strong> community to continue<br />
st<strong>and</strong>ing in solidarity with our Turkish partners by<br />
supporting Turkish <strong>and</strong> Syrian recovery efforts in the<br />
weeks <strong>and</strong> months to come.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Courage</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Children</strong>: <strong>Boston</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Beyond</strong><br />
viii
Champion <strong>of</strong> <strong>Courage</strong> Award<br />
<strong>The</strong> Champion <strong>of</strong> <strong>Courage</strong> Award is given annually in recognition for outst<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
volunteerism at MAX<strong>Courage</strong>. Past recipients have been board members <strong>and</strong><br />
long-time volunteers who have given their time, treasure, <strong>and</strong> talent to the<br />
organization. Awardees go above <strong>and</strong> beyond the call <strong>of</strong> duty to advance<br />
MAX<strong>Courage</strong>’s mission <strong>and</strong> champion the students <strong>and</strong> teachers we serve.<br />
We honor BLAKEMAN ALLEN as the 2023 recipient <strong>of</strong> the Champion <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Courage</strong> Award. Blake has devoted many years to MAX<strong>Courage</strong> as a volunteer<br />
<strong>and</strong> a coordinator <strong>of</strong> past international programming. This year, we thank her<br />
for her work serving as an essay pre-screener <strong>and</strong> judge; spearheading a fruitful<br />
project with Phillips Andover Academy’s Non Sibi Committee for public service<br />
in support <strong>of</strong> Essay Judging Day; helping to create a new MAX<strong>Courage</strong><br />
International Committee; <strong>and</strong> coordinating the re-establishment <strong>of</strong> a<br />
MAX<strong>Courage</strong> program in Pakistan that will serve as a model for future<br />
international partnerships.<br />
Elsie Wilmerding Award for<br />
Excellence in Teaching<br />
<strong>The</strong> MAX<strong>Courage</strong> Board <strong>of</strong> Trustees is honored to present the Elsie<br />
Wilmerding Award for Excellence in Teaching. Named in honor <strong>of</strong> our late<br />
<strong>and</strong> long-time board member, this award celebrates Elsie’s talent <strong>and</strong> passion<br />
for teaching, <strong>and</strong> the tremendous impact teachers can have in the lives <strong>of</strong><br />
young people. After spending 13 years as a learning specialist at the Fenn<br />
School, Elsie authored writing workbooks <strong>and</strong> a young adult historical novel,<br />
This L<strong>and</strong> is Mine! Elsie was known for her patience, kindness, <strong>and</strong> creativity<br />
with her students.<br />
This year’s Elsie Wilmerding Award for Excellence in Teaching is being<br />
presented to ERIN HANNON-FOLEY <strong>of</strong> Roosevelt K-8 School in Hyde Park,<br />
for serving as a tireless champion for <strong>Boston</strong> Public Schools students <strong>and</strong> for<br />
the field <strong>of</strong> education.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
ix
<strong>The</strong> Max Warburg<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> Curriculum, Inc.<br />
Board <strong>of</strong> Trustees<br />
Stephanie Warburg, President<br />
Frederick Warburg, Vice President<br />
Elizabeth Evans D’Ascensao, Secretary<br />
Brant Binder<br />
Amy d’Ablemont Burnes<br />
Astrid Burns<br />
Sally Fay<br />
C.J. Hacker<br />
Jill Lenhardt<br />
Kate Lubin<br />
Ann Ogilvie Macdonald<br />
Marsha MacLean<br />
Kristen Sullivan McEntyre<br />
Ryan Naples<br />
Mimi Neal Eger<br />
Julia Norman<br />
Samuel Plimpton<br />
Diane Schmalensee<br />
Clayton Schuller<br />
Lynda Schweitzer Wood<br />
Jane Skelton<br />
Board Emerita<br />
Carrie Minot Bell<br />
Suzanne Fisher Bloomberg<br />
Pamela Humphrey<br />
Joan Bennett Kennedy<br />
Staff<br />
Carrie Coughlin, Executive Director<br />
Molly McCafferty, Program Director<br />
Michelle Jimenez, Development <strong>and</strong><br />
Program Associate<br />
Advisory Board<br />
Blakeman Allen<br />
Peter Alvarez (MAXFellow 1996)<br />
Craig Bailey<br />
Carrie Minot Bell<br />
Katie Schuller Bleakie<br />
Michelle Brito<br />
Lisa Clark<br />
Janet Coleman<br />
Merry Conway<br />
Heather Faris<br />
Carmen Fields<br />
Sidik F<strong>of</strong>ana (MAXFellow 1995)<br />
Robert Gittens<br />
Elizabeth Goodenough<br />
Ann Gund<br />
Katherine McManmon Hoyt<br />
Julie Joyal<br />
Kasey Kaufman<br />
Rona Kiley<br />
Gil Leaf<br />
Karen Leopold<br />
Joyce Linehan<br />
Lois Lowry<br />
Alex<strong>and</strong>ra Marshall<br />
Martha Pierce<br />
Diana Rowan Rockefeller<br />
Alex Saltonstall<br />
Gary Smith<br />
Donna Storer<br />
Lisa Walker<br />
Rev. Liz Walker<br />
Jonathan Warburg<br />
Janet Wu<br />
Joyce Yaffee<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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2023 Essay Judges<br />
Edward Albright<br />
Liga Aldins<br />
Blakeman Allen<br />
Madeleine Anderson<br />
Beverly Armsden Daniel<br />
Katalina Baehring<br />
Celina Barrios-Millner<br />
Jonah Berlin<br />
Joan Berndt<br />
Jacob Bombard<br />
Bridget Bost<br />
David Brade<br />
Astrid Burns<br />
Angelina Camacho<br />
Roudnie Célestin<br />
Linda Champion<br />
Gwen Chasan<br />
Lisa Clark<br />
David Cody<br />
Melissa Cohen<br />
Allison Colbert<br />
Merry Conway<br />
Rivka Cooper<br />
Kit Cunningham<br />
Chelsea Davies<br />
Kate Davis<br />
Arie Derksen<br />
Courtney Egan<br />
Mimi Neal Eger<br />
Jenny Elkus<br />
Caroline Farrington<br />
Felicity Forbes Hoyt<br />
Hugh Fortmiller<br />
Germaine Frechette<br />
Cecelia Gaffney<br />
Anna Gall<br />
JB Greenway<br />
Amy Grossman<br />
Ann Gund<br />
Nora Gunneng<br />
Neda Habboosh<br />
C.J. Hacker<br />
Nancy Hays<br />
Trevania Henderson<br />
Kathleen Kenney<br />
Allison Kornet<br />
Barbara Kratovil<br />
Martha Kurz<br />
Carol Lasky<br />
Yelena Lembersky<br />
Karen Leopold<br />
Joyce Linehan<br />
Jennifer Littlefield<br />
Julie Lovell<br />
Alice Lucey<br />
Melissa Ludtke<br />
Veronica Lundgren<br />
Teresa Lyons<br />
Hillary Madge<br />
Nancy Marttila<br />
Midori Morikawa<br />
Ryan Thomas Naples<br />
Mary Jane Patrone<br />
Carol Pawlowski<br />
Martha Pierce<br />
Luanne Pike<br />
Samuel Plimpton<br />
Andrea Praeger<br />
Bethany Queior<br />
Joe Regan<br />
Colleen Reilly<br />
Gordon Richardson<br />
Susan Richardson<br />
Betsy Ridge<br />
Barbara Rodriguez<br />
Suzanne Rothschild<br />
Condee N. Russo<br />
Linda Samuels<br />
Ila Shah<br />
Donald Shepard<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
xi<br />
Elizabeth Silverman<br />
Jane Skelton<br />
Gary Smith<br />
Lynne Smith<br />
Epp Sonin<br />
Katie Sullivan<br />
Kristen Sullivan<br />
McEntyre<br />
Meg Tallon<br />
Elizabeth Thomas<br />
Linnea Walsh<br />
Fred Warburg<br />
Jonathan Warburg<br />
Ruth Weiner<br />
Amy Wertheim<br />
Victoria Whitney<br />
Carol Wintle<br />
<strong>Boston</strong> Latin School<br />
Students<br />
Lily Brigham<br />
Isabel Elias<br />
Mary Harrington<br />
KC Kirby<br />
Megan Li<br />
Laurel Nyhan<br />
Esther Rosi-Kessel<br />
Veronica Smith<br />
Kathleen Terrey<br />
Bryanna Upton<br />
Sai Wadsworth<br />
Rivers School<br />
Students<br />
Sophie Bailey<br />
Joyce Do<br />
Abbey Fireman<br />
Spencer Gary<br />
Maylea Harris<br />
Joylyn Kim<br />
Holly Minogue<br />
Ella Patti
Participating<br />
Schools<br />
U.S. Schools<br />
Al-Noor Academy<br />
Alhuda Academy<br />
Arrow Academy<br />
Bailly STEM Academy<br />
Barnstable Intermediate School<br />
Beebe School<br />
Beeman Elementary School<br />
Bellesini Academy<br />
Benzie Central Middle School<br />
Blackstone Elementary School<br />
<strong>Boston</strong> Community Leadership<br />
Academy-McCormack 7-12 School<br />
<strong>Boston</strong> Renaissance Charter<br />
Public School<br />
Brimmer <strong>and</strong> May School<br />
Buckingham Browne <strong>and</strong> Nichols<br />
School<br />
Carl W. Goetz Middle School<br />
Christa McAuliffe Charter School<br />
Community Academy<br />
Community Preparatory School<br />
Covenant Preparatory School<br />
Curley K-8 School<br />
De La Salle Academy<br />
Dennis C. Haley Pilot School<br />
Esperanza Academy<br />
Fillmore Central Middle School<br />
Floyd T. Binns Middle School<br />
Franklin D. Roosevelt K-8 School<br />
Gardner Pilot Academy<br />
Harmony Hill School<br />
Heritage Middle School<br />
Hurley K-8 School<br />
James P. Timilty Middle School<br />
Jefferson County K-12 Schhool<br />
John D. O’Bryant School <strong>of</strong><br />
Mathematics <strong>and</strong> Science<br />
John T. Nichols, Jr. Middle School<br />
Joseph P. Tynan Elementary School<br />
Josiah Quincy Upper School<br />
Keith Middle School<br />
Knox Trail Middle School<br />
Lincoln Middle School<br />
Linden STEAM Academy<br />
Malik Academy<br />
Mary Lyon K-8 School<br />
Maurice J. Tobin K-8 School<br />
Mitchell Elementary School<br />
Mother Caroline Academy <strong>and</strong><br />
Education Center<br />
Mozart Elementary School<br />
Nativity School <strong>of</strong> Worcester<br />
New Oxford Middle School<br />
Norm<strong>and</strong>in Middle School<br />
Oliver Hazard Perry K-8 School<br />
Our Sisters’ School<br />
Paul A. Dever Elementary School<br />
Proctor Elementary School<br />
Rafael Hernández K-8 School<br />
Roberts K-8 School<br />
Roosevelt Middle School<br />
Saint Andrew’s School<br />
Saint Brendan School<br />
Saint John Paul II Catholic Academy<br />
Saint Patrick School<br />
Saint Paul’s - Clearwater’s<br />
Independent School<br />
Saint Paul’s Choir School<br />
Salemwood School<br />
Sarah Greenwood K-8 School<br />
School <strong>of</strong> Engineering & Sciences<br />
South <strong>Boston</strong> Catholic Academy<br />
South Shore Charter Public School<br />
St. Agatha School<br />
St. John School<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Courage</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Children</strong>: <strong>Boston</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Beyond</strong><br />
xii
Participating<br />
Schools<br />
Taunton Family Rescource Center<br />
Tech<strong>Boston</strong> Academy<br />
<strong>The</strong> Advent School<br />
<strong>The</strong> Field School<br />
<strong>The</strong> Park School<br />
Warren-Prescott K-8 School<br />
William Henderson K-12<br />
Inclusion School<br />
Woodl<strong>and</strong> Middle School<br />
Zephyrhills Correctional Institute<br />
International Partners<br />
Cambridge Cambodia School,<br />
Cambodia<br />
Baatsagaan Secondary School,<br />
Mongolia<br />
Kids Wider World, Mongolia<br />
Mongolian State Conservatory<br />
School, Mongolia<br />
Secondary School <strong>of</strong> Tuv Province,<br />
Mongolia<br />
4th Secondary School <strong>of</strong> Govisumber,<br />
Mongolia<br />
7th Secondary School <strong>of</strong> Ulaanbaatar,<br />
Mongolia<br />
“Setgemj” Complex Secondary<br />
School, Mongolia<br />
American School <strong>of</strong> Barcelona, Spain<br />
Hisar Schools / Pazarcık Cumhuriyet<br />
Ortaokulu, Turkey<br />
Hisar Schools / İstiklal Halil Arık<br />
Ortaokulu, Turkey<br />
22 May School, Yemen<br />
Abjad, Yemen<br />
Afak Sanaa, Yemen<br />
Arwa, Yemen<br />
Aslam, Yemen<br />
Al-Abbas, Yemen<br />
Al-Masahat Al-Sadeka, Yemen<br />
Al-Motasem, Yemen<br />
Al-Nahdah, Yemen<br />
Al-Ola, Yemen<br />
Al-Qairawan, Yemen<br />
Al-Rasheed, Yemen<br />
Al-Shanah, Yemen<br />
Al-Thawrah, Yemen<br />
Al-Zahraa, Yemen<br />
Dar Al-Aytam (Orphanage House),<br />
Yemen<br />
Der Al-Akam, Yemen<br />
Eidid Boys, Yemen<br />
Eidid Girls, Yemen<br />
Faisal, Yemen<br />
Ib Zaidon, Yemen<br />
Othman, Yemen<br />
Rowad Al-Najah, Yemen<br />
Salman Al-Farsi, Yemen<br />
Sodah Bin Zama’ah, Yemen<br />
Tokya, Yemen<br />
Zaila, Yemen<br />
After-School Program Partners<br />
3Point Foundation<br />
<strong>Boston</strong> Public Library, Roslindale<br />
Branch<br />
Thomas M. Menino YMCA<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
xiii
Participating<br />
Teachers<br />
U.S. Teachers<br />
Melanie Allen<br />
Michael Andrews<br />
Belkys Angeles<br />
Denise Ashworth<br />
Dawn Avery<br />
Joyce Baio<br />
Kate Boswell<br />
Christine Boulette<br />
Scott Brann<br />
Matthew Brewer<br />
Hanora Broderick<br />
Mary Budrose<br />
Peter Bulmer<br />
Hope Bynoe<br />
Heather Callahan<br />
Annette Carter<br />
Valerie Carvalho<br />
Catherine Casey-Paull<br />
Dan Cesario<br />
Daniel Cesario<br />
Brooke Chavdar<br />
Leigh Cirasuolo<br />
Colleen Clifford<br />
Julie Cochran<br />
Kathy Coen<br />
Aaron Cohen<br />
Jason Cornaglia<br />
Kailyn Corrado<br />
Sara Coyle<br />
Alisha Crebbin<br />
Brenda Crowley<br />
Janna Cunnion<br />
Lindsey Daigle<br />
Sara DeOreo<br />
Julie DiFilippo<br />
Kristina Dolce<br />
Chris Donaher<br />
Karen Douglas<br />
Cari-Ann Dufresne<br />
Kyle Farnworth<br />
Sonie Felix<br />
Kate Fuoroli<br />
Karlei Fura<br />
Jennifer Gayda<br />
Taeko Gupta<br />
Erin Hannon-Foley<br />
Louis Harper<br />
Sarah Harrison<br />
Deborah Hart<br />
Merrill Hawkins<br />
Bonnie Hickey<br />
Amy Higginbotham<br />
Lianne Hodson<br />
Sarah Hoisl<br />
Leila Huff<br />
Mona Ives<br />
Amy Jass<br />
Alex Jones<br />
Monica Jones<br />
Rachel Joseph<br />
Ryan Kaplan<br />
Aaron Kesler<br />
Cathy Kimbrough<br />
Sabina Kozak<br />
Peter Laboy<br />
M<strong>and</strong>y Lam-Wright<br />
Jen Lambert<br />
Scott Larivee<br />
Julie Leo<br />
Julia Lewis<br />
Gina Lord<br />
Clara Lucien<br />
Kate Lynch<br />
Melissa Ma<br />
Stefanie Machado<br />
Dionne Manchester<br />
Elizabeth Marc-Aurele<br />
Am<strong>and</strong>a Mari<br />
Emily Marshall<br />
Delaney Mathews<br />
Maeve McCarthy<br />
Yol<strong>and</strong>a McCollum<br />
Cynthia McDermott<br />
Debra Mendes<br />
Sawsan Mezyan<br />
Carolyn Miller<br />
Howard Minsky<br />
Sharice Moore<br />
Patrick Moran<br />
Colby Nilsen<br />
Liane Ouellette<br />
Sam Pendergast<br />
Gus Polstein<br />
Nila Pope<br />
Maria Porcello<br />
Dan Poremba<br />
Jaclyn Poremski<br />
Jessica Preciado<br />
Nicole Precourt<br />
Kenya Quinney<br />
Melanie Reardon<br />
Alicia Reines-Leo<br />
Angelica Reza<br />
Christina Rish<br />
Linda Roach<br />
Amy Rojek<br />
Alicia Roth<br />
Sylvia Rua<br />
Alexa Salvato<br />
Alicia Savage<br />
Melynda Schudrich<br />
Maureen Shanahan<br />
Hanna Shibles<br />
Joyce Sioch<br />
Sophia Sirage<br />
Deborah Slik<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Courage</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Children</strong>: <strong>Boston</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Beyond</strong><br />
xiv
Participating<br />
Teachers<br />
Barbara Smith<br />
Faith Smith<br />
Melanie Smith<br />
Alexias Soares<br />
Colin Southgate<br />
Kristen Spadafora<br />
Alison Spade<br />
Melissa Stampfl<br />
Jeanine Stansfield<br />
Helen Sullivan<br />
Erica <strong>The</strong>odore-King<br />
Mariya Timkovsky<br />
Crystal Tomecek<br />
Evanne Torrecillas<br />
Thu-Hang Tran-Peou<br />
Jessica Tsai<br />
William V<strong>and</strong>all<br />
Rene Vazquez<br />
Christa von der Luft<br />
Mary Wall<br />
Andrea Watson<br />
Kathryn Weaver<br />
Carolyn Westgate<br />
Lindsay Worstell<br />
Emily Wu<br />
Abbey Yohe<br />
Adra Young<br />
International<br />
Partners<br />
Yasser Abd<br />
Fathia Abdullah<br />
Noaman Abdullah<br />
Ali Al-Asadi<br />
Haifa Al-Jabobi<br />
Ahmed Al-Khazan<br />
Asma Al-Sharfi<br />
Samira Ali<br />
Wafa Aljabobe<br />
Fatemah Almakalih<br />
Ekin Aluf<br />
N. Ariunbulgan<br />
Dawn Austin<br />
Adnan Awadh<br />
N. Bolortuya<br />
G. Davaajav<br />
Aish Mohammed Deeb<br />
Deniz Erelçin<br />
Heather Faris<br />
Tariq Hadi<br />
Boshra Hamed<br />
Marcia Harris<br />
Kais Iriani<br />
Zeynep İşeri<br />
O. Jargal<br />
Omar Karamah<br />
Erdenechimeg Manjaa<br />
Aisha K. Mohammed<br />
D. Munkhjin<br />
G. Nasanbayar<br />
Phalla Ol<br />
Khaled Omair<br />
Elliott Ruso<br />
Sedef Seker<br />
Aisha Thawab<br />
Mohammed <strong>The</strong>ep<br />
Melisa Yegül<br />
After-School<br />
Program Partners<br />
Farouqua Abuzeit<br />
Joan Arches<br />
Celeste Bocchicchio-<br />
Chaudhri<br />
Jeffrey Mestre<br />
Taenari Phillips-<br />
Thompson<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
xv
Executive Director’s Note<br />
by Carrie Coughlin, Executive Director<br />
As we go to print on Volume <strong>XXXII</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>The</strong> <strong>Courage</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Children</strong>: <strong>Boston</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>Beyond</strong>, I am proud to announce that we are now partnering with out-<strong>of</strong>-school<br />
time programs. In 2022, MAX<strong>Courage</strong> developed its first curriculum for<br />
out-<strong>of</strong>-school time programs, in hopes <strong>of</strong> providing more young people access<br />
to the social-emotional <strong>and</strong> academic benefits <strong>of</strong> our capstone writing project.<br />
We are grateful to our new partners in the <strong>Boston</strong> pilot <strong>of</strong> <strong>The</strong> MAX<strong>Courage</strong><br />
Writers’ Workshop Series this past fall, <strong>and</strong> we look forward to reading essays<br />
next year from 2023 summer camp <strong>and</strong> after-school program partnerships<br />
taking place all over Massachusetts.<br />
I want to extend a special thanks to board member Dr. Jane Skelton <strong>and</strong><br />
program director Molly McCafferty for the work they did to create the new<br />
out-<strong>of</strong>-school-time program, along with a new curriculum update which<br />
strengthened the Social Emotional Learning component <strong>of</strong> our beloved English<br />
Language Arts curriculum. It is important to respond to teachers’ feedback <strong>and</strong><br />
student needs in the aftermath <strong>of</strong> COVID-19, <strong>and</strong> to that end, this year we<br />
provided school supplies, a forum for teachers, “<strong>of</strong>fice hours,” <strong>and</strong> books to<br />
update school libraries. <strong>The</strong>se added supports <strong>and</strong> services for teachers <strong>and</strong><br />
students have created a new means <strong>of</strong> engagement for MAX<strong>Courage</strong>. 2023<br />
MAXFellow Sarah Br<strong>and</strong><strong>of</strong>f from the Lesley Ellis School says it best: “<strong>Courage</strong><br />
can bring us onto new paths, <strong>and</strong> lead us to new destinations.” I look forward<br />
to sharing our new destinations with you next year.<br />
Congratulations to all <strong>of</strong> the published authors <strong>and</strong> their teachers—the 2023<br />
MAX<strong>Courage</strong> cohort!<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Courage</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Children</strong>: <strong>Boston</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Beyond</strong><br />
xvi
Preface<br />
by Elizabeth Evans D’Ascensao<br />
In reading this year’s essays, both those published in this book, <strong>and</strong> those<br />
submitted from classrooms around the globe, I found myself especially moved<br />
by the vulnerability displayed by each young author. To witness someone, at<br />
any age, courageously <strong>and</strong> unapologetically say, “This is who I am,” feels rare<br />
<strong>and</strong> precious. Whether in admitting a fear or mistake, endeavoring to do<br />
better, or being open to failing, our essayists push back against our society’s<br />
obsession with perfection, with only showing life’s highlight reel. <strong>The</strong>y show<br />
us how worthy they are, as they are. <strong>The</strong>y challenge us to show up for<br />
ourselves, to do what is hard with the hope that it won’t be impossible. <strong>The</strong>y<br />
gently remind us that it’s okay to seek help <strong>and</strong> support. <strong>The</strong>y demonstrate<br />
how good it feels to extend help <strong>and</strong> support to others.<br />
That, year after year, we can take these powerful stories with us, <strong>and</strong> from<br />
them, gain our own courage to be vulnerable, is an extraordinary gift. This<br />
gift is born <strong>of</strong> the work, effort, <strong>and</strong> attention <strong>of</strong> so many: families who foster<br />
courage at home, teachers who provide the tools <strong>and</strong> safety for expressing<br />
that courage in the classroom, <strong>and</strong> our readers who honor the courage <strong>of</strong><br />
so many children by spending time with <strong>and</strong> trusting their words.<br />
For generations, we’ve been reminded to listen to our elders. Let this<br />
collection serve as a reminder to listen to our youth–the generations that<br />
follow, showing us new ways to open old doors <strong>and</strong> providing courageous<br />
solutions to our communities’ challenges.<br />
I invite you to honor this year’s authors by making more space in your life<br />
to be courageously vulnerable, to share the parts <strong>of</strong> life that are not always<br />
neat <strong>and</strong> tidy, <strong>and</strong>, above all, to listen to <strong>and</strong> learn from the young people<br />
in our community.<br />
Elizabeth Evans D’Ascensao is a Board Member <strong>and</strong> former Executive Director for <strong>The</strong> Max Warburg<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> Curriculum. She currently works as a content creator <strong>and</strong> consultant.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
xvii
Max’s Story<br />
By Stephanie Warburg <strong>and</strong> Charlotte Harris<br />
Max Warburg was born <strong>and</strong> brought up in <strong>Boston</strong>, Massachusetts. Not long<br />
ago, Max lived in an apartment near the center <strong>of</strong> the city with his parents <strong>and</strong><br />
his brother, Fred. Max was two <strong>and</strong> a half years older than Fred. Max had<br />
wavy light brown hair <strong>and</strong> bright brown eyes, <strong>and</strong> Fred had straight black hair<br />
<strong>and</strong> hazel eyes, but when they smiled, they looked a lot alike even though Max<br />
was much bigger.<br />
<strong>The</strong> boys liked sports. <strong>The</strong>y liked to swim in the summer, ski in the winter, <strong>and</strong><br />
sail whenever they got a chance. Mostly, their father, who is an architect, had to<br />
work, but as <strong>of</strong>ten as he could he took the boys sailing, teaching them to tie<br />
lines, trim sails, <strong>and</strong> steer a course.<br />
“Here,” he would say, “Max, you take the wheel. Fred, you hold this line tight<br />
<strong>and</strong> Max will sail us out <strong>of</strong> the harbor.”<br />
And Max would. He’d st<strong>and</strong> at the helm the way he thought his father stood.<br />
Eyes on the sail to be sure it didn’t spill its wind, both h<strong>and</strong>s on the big wheel,<br />
<strong>and</strong> feet spread apart, wind blowing his hair <strong>and</strong> puffing out his jacket, Max<br />
would play the part <strong>of</strong> the captain, dreaming <strong>of</strong> the day he would have his own<br />
boat. He knew exactly what he wanted: a sixteen-foot, drop-centerboard boat<br />
called a 420, just the right size for a twelve-year-old, which he figured he would<br />
be before he would ever get his 420. <strong>The</strong>n he could take Fred on some great<br />
sails, even on the days his dad was too busy. Better yet, then he could race <strong>and</strong><br />
maybe win.<br />
He knew what he’d call his boat, too. Take It To <strong>The</strong> Max, he’d call it, not just<br />
because it had his name in it, but because it sounded like the sky was the limit<br />
<strong>and</strong> that’s how Max felt.<br />
Max had other dreams. Ever since he was little, Max had been good at<br />
imitating people. His mom would talk to someone on the phone, <strong>and</strong> when she<br />
hung up, Max could imitate her ‘talking to a stranger’ voice or ‘talking to her<br />
best friend’ voice perfectly. He could hear an accent once <strong>and</strong> reproduce it<br />
exactly. He could mimic actors <strong>and</strong> other kids, making his friends laugh <strong>and</strong><br />
fascinating everyone with this ability.<br />
“You ought to be an actor when you grow up,” people would tell him. So he<br />
started looking at the actors on TV with his mind on learning acting skills <strong>and</strong><br />
camera angles.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Courage</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Children</strong>: <strong>Boston</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Beyond</strong><br />
xviii
“Mom,” Max said one day, “do you think I could ever be on TV?”<br />
“Well, I don’t see why not if you work at it,” she told him. Max’s mom was an<br />
artist, <strong>and</strong> it pleased her to see her son interested in growing up to be in one<br />
<strong>of</strong> the arts. Max joined a children’s theater group <strong>and</strong> went for acting lessons.<br />
He started to gain the confidence an actor needs, <strong>and</strong> signed up with an<br />
agency that looks for children to act <strong>and</strong> model. One day a call came.<br />
“Max, do you think you’re ready to act in a television commercial?” the<br />
agency representative asked. “Sure I am. Will my friends be able to see me?”<br />
he replied.<br />
“Not this time. This commercial is going to run in New Jersey, but maybe next<br />
time. Will you do it anyway? Right away?”<br />
“Oh, yes! This is my first chance!” Max ran to get his mom, <strong>and</strong>, alive with<br />
anticipation, Max, Fred, <strong>and</strong> their mom drove to the studio. <strong>The</strong>y spent a<br />
day taping <strong>and</strong> re-taping. Max watched the pr<strong>of</strong>essionals, followed directions<br />
intently, <strong>and</strong> caught on quickly to what was expected <strong>of</strong> him. When the long<br />
day was done, Max tried to guess when the next time would be that he would<br />
get a chance in front <strong>of</strong> the cameras. He couldn’t have guessed then that six<br />
short months later he would be a frequent talk show guest, but not for a<br />
reason anyone would want.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
xix
For Max, acting was fun <strong>and</strong> easy, <strong>and</strong> so was schoolwork. He loved to be with<br />
his friends in school, <strong>and</strong> he loved to read <strong>and</strong> figure things out. He loved to<br />
laugh <strong>and</strong> play jokes. At school, they called Max the peacemaker. Kids would<br />
argue or get to fighting, but Max would get into the middle <strong>and</strong> try to calm<br />
things down. Being a good sport <strong>and</strong> thinking <strong>of</strong> the other guy were Max’s way.<br />
In tense situations, Max would be the one to lighten things up with a joke.<br />
Not everything came easy. Living in the city surrounded by buildings <strong>and</strong><br />
pavement, Max didn’t have much chance to play ball, but he wanted to. As<br />
soon as he was old enough, Max joined a baseball league. <strong>The</strong>y played on the<br />
<strong>Boston</strong> Common. Max was the youngest player <strong>and</strong> afraid <strong>of</strong> the fastballs<br />
coming straight at him. A couple <strong>of</strong> times he didn’t get out <strong>of</strong> the way <strong>of</strong> the ball<br />
<strong>and</strong> it hit him, but he didn’t let it get him down. For one thing, he knew Fred<br />
was watching <strong>and</strong> he knew as the big brother he’d better get right back up. Max<br />
was philosophical about his shortcomings. “I’ll be better next time,” he would<br />
say, <strong>and</strong> then he’d work at it. He never missed a practice. Even though he never<br />
got to be the best player on his team, by his third season his teammates knew<br />
they could count on him for a solid performance.<br />
During the summers, Max <strong>and</strong> his family left the city for the seashore.<br />
One morning in July 1990, when Max was eleven, Max’s mom needed<br />
something at the hardware store, <strong>and</strong> Max was looking for something to do.<br />
“I’ll go. Let me do it,” he said, <strong>and</strong> he got on his bike <strong>and</strong> pedaled <strong>of</strong>f toward<br />
town. About a mile from the house his front tire hit a pocket <strong>of</strong> s<strong>and</strong> the wrong<br />
way. <strong>The</strong> wheel skewed around sideways <strong>and</strong> Max fell. He l<strong>and</strong>ed on his<br />
shoulder, the breath knocked out <strong>of</strong> him. Hot burning pain filled his stomach<br />
<strong>and</strong> chest, making him curl in a ball <strong>and</strong> squeeze his eyes shut.<br />
Max knew something was wrong, more wrong than just a fall from his bike.<br />
Max’s mother knew something was really wrong as soon as she saw him walking<br />
beside his bike, steps slow <strong>and</strong> head down. Before he could get in the house she<br />
had him in the car <strong>and</strong> on the way to the local hospital emergency room.<br />
“Max fell <strong>of</strong>f his bike <strong>and</strong> he doesn’t feel right,” Max’s mom told the doctor.<br />
<strong>The</strong> doctor felt Max’s back <strong>and</strong> side <strong>and</strong> the smile left her face. “What’s this<br />
here? His side is all swollen. I think he’s ruptured his spleen. Max is in trouble.”<br />
“What kind <strong>of</strong> trouble?” Max <strong>and</strong> his mom said, almost at the same time.<br />
“I’m not sure, but we need to find out fast,” said the doctor, frowning<br />
with concern.<br />
She called an ambulance to take Max to <strong>Children</strong>’s Hospital back in the city.<br />
Siren <strong>and</strong> lights clearing a path, the ambulance rushed up the highway to<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Courage</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Children</strong>: <strong>Boston</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Beyond</strong><br />
xx
<strong>Boston</strong>, barely slowing down for the tight corners near the entrance to the<br />
hospital. Max was wheeled straight into the emergency room.<br />
“This doesn’t look good,” the emergency room doctor said.<br />
“If my spleen is split, why don’t you operate on me <strong>and</strong> sew it up?” Max<br />
wanted to know.<br />
“Can you sew Jell-O? That’s what a spleen looks like. Not much to look at, but<br />
good to have because that’s what your body uses to clean your blood. Mrs.<br />
Warburg, this boy is going to be here for at least ten days.”<br />
Sad <strong>and</strong> frightened, Mr. <strong>and</strong> Mrs. Warburg made their plans. Max’s mom<br />
would stay with him, <strong>and</strong> his dad would take Fred back to the shore to keep<br />
things as normal as possible for him. <strong>The</strong> news from the hospital wasn’t good.<br />
It looked as if Max had leukemia, a dangerous cancer in his bone marrow, but<br />
the doctors weren’t sure which kind <strong>of</strong> leukemia he had. Some kinds were less<br />
difficult to cure, <strong>and</strong> some were easier to bear than others. Hoping their son<br />
had the commonest kind that could be cured, the Warburgs started to learn<br />
about leukemia.<br />
<strong>The</strong> results <strong>of</strong> the blood tests came back. Max had a rare form <strong>of</strong> leukemia,<br />
found in one in a million children. <strong>The</strong> lab doctor told Max’s parents, “Now<br />
that we’ve seen these results, I wonder how Max ever got himself <strong>of</strong>f the<br />
ground <strong>and</strong> back to the house the day he fell <strong>of</strong>f his bike. He must be a very<br />
determined boy.”<br />
“Yes, he is,” Max’s father said. “He is going to need to be.”<br />
It was Dr. Susan Parsons who told Max what he had. “Leukemia is hard to<br />
beat. You’ll have to have chemotherapy <strong>and</strong> radiation stronger than one<br />
hundred thous<strong>and</strong> X-rays. In order to test your blood <strong>and</strong> feed you, we’re<br />
going to have to make an incision near your heart <strong>and</strong> insert a tube. You can’t<br />
play ball <strong>and</strong> you can’t play soccer or ride your bike. If your spleen gets hit<br />
again, it will kill you.”<br />
Max thought a bit. “Tell me what is going to happen.”<br />
“You have to have a bone marrow transplant. Do you know what that is, Max?<br />
That means taking the fluid out <strong>of</strong> the middle <strong>of</strong> all your bones <strong>and</strong> then<br />
putting in the fluid from someone else’s bones in its place. We can’t do it<br />
unless we can find the right donor -- someone whose bone <strong>and</strong> blood type<br />
match yours almost exactly. Often, not even members <strong>of</strong> your own family are<br />
a close enough match. Right now, there are about six thous<strong>and</strong> people out<br />
there looking for the one perfect match to save their lives. You’ll be joining<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
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them, Max. Your chance <strong>of</strong> finding a match is about one in twenty thous<strong>and</strong>.”<br />
Again, Max thought a minute. “So, there are six thous<strong>and</strong> others. Okay, I’ll be<br />
six thous<strong>and</strong> plus one. I’ll be one <strong>of</strong> the lucky ones.”<br />
“You already have been. Because you fell <strong>of</strong>f your bike, we were able to catch<br />
your disease early, before there were other symptoms. If we get a donor fast,<br />
time will be on your side.”<br />
After ten days <strong>of</strong> testing, they let Max come home to the apartment in <strong>Boston</strong>.<br />
Every week, in order to adjust his medicine, he had to go to the hospital for<br />
blood tests, which meant a little needle, <strong>and</strong> for blood samples, which meant a<br />
big needle <strong>and</strong> a tube. Max hated needles. His mother knew he hated needles<br />
<strong>and</strong> wondered when she didn’t see him flinch each week as the nurse aimed<br />
the needle toward his arm. Even the nurse, who had seen so many different<br />
kinds <strong>of</strong> reactions to needles over the years, was surprised by Max’s calm.<br />
“What are you thinking about, young man?” she said to him on one <strong>of</strong> his<br />
visits to the blood lab, not really expecting a reply.<br />
Max answered very seriously, “First, I wait <strong>and</strong> prepare myself. <strong>The</strong>n I put all<br />
my energy where the needle is going to go, then I make fun <strong>of</strong> the needle.” On<br />
his own, Max had found a way to conquer a fear that, if he did not get the best<br />
<strong>of</strong> it, could make it harder for him to get well.<br />
No sports for at least six months, he’d been told, so he found a calendar,<br />
tacked it up, <strong>and</strong> drew a smiling face on the date six months away. Max had a<br />
goal. He knew he’d be sick for a while but he knew when it would be over. On<br />
the space for February 6, 1991, beside the smile he wrote, “Cured” <strong>and</strong><br />
underlined it in red.<br />
In September, Max went back to school. When he told Nurse Hoolihan at the<br />
hospital that the kids didn’t seem to underst<strong>and</strong> what was wrong with him, she<br />
said she’d come to his school <strong>and</strong> explain. <strong>The</strong> kids listened carefully to Nurse<br />
Hoolihan, but it was Max they wanted to hear from.<br />
“How did you catch leukemia?” asked someone, saying out loud the big<br />
question in everyone’s mind.<br />
“I didn’t just catch it,” Max said matter-<strong>of</strong>-factly. “First, I had to have inherited<br />
a particular gene <strong>and</strong> then I had to have what my doctor said was an accident<br />
in my blood cells. One cell went crazy. It started making the other cells produce<br />
too many white cells <strong>and</strong> platelets. My white cells are crowding out my red cells,<br />
<strong>and</strong> that’s not good for me. But, listen; no one can catch this from me.”<br />
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You could see the kids were relieved. <strong>The</strong>y stopped sitting so stiffly <strong>and</strong> acting<br />
so polite. Even Max’s teacher <strong>and</strong> the other grownups in the room seemed<br />
to relax a little.<br />
“What can we do for you?” Max’s best friend wanted to know.<br />
“Don’t treat me funny. I’m not supposed to bump my spleen but I’m the<br />
same old Max.”<br />
<strong>The</strong>re were reminders at home, too, that his life had changed. Max had to<br />
choose whether to give up his kitten, Fantasy, or have her claws out so that she<br />
couldn’t scratch him <strong>and</strong> start an infection. Max couldn’t bring himself to hurt<br />
Fantasy that way, so he found her another home. He missed his kitten. “Be<br />
careful, Max. Be careful,” it seemed to him his mother kept saying. He missed<br />
hearing her say, “Off you go <strong>and</strong> have a good time,” without a worried look.<br />
<strong>The</strong> hospital did what it could to find a donor for Max so he could have the<br />
transplant that could save his life. His parents were tested <strong>and</strong> Fred was tested,<br />
but no perfect match was found. Close relatives were tested <strong>and</strong> then friends <strong>of</strong><br />
the family, <strong>and</strong> still no match. Wait, the hospital told them, a match might be<br />
found in the new national marrow donor registry.<br />
His parents were troubled by waiting. <strong>The</strong> registry had too few matches <strong>and</strong><br />
too many other people who were counting on the registry but hadn’t been<br />
helped. “We can help. We can learn how to do donor drives.” It was going to<br />
be hard, but they knew they had to try. What they didn’t realize at first was<br />
that Max would make the donor drive succeed. At first, only the family worked<br />
on the drives. <strong>The</strong>n they were joined by many <strong>of</strong> their friends, <strong>and</strong> soon, old<br />
friends were joined by the hundreds <strong>of</strong> new friends Max found through<br />
television <strong>and</strong> radio.<br />
Max’s campaign for a donor was called the “Max + 6,000.” Always, Max<br />
wanted people to remember that this wasn’t just for him. It was for Max <strong>and</strong> all<br />
the others in America who needed the one perfect donor. Many people didn’t<br />
really know what leukemia was all about or about bone marrow transplants, or<br />
how to help even if they wanted to help. One morning, figuring he had nothing<br />
to lose <strong>and</strong> plenty to gain, Max called a radio station to see if he could make his<br />
appeal on the air. He spoke on local radio shows. He was invited to talk on<br />
Channel 4 <strong>and</strong> then Channel 7 <strong>and</strong> then Channel 2. Smiling into the camera,<br />
Max would say, “Leukemia is a blood disease that starts in the marrow <strong>of</strong><br />
bones. I need new bone marrow in order to get better. Come have a simple<br />
blood test <strong>and</strong> see if you can be my donor. Perhaps you will be my MUD, my<br />
matched unrelated donor.”<br />
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Tom Bergeron, one talk show host, said to Max, “You’re good at this. You look<br />
as if you’re enjoying yourself.”<br />
“I am, sir. I wanted to be on TV <strong>and</strong> here I am. Maybe this is what I was<br />
getting ready for. Even if no donor turns up for me, I can help someone else.”<br />
For the people watching Max, it wasn’t pity that moved them; it was Max’s<br />
cheerful way <strong>of</strong> thinking <strong>of</strong> others before himself. <strong>The</strong> stations asked him back<br />
again <strong>and</strong> again. Hundreds <strong>and</strong> eventually thous<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> people came to give<br />
a sample <strong>of</strong> their blood <strong>and</strong> promised to be a bone marrow donor if their type<br />
matched the type <strong>of</strong> anyone in need.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Boston</strong> Globe <strong>and</strong> <strong>The</strong> <strong>Boston</strong> Herald picked up Max’s story. “Max waits for<br />
his rescue,” said one headline. “Max leads charge against disease.” <strong>The</strong><br />
reporters who met him liked Max <strong>and</strong> wanted to help him. <strong>The</strong>ir stories<br />
reassured people <strong>and</strong> gave them practical information about when <strong>and</strong> how to<br />
become a bone marrow donor.<br />
At every donor meeting, there was Max wearing a “Max + 6,000” button <strong>and</strong> a<br />
red carnation. Red for blood, he said, <strong>and</strong> laughed when people asked how he<br />
could joke about something so serious. Max would shake each donor’s h<strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>and</strong> say thank you. “You may not help me but you probably will help<br />
somebody,” he’d say.<br />
Every week, Max’s white cell count got higher. Every week, the need to find a<br />
donor got more acute. “It may be getting too late,” Dr. Parsons worried. “We<br />
have to find a donor soon.”<br />
Days slipped by. Weeks slipped by. Leaves on the trees outside Max’s window<br />
turned red <strong>and</strong> orange <strong>and</strong> then brown <strong>and</strong> fell away in the winds <strong>of</strong> early<br />
winter. Max, Fred, <strong>and</strong> their mom <strong>and</strong> dad talked about the little events <strong>of</strong> each<br />
day <strong>and</strong> about the distant future but not <strong>of</strong>ten about the immediate future.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y talked about missing the rest <strong>of</strong> the summer at the shore <strong>and</strong> about Take<br />
It To <strong>The</strong> Max, the dreamboat. <strong>The</strong> boat came to mean so much. It meant<br />
another summer growing up. It meant having a future. By mid-October, nearly<br />
three months after Max’s leukemia was discovered, there still was no donor.<br />
“I’m going to order the 420 for Max,” his father said. “It will mean a lot to him<br />
knowing the boat is started.” He called the boat builder, who said yes, he could<br />
have the boat ready by spring. By the time Max was well; his 420 would be<br />
ready to put into the water.<br />
With no donor found, surgery went forward to improve Max’s chances later on,<br />
just in case a donor could be found. On November 15, Max’s spleen was<br />
removed. He recovered for a week in the hospital <strong>and</strong> for six days at home.<br />
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<strong>The</strong>n, on November 28, the hospital called. <strong>The</strong> lab had found the miracle<br />
match among the last batch <strong>of</strong> samples.<br />
“Who is it?” Max asked.<br />
“We don’t know, but it’s a perfect match!” the nurse said. Later, during long<br />
December days in the hospital, Max <strong>and</strong> his dad sent the anonymous<br />
benefactor a picture <strong>of</strong> the intravenous bag that held the life-giving bone<br />
marrow with a letter that said, “This is all we know <strong>of</strong> you but we want to thank<br />
you!” Much later, Mr. <strong>and</strong> Mrs. Warburg learned that the donor was a doctor<br />
in Seattle, Washington, whose great-, great-, great-, great-gr<strong>and</strong>father all the<br />
way back to the 1800s in Europe was the same as Max’s.<br />
Now, with marrow from the donor, treatment could begin to pave the way for<br />
the transplant that might save Max. Chemotherapy would be the worst part.<br />
“Your hair is going to fall out, Max,” Dr. Parsons told him. Max could see that<br />
other kids in the cancer ward had little or no hair. “It’s part <strong>of</strong> getting better,”<br />
he told Fred. But he wasn’t sure he would be brave enough. He had seen others<br />
going for their treatment <strong>and</strong> returning exhausted <strong>and</strong> in tears. He was<br />
determined he wouldn’t let the treatment sink his spirits.<br />
First Max had a tube implanted in his chest, as the doctor told him would<br />
happen, for giving medicine, taking blood samples, <strong>and</strong> for feeding him because<br />
he wouldn’t be able to eat normally. He would have to be almost in isolation in<br />
a special environment called the Laminar Flow Room. In the sealed room,<br />
ducts brought a steady, moving stream <strong>of</strong> oxygen down <strong>and</strong> away from the bed,<br />
blowing foreign substances away from Max as his system tried to accept the<br />
strange marrow <strong>and</strong> begin making its own blood.<br />
Except for daily trips to the Total Body Irradiation room--the hospital<br />
people called it the TBI--Max had to stay in the isolated room <strong>and</strong> could<br />
see few visitors. When his mom <strong>and</strong> Fred visited each day <strong>and</strong> his dad came<br />
in the evening, they had to scrub like doctors <strong>and</strong> wear cover-up coats <strong>and</strong><br />
hairnets. Even a touch could harm, so there could be no hugs to give comfort<br />
<strong>and</strong> love. Each morning the halls were cleared <strong>of</strong> contaminating strangers<br />
so Max, inside a tent, could be wheeled through the empty halls to the<br />
treatment room.<br />
Knowing he’d be lonely <strong>and</strong> expecting he’d be scared, Dr. Parsons had given<br />
Max a tape recorder so he could make a record <strong>of</strong> what was happening to him.<br />
Max told his tape recorder, “Going to TBI is really cool, like being in a space<br />
ship. <strong>The</strong> air coming in from the top <strong>of</strong> my oxygen tent is exhilarating. I feel<br />
like a great explorer from the next century gliding in on his chair.”<br />
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<strong>The</strong> experience in the room wasn’t exhilarating. <strong>The</strong> drugs made Max sick.<br />
He had to stay on a metal table, head on blocks, neck stiff <strong>and</strong> body sore, for a<br />
long time. When finally he sat up, he threw up. <strong>The</strong> vomiting meant he was<br />
done for the day. On his tape Max said, “<strong>The</strong> table is real hard <strong>and</strong> it makes<br />
my head so stiff, but it’s fun because I can blast my music as loud as I want so it<br />
reminds me <strong>of</strong> home.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> first seven treatment days were chemotherapy <strong>and</strong> irradiation. <strong>The</strong> eighth<br />
day, the transplant itself, wasn’t at all what Max expected. Instead <strong>of</strong> an<br />
operation with doctors cutting him open, Max lay on his bed all alone while the<br />
new marrow flowed into his body from a transparent bag <strong>of</strong> clear fluid<br />
suspended over his head <strong>and</strong> connected to him by a clear slender tube.<br />
“How is that going to get into my bones?” he wondered while he watched, then<br />
later heard the doctors themselves marveling that the marrow sought its way to<br />
the right places once it was safely in his system.<br />
<strong>The</strong> blood count was critical. After the transplant, Max’s white cell count was<br />
zero. <strong>The</strong>y wouldn’t let him out <strong>of</strong> the Laminar Flow Room until his count was<br />
3,000. One day after the transplant, his count was 20. <strong>The</strong> next day it was 100,<br />
then 150, then 300. Max had a long way to go, but he was making it. His body<br />
was rebuilding. Slowly the days passed.<br />
Max knew these days would be hard. <strong>The</strong> pains doctors had warned about<br />
became the pains he felt. Max didn’t complain. Instead, he tried to cheer up<br />
other patients stuck, as he was, in the hospital for Christmas. He got his parents<br />
to help. Max’s mom <strong>and</strong> dad brought in a whole Christmas dinner for all the<br />
kids <strong>and</strong> their families in the Jimmy Fund wing, the part <strong>of</strong> the hospital where<br />
Max <strong>and</strong> the other children with cancer were staying. Teddy Kennedy, Jr., who<br />
had cancer when he was thirteen <strong>and</strong> was now all grown up, brought presents<br />
for the kids, along with living pro<strong>of</strong> that they could get better.<br />
Max yearned for breakout day, the day the doctors would let him go out <strong>of</strong> his<br />
room. Finally, early in the New Year, on January 2, Max woke to see balloons<br />
on the isolation room door <strong>and</strong> crepe-paper streamers overhead. <strong>The</strong> nurses,<br />
especially Nurse Rohan, his favorite, were celebrating for him. This was it; he<br />
was out! He went by wheelchair to the hospital door, then into the fresh air for<br />
the first time in 35 days, <strong>and</strong> then home. He loved the smell, he loved the look,<br />
<strong>and</strong> he loved the feel <strong>of</strong> home! Everyone in the hospital had been great to Max<br />
<strong>and</strong> he was grateful, but home was where he wanted to be. Back in his own<br />
room, Max saw again the calendar with the smile marking February 6. It was<br />
still almost a month away. “Not quite cured,” thought Max. “But maybe I’ll be<br />
better by then. February 6 will be a happy day.”<br />
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But it wasn’t. Before long Max was back in the hospital with a high fever. Dr.<br />
Parsons sent him home again, uncertain what was wrong. Back he went again<br />
for ten days <strong>and</strong> again he came home no better. Still he had a fever <strong>and</strong> still he<br />
threw up. On February 6, he went back to the hospital again. <strong>The</strong> smile he was<br />
now famous for was still there, but it seemed to waver at the corners <strong>of</strong> his<br />
mouth. Max went back to his isolation room <strong>and</strong> this time he would have an<br />
oxygen mask, the sign <strong>of</strong> mortal struggle.<br />
Max’s mom <strong>and</strong> dad <strong>and</strong> Fred were at the hospital every day, staying with<br />
him until the evening when Max, heavy with drugs, fell asleep. <strong>The</strong> long<br />
days in the hospital were hard on Fred. He played with Max, but it wasn’t<br />
like the last time Max was in the hospital. One day, sick <strong>and</strong> exhausted after<br />
a treatment, Max was being pushed back to his room in the wheelchair.<br />
Fred had had it. Right on the edge <strong>of</strong> crying, he pulled hard on his mother’s<br />
arm, making it difficult for her to push Max’s chair. “Come on, Fred. Max<br />
needs you to help out,” she said.<br />
Max was used to being the helper himself. Knowing he was needed, he said,<br />
“I can cheer Fred up. Put him here in my lap.”<br />
Fred went into his older brother’s lap, glad to be riding the long corridor <strong>and</strong><br />
glad to have Max acting like his old self. <strong>The</strong> two rolled along, Max’s head<br />
hidden <strong>and</strong> arms waving out from under Fred’s armpits, a four-armed,<br />
laughing pair all the way from Pulmonary to the Transplant floor. Hearing<br />
them, the nurses couldn’t tell that one <strong>of</strong> the laughing boys was perilously ill<br />
until, rounding the corner, they recognized Max <strong>and</strong> his family.<br />
“That’s like Max,” they told his mother. “At night on the transplant floor, the<br />
younger kids cry. <strong>The</strong>y’re in pain <strong>and</strong> they miss their families. I hear Max call<br />
to them, ‘Don’t cry. I’m here. You’ve got a friend!’ You have an unusually<br />
brave son, Mrs. Warburg.”<br />
“I’m not sure he realizes,” his mother said. “He says to me, ‘Mommy, do you<br />
think I’m brave?’ I don’t know why he doubts.”<br />
“How does he keep his laughter? How can he keep on smiling?”<br />
“That’s Max,” said his mom. “That’s the way Max is.”<br />
On March first Dr. Parsons told Max his life was threatened. <strong>The</strong> blood<br />
transfusions <strong>and</strong> medicines pumped into him weren’t working well enough.<br />
<strong>The</strong> doctors’ skills <strong>and</strong> the hospitals’ resources <strong>and</strong> Max’s own incredible will<br />
were losing against the disease. Max saw the solemn faces around him. His<br />
body swollen in places, emaciated in places, spotted with sores in places, Max<br />
looked Dr. Parsons straight in the eyes <strong>and</strong> said, “Well, okay, so what’s the plan?<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
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How are you going to get me well?” <strong>The</strong>y looked at Max in disbelief, to see his<br />
conviction so strong despite his ordeal, <strong>and</strong> took heart themselves.<br />
“Come here to the window, Max, come look,” said his father.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re in the hospital driveway below, high on a truck <strong>and</strong> with mainsail<br />
flying, was Take It To <strong>The</strong> Max. Max’s eyes widened in pleasure, his delight<br />
was evident in every gesture <strong>of</strong> his excitement. He glowed, knowing the<br />
care <strong>and</strong> love that brought his boat to him at this place at this time.<br />
Nurses <strong>and</strong> doctors all came to exclaim about Max’s treasure <strong>and</strong> enjoy<br />
his infectious happiness.<br />
That night, Max stayed up until close to midnight working on a project with<br />
his dad. When he was ready to put out the light, Max <strong>and</strong> his mom <strong>and</strong> dad<br />
prayed together <strong>and</strong> thanked God for all the help He had given <strong>and</strong> all the<br />
people who had been so kind to him. <strong>The</strong>n Max went to sleep.<br />
Max died in his mother’s arms, holding his father’s h<strong>and</strong>, at 6:55 a.m.<br />
on March 5, 1991.<br />
In the days that followed there was a terrible silence. <strong>The</strong> silence swelled<br />
<strong>and</strong> roared, because silences can do that if what you want to hear isn’t there<br />
<strong>and</strong> what you don’t want to hear is everywhere. <strong>The</strong>n stories started to fill<br />
the empty spaces, stories about Max.<br />
Many stories ended with a shake <strong>of</strong> the head, a glance away, <strong>and</strong> the simple<br />
statement, “Max amazed me then. He was so brave. <strong>Children</strong> amaze me.<br />
I am amazed by the courage <strong>of</strong> children.”<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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Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
xxix
<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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NATIONAL PROGRAMS<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
1
<strong>Courage</strong> in My Life<br />
<strong>The</strong> mission <strong>of</strong> <strong>The</strong> Max Warburg <strong>Courage</strong> Curriculum, Inc. is to strengthen the literacy<br />
<strong>and</strong> social-emotional skills <strong>of</strong> participating students. Our nonpr<strong>of</strong>it program, provided<br />
free <strong>of</strong> charge, invites educators <strong>and</strong> students to explore the idea <strong>of</strong> courage in literature,<br />
their own lives, <strong>and</strong> within the broader community.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Max Warburg <strong>Courage</strong> Curriculum is an English Language Arts<br />
curriculum founded to honor the life <strong>of</strong> Max Warburg, a courageous sixth<br />
grader whose steadfast determination <strong>and</strong> heartfelt hope in the face <strong>of</strong> his<br />
battle with leukemia continue to inspire our work.<br />
Since the program’s inception in 1991, the <strong>Courage</strong> Curriculum has positively<br />
impacted the academic performance <strong>and</strong> increased the essential knowledge <strong>of</strong><br />
over 250,000 middle school students in <strong>Boston</strong> Public Schools, as well as other<br />
schools in <strong>Boston</strong>, throughout Massachusetts, <strong>and</strong> across the country <strong>and</strong><br />
world. By connecting with Max’s story <strong>and</strong> other stories featuring courageous<br />
young people, students come to recognize <strong>and</strong> celebrate the role that courage<br />
plays in their own lives. Our work with talented teachers allows us to empower<br />
young people to continue to act courageously, to the benefit <strong>of</strong> their classmates,<br />
families, communities, <strong>and</strong> themselves.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Max Warburg <strong>Courage</strong> Curriculum works to improve the reading, writing,<br />
critical thinking, <strong>and</strong> social-emotional skills <strong>of</strong> students. We inspire participants<br />
to celebrate acts <strong>of</strong> courage in their own lives <strong>and</strong> the lives <strong>of</strong> others. We<br />
support teachers in the use <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Courage</strong> Curriculum to help their students<br />
discover their voices as writers, <strong>and</strong> reflect upon <strong>and</strong> share about their identities<br />
<strong>and</strong> lived experiences. <strong>The</strong> success <strong>of</strong> the program is evidenced by the resulting<br />
quality <strong>of</strong> students’ writing <strong>and</strong> their individual pride in their work.<br />
Although it is intensely focused on classroom practice <strong>and</strong> teacher instruction,<br />
<strong>The</strong> Max Warburg <strong>Courage</strong> Curriculum also disseminates this work on its<br />
website, in this annual publication <strong>of</strong> essays, <strong>and</strong> at an annual awards luncheon<br />
for Max Warburg Fellows. <strong>The</strong> luncheon draws students <strong>and</strong> their families <strong>and</strong><br />
teachers together for a culminating event to celebrate the outcomes <strong>of</strong> the<br />
program <strong>and</strong> the students’ efforts. <strong>The</strong> Max Warburg <strong>Courage</strong> Curriculum has<br />
been featured in academic journals <strong>and</strong> other publications, positioning the<br />
program as a national model for excellent school <strong>and</strong> community partnerships.<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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This year, we worked remotely with our teachers to bring our curriculum<br />
to thous<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> students at schools in the United States <strong>and</strong> worldwide.<br />
Additionally, this year, students in <strong>Boston</strong> after-school programs<br />
participated in a new pilot <strong>of</strong> the curriculum for out-<strong>of</strong>-school settings.<br />
<strong>The</strong> MAX<strong>Courage</strong> program is growing on a local, national, <strong>and</strong> global<br />
scale, <strong>and</strong> Max Warburg’s legacy continues to inspire young people to<br />
recognize <strong>and</strong> celebrate the courage in their lives.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
3
Julienne <strong>The</strong>lusma<br />
Erin Hannon-Foley, Teacher<br />
Roosevelt K-8 School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Money is a struggle sometimes. It’s challenging for a lot <strong>of</strong> families to earn<br />
enough money to sustain themselves or their families, including mine.<br />
My mom was doing great at the start, even with triplets. She had a job <strong>and</strong><br />
money <strong>and</strong> could take care <strong>of</strong> us. But soon, everything went downhill. This<br />
is her story.<br />
My mom is a super mom. She had a stable income, a well-paying job, <strong>and</strong><br />
everyone was happy. Everything was fine. But then something happened to<br />
my mom. She got really sick <strong>and</strong> couldn’t breathe sometimes. She had to be<br />
on machines <strong>and</strong> went to the hospital a lot. She left her job <strong>and</strong> stayed<br />
home taking care <strong>of</strong> us full time. That’s when the problems started.<br />
My mom was home all day taking care <strong>of</strong> us on days when we were out <strong>of</strong><br />
school, all while having doctors check on her from home or online. <strong>The</strong><br />
doctors started visiting less, <strong>and</strong> with COVID right around the corner <strong>and</strong><br />
no adults to help, she started getting worse <strong>and</strong> worse <strong>and</strong> had to rely on us.<br />
One time, I had to call an ambulance because she was having problems<br />
breathing, all while my dad was at work. I asked, “Are you ok?”<br />
“Call 911!” she shouted. I panicked. I felt like my heart was trying to escape<br />
my chest as I was struggling to pick up the phone. I picked up the phone<br />
<strong>and</strong> dialed 911. <strong>The</strong> ambulance came, <strong>and</strong> we all went to the hospital. We<br />
made it to the hospital, <strong>and</strong> my dad was informed <strong>and</strong> picked us up.<br />
My dad was very confused, so he asked, “What happened?”<br />
I responded with, “She just told me to call 911, <strong>and</strong> she looked like she<br />
wasn’t breathing very well.” She probably wouldn’t have made it if we<br />
weren’t there. That worried me, but I was just glad she was okay. As time<br />
went on, it started getting bad again, <strong>and</strong> as my mom was getting worse,<br />
the amount <strong>of</strong> money we had was going down.<br />
On January 15th, 2023, I was with my mom, <strong>and</strong> we were watching shows<br />
while she was cooking. I was about to leave to see what my siblings were<br />
doing, but she then asked, “Can you stay with me?” I was hesitant at first<br />
because my mom usually never asked something like that, but I stayed with<br />
her while she cooked. She then told me she wasn’t feeling well, <strong>and</strong> she<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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“A lesson I learned<br />
from my mom is<br />
that things won’t<br />
always be great <strong>and</strong><br />
you might have to<br />
stumble along the<br />
way, but you should<br />
push through<br />
<strong>and</strong> overcome<br />
the obstacles.”<br />
wasn’t breathing like she should have been. I continued to stay with her,<br />
<strong>and</strong> later in the day, it got worse. We called the ambulance, <strong>and</strong> she was<br />
taken to the hospital. She texted my dad that she loved us all, <strong>and</strong> we<br />
thought she was going to be okay, like she always was.<br />
Unfortunately, on January 16th, 2023, my mom passed away, while I was<br />
writing this story. We still don’t know how she died, <strong>and</strong> we are waiting for<br />
information. Although she passed away, I had to be strong.<br />
After everything she’d done for me <strong>and</strong> everything I’d done for her, I knew<br />
I couldn’t cry. I knew that it wasn’t what she would want me to do. She<br />
taught me that education is the main focus in my life right now, so I try to<br />
do that, just for her, because I know that’s what she’d want me to do. She<br />
always stayed strong even in her toughest moments, <strong>and</strong> she will always be<br />
a super mom.<br />
My definition <strong>of</strong> courage is to always believe, even if something is hard, <strong>and</strong><br />
to always push through. My mom showed courage because she was dealing<br />
with a lot about her physical <strong>and</strong> mental health, but she always pushed<br />
through every day. A lesson I learned from my mom is that things won’t<br />
always be great <strong>and</strong> you might have to stumble along the way, but you should<br />
push through <strong>and</strong> overcome the obstacles, <strong>and</strong> things might get better.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
5
Kalmen Ye<br />
Thu-Hang Tran-Peou <strong>and</strong> Emily Wu, Teachers<br />
Josiah Quincy Upper School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
What is courage, <strong>and</strong> what was the way you found courage? For me, courage is<br />
to move out <strong>of</strong> line to st<strong>and</strong> up for justice. In my case, I stood up for my identity<br />
as an Asian American, <strong>and</strong> I had to learn how to speak up for myself.<br />
In third grade, I went to a school that did not really care about the students’<br />
social <strong>and</strong> emotional problems. Ever since COVID-19 started, my classmates<br />
<strong>and</strong> some teachers had said some “nice” things that were actually racist. One<br />
thing they would do was walk away from me the moment they got close to me,<br />
as if I had COVID. When I was in class, one <strong>of</strong> my classmates r<strong>and</strong>omly came<br />
up to me <strong>and</strong> accused me <strong>of</strong> having COVID! That was completely untrue. I felt<br />
confused, <strong>and</strong> my thoughts were a hurricane inside my brain.<br />
Over time, my classmates talked about Asians having COVID more <strong>and</strong> more<br />
<strong>of</strong>ten, <strong>and</strong> the teacher did nothing but listen to them. When I tried to tell her I<br />
was not comfortable with it, she replied harshly, “<strong>The</strong>n you should not be sick.”<br />
My mind went paper-white blank, <strong>and</strong> my h<strong>and</strong>s felt like I had lost control <strong>of</strong><br />
them <strong>and</strong> would never move them for the next twenty years. <strong>The</strong> moment they<br />
heard this, my classmates chuckled <strong>and</strong> whispered amongst themselves.<br />
“That kid is sick. He has the sickness.”<br />
“That kid has COVID. He is the reason why everyone became sick.”<br />
“Never, ever go near him! He is sick.”<br />
My throat would dry up at the sound <strong>of</strong> their words, with my h<strong>and</strong>s clenched<br />
into balls. <strong>The</strong>ir laughs sounded like clowns, <strong>and</strong> I froze in my place.<br />
After January, a new kid named Anthony joined the classroom. I reached out to<br />
him, thinking about making a new friend. One day, I walked up to him, my<br />
anxiety growing as my heart thumped, as if owls were staring behind my back.<br />
I asked him hesitantly, “Can you be friends with me?”<br />
I almost regretted it, thinking about how it might make him another classmate<br />
who might hate me because <strong>of</strong> my Asian culture <strong>and</strong> heritage.<br />
Surprisingly, he said yes, <strong>and</strong> we became friends.<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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“<strong>The</strong> p<strong>and</strong>emic led<br />
me to experience<br />
discrimination against<br />
Asian Americans, but<br />
it also gave me the<br />
courage to speak<br />
against the wrongs<br />
<strong>and</strong> create positive<br />
change with respect<br />
<strong>and</strong> nonviolence.”<br />
By March, many classmates had chimed in <strong>and</strong> talked about me. My teacher<br />
never stopped the terrible gossip nor helped stop the bullying. Anthony noticed<br />
all this <strong>and</strong> suggested that I should talk to the principal about how the<br />
classmates <strong>and</strong> teacher were treating me. We planned to inform the principal<br />
about this problem <strong>and</strong> suggest a rule for not allowing any form <strong>of</strong><br />
mistreatment <strong>of</strong> students, especially those <strong>of</strong> color <strong>and</strong> those from a culture<br />
that is “related” to COVID, like Asian Americans.<br />
When I met with the principal, he listened to what I had to say about the<br />
problem that happened constantly in class. He said that he was very<br />
appreciative <strong>of</strong> me <strong>and</strong> that he would take care <strong>of</strong> the rest <strong>of</strong> the problem.<br />
After the discussion, my classmates stopped talking about COVID, <strong>and</strong> the<br />
teacher was never seen again. At the end, I felt proud for st<strong>and</strong>ing up against<br />
the wrong thing.<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> may have many meanings, but my way to have courage is to st<strong>and</strong><br />
up for myself <strong>and</strong> others for the right reasons. I stood up for myself, for my<br />
Asian culture, <strong>and</strong> for others with respect. <strong>The</strong> p<strong>and</strong>emic led me to<br />
experience discrimination against Asian Americans, but it also gave me the<br />
courage to speak against the wrongs <strong>and</strong> create positive change with respect<br />
<strong>and</strong> nonviolence.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
7
Alej<strong>and</strong>ro Roa Martinez<br />
Amy Rojek, Teacher<br />
Community Preparatory School, Providence, RI<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> in My Life National Essay Contest Winner<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> is your ability to beat all obstacles <strong>and</strong> not let anything stop you from<br />
advancing in life.<br />
One day like any other, I was spending some time together with my mom.<br />
Everything was going fine until I received some shocking news. We were<br />
moving to the United States <strong>of</strong> America. After lots <strong>of</strong> rumors about going to<br />
another place, it was finally <strong>of</strong>ficial.<br />
At first, I didn’t think much about it. In my eight-year-old child’s mind, I<br />
thought it was going to be like the other times I had visited this country, but<br />
I was wrong. Weeks passed, <strong>and</strong> over time I started to realize even more what<br />
was going to happen. It wasn’t just moving to another house or another city. It<br />
was moving to a whole new country, with a whole new culture, a whole new<br />
language, <strong>and</strong> whole new kinds <strong>of</strong> people.<br />
More days ran by, until finally… the day was here: the last moments that<br />
I would spend in my homel<strong>and</strong>, Colombia, for a long time.<br />
I woke up earlier than usual. I was still half asleep, but that didn’t calm my<br />
nerves. I knew what was going to happen. It was time to migrate <strong>and</strong> start a<br />
completely new life in a completely new place. I didn’t know what to think or<br />
how to feel. My mind was like a scrambled egg. I followed my normal daily<br />
routine, but it wasn’t normal for me. It felt different. I remembered all the<br />
things I had lived through here in Colombia, all the friendships I had made,<br />
<strong>and</strong> all the things I had learned. <strong>The</strong>n we got to the saddest part, the<br />
goodbyes. After many tears fell from my face, we were on our way to the last<br />
stop, the airport.<br />
Time flew by. I didn’t notice how much time passed, but we were finally there.<br />
I was in shock, but there was no turning back. And after the required<br />
procedures <strong>and</strong> a lot <strong>of</strong> waiting, it was time to board the plane. <strong>The</strong>re were lots<br />
<strong>of</strong> people, but I don’t think they were there for the same reason as me. After<br />
lots <strong>of</strong> taxiing, I felt the plane accelerate rapidly, until suddenly, we were in the<br />
air. I used those last minutes to appreciate the beautiful city <strong>of</strong> Bogotá. Hours<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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“At that moment,<br />
I felt as if all<br />
the sadness had<br />
vanished, <strong>and</strong> I<br />
just focused on<br />
where I was now.<br />
An impact was felt.<br />
We were here, on<br />
American l<strong>and</strong>.”<br />
passed, but in a blink <strong>of</strong> an eye, there it was, the magnificent city <strong>of</strong> <strong>Boston</strong>.<br />
At that moment, I felt as if all the sadness had vanished, <strong>and</strong> I just focused on<br />
where I was now. An impact was felt. We were here, on American l<strong>and</strong>.<br />
After some immigration procedures, <strong>and</strong> after exiting the building <strong>and</strong> taking<br />
a deep breath, I felt a gust <strong>of</strong> wind blowing across my face. Everything was<br />
how I expected it to be, when surprisingly, out <strong>of</strong> nowhere: a clown! But I<br />
knew the clown was not a r<strong>and</strong>om person. <strong>The</strong>re was only one person who<br />
had that sense <strong>of</strong> humor: my uncle, the person who would support my mom<br />
<strong>and</strong> me. But the most important part was that it was the time to start our<br />
new adventure.<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> isn’t something that you are born with. It is something that you build<br />
when you say to yourself, “I can do it.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
9
Laneyah Henley<br />
Aaron Kesler <strong>and</strong> Alison Spade, Teachers<br />
<strong>Boston</strong> Renaissance Charter Public School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Hi, my name is Laneyah Henley, <strong>and</strong> I believe I’m courageous. I’m going to<br />
focus on the most important story about my courage: my hair. My hair is<br />
important to me because it’s different. I have locs. Locs are getting popular,<br />
but not in my age range. I’m only 11, <strong>and</strong> as a young Black African American<br />
girl, things are already tough enough, with us getting weird looks sometimes.<br />
My locs are not a hairstyle that many people are familiar with. It’s a new thing,<br />
a new trend. It’s a challenge, especially when I’m the only girl in my grade with<br />
locs. So I have to do this challenge alone. BY MYSELF. Please listen to my<br />
story about hair. It’s worth reading. Trust me.<br />
In 2020, I had just finished fourth grade, <strong>and</strong> was on summer break. My dad has<br />
had locs since I was a baby. I would call him Locpunzel. His hair was down his<br />
back. I loved it but never thought <strong>of</strong> getting it. One day, the sun was scorching<br />
hot. I felt like it was trying to give me a big hug, like it was getting closer <strong>and</strong><br />
closer each second. I was sitting on the floor on a pillow getting my hair done<br />
by my mom. I was getting a fake weave in my hair. I was getting box braids. My<br />
mom tried her best to make it as painless as she could, but my hair didn’t agree.<br />
It wanted to make it as painful as it could. It felt like my mom was in a wrestling<br />
match with my hair. It was so bad that my mom had to put her leg over me to<br />
keep me down on the floor. My hair was so strong that it broke teeth on the<br />
comb. It was painful. I cried. I never wanted to detangle my hair again.<br />
Looking on my iPhone, I saw people on social media, most importantly, Black<br />
girls that looked like me, with locs. <strong>The</strong>y looked so good. <strong>The</strong>y looked like<br />
runway models. I started to look more into it. I showed my mom, <strong>and</strong> she said<br />
she was already about to get them, <strong>and</strong> so was my uncle. So I thought, my dad<br />
had them, my mom <strong>and</strong> uncle were about to get them. Why couldn’t I? I<br />
mean, I look just like my dad, <strong>and</strong> they look good on his head, so they will<br />
probably look good on me too. I told my mom I wanted locs. And she gave six<br />
months to think about it. Over that time, I made a list <strong>of</strong> why I wanted locs:<br />
• Can have ALL natural LONG hair<br />
• No more detangling my hair!<br />
• Easy to take care <strong>of</strong><br />
• Gives people/me confidence<br />
Finally, I got to get my hair done. I went to a place that specializes in hair like<br />
mine. It hurt, but not too badly. I felt so good about myself <strong>and</strong> the way my hair<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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“I now have<br />
confidence <strong>and</strong><br />
pride in myself<br />
<strong>and</strong> my hair. I am<br />
fierce <strong>and</strong> I am<br />
determined to st<strong>and</strong><br />
in my own light.”<br />
looked. I was determined to return to school feeling strength in how I looked.<br />
School was about to start again. I was going to show my new hair! When my<br />
mom dropped me <strong>of</strong>f, I walked up to school <strong>and</strong> got shivers down my spine,<br />
wondering what people would say. What will they think? When I walked in,<br />
everyone looked at me like I was a monster. I sat with my friends, <strong>and</strong> they<br />
looked at me like I was a ghost or like my face was melting <strong>of</strong>f… I asked,<br />
“What’s wrong?”<br />
<strong>The</strong>y said in loud but shaky voices, “What did you do to your hair?”<br />
I was speechless. <strong>The</strong>y said it like they didn’t like it. I got so nervous that I<br />
looked bad with locs. Trying to hold back tears, I said, “<strong>The</strong>y’re locs.”<br />
I started to get bullied because <strong>of</strong> my hair, being called “do-do” or “poop locs.”<br />
I would go home <strong>and</strong> cry every day. But I would st<strong>and</strong> up for myself, even<br />
though I was scared. And it continued into sixth grade. <strong>The</strong> same thing over<br />
<strong>and</strong> over again.<br />
You might pick a choice that others don’t pick, <strong>and</strong> that’s okay. You don’t have<br />
to always do what other people are doing. You can do what you want to do; you<br />
can be you. I also learned from this that people may hate something that<br />
they’re not used to. You can’t let that bring you down <strong>and</strong> get scared like I did.<br />
You have to st<strong>and</strong> your ground <strong>and</strong> st<strong>and</strong> up for yourself, like I soon learned to<br />
do. I realized that I showed courage for st<strong>and</strong>ing up for myself even though I<br />
was scared. If this happens to you, you should st<strong>and</strong> up for yourself too. It’s the<br />
right thing to do. Nobody deserves to get treated like that. Do it even if you’re<br />
scared, be courageous. I now have confidence <strong>and</strong> pride in myself <strong>and</strong> my hair.<br />
I am fierce <strong>and</strong> I am determined to st<strong>and</strong> in my own light.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
11
Jaydalise Williams<br />
Aaron Cohen, Teacher<br />
Blackstone Elementary School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Have you ever not wanted to participate in class? Well, I used to never ever<br />
participate in class because I thought I would get the wrong answers. I am<br />
a quiet kid, but I still talk a lot with my friends outside <strong>of</strong> class. It depends if<br />
I want to talk or not. This essay is about how I had courage to participate<br />
in class.<br />
I was in third grade when I first kind <strong>of</strong> spoke in class. I didn’t like to talk<br />
because I was scared I was going to have the wrong answer. If I had the<br />
wrong answers, I would always cry or be upset over it <strong>and</strong> embarrassed.<br />
Every time a teacher would call on me to answer a question, I would shake<br />
my head no because I was too scared.<br />
One day when I was in class, I got called on to answer a question. I didn’t<br />
want to get called on, so I got really nervous. I felt like I would get the<br />
wrong answer. I had the answer correct that day but didn’t want to talk.<br />
I was brave enough to tell the answer with a big deep breath.<br />
I finally spoke, <strong>and</strong> I got the answer correct. I was surprised when I got it<br />
correct because it was a hard question that my teacher asked me. It felt<br />
good. Ever since that day, I almost always participate in class.<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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“I was brave<br />
enough to tell<br />
the answer with a<br />
big deep breath.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
13
Nathan Neves<br />
Mary Wall, Teacher<br />
Barnstable Intermediate School, Hyannis, MA<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> is something that you only need in some situations. This experience<br />
changed my life forever.<br />
Six-year-old me was confused about what was going on; I was excited because<br />
Christmas was a few days before, <strong>and</strong> I had gotten my presents. It was late<br />
December <strong>of</strong> 2016. I noticed that my dad was feeling sad. This made me feel<br />
sad. I felt bad for him. <strong>The</strong>re was lots <strong>of</strong> arguing happening at our house. At the<br />
time, my brother was about eleven, so he most likely knew what was going on.<br />
My whole family was gatekeeping the truth from me. I questioned my brother<br />
<strong>and</strong> my parents. I wanted to know what was going on. All <strong>of</strong> my family was<br />
telling me that nothing was happening <strong>and</strong> that everything was going to be fine.<br />
About a week later, my family <strong>and</strong> I sat down <strong>and</strong> had a talk about what was<br />
going on <strong>and</strong> what would happen. My parents were getting a divorce. That<br />
deeply shocked me. In my head I was thinking, Really? Is this really happening?<br />
What’s going to happen now? <strong>The</strong>y would be living in separate houses. I got mad<br />
<strong>and</strong> mostly sad. I wanted to do something about it. Whatever I said wouldn’t<br />
affect the situation.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y gave my brother <strong>and</strong> me toys, nice food, <strong>and</strong> c<strong>and</strong>y to try <strong>and</strong> cheer us<br />
up. I remember this one toy they gave us; we always played together with the<br />
toy our parents got us. It kept our minds <strong>of</strong>f <strong>of</strong> what was happening for a while.<br />
At this point, the house was pretty quiet when we were all there. Eventually,<br />
my mom got some money <strong>and</strong> moved out. I didn’t see my mom for a while<br />
because, before she moved, there was lots <strong>of</strong> stuff she had to do. After<br />
everything was finished, my brother <strong>and</strong> I went to her house. Time with each<br />
parent was equally split.<br />
Moving houses really made me <strong>and</strong> my brother feel better because we were<br />
excited. Ever since my parents told us about the divorce, everything just felt<br />
weird though. It was different without my mom at one house, <strong>and</strong> it was<br />
different without my dad at the other. I surprisingly still did well in school.<br />
I didn’t let it affect me in school. My mother’s new house was really old, <strong>and</strong><br />
there were lots <strong>of</strong> bugs. I felt bad complaining, but my mom knew we really<br />
didn’t like the house in its condition. Fortunately, she was able to move to<br />
a new house within a year.<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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“Having courage<br />
to live through<br />
this experience has<br />
made me stronger.”<br />
Although this time was mostly sad, I mustered up enough courage to focus on<br />
the good things happening. It all felt so fast when it went by. My parents are<br />
happy living separately. Having courage to live through this experience has<br />
made me stronger.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
15
Carlos Roa Geraldino<br />
Joan Arches <strong>and</strong> Jeffrey Mestre, Teachers<br />
3Point Foundation / BCLA-McCormack School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
When I was born, my father <strong>and</strong> mother were not together. This affected me<br />
because when I was with my gr<strong>and</strong>mother, in truth, I wanted to be with my<br />
dad. One day, I decided that I wanted to be with my mom, <strong>and</strong> I put my<br />
energy towards that. I studied <strong>and</strong> I did everything that I had to do, because<br />
in that year, my dad would come to look for me for what would be the second<br />
time. I am going to tell you what happened, <strong>and</strong> why they sent me to the<br />
Dominican Republic after he came.<br />
When school started, there were many kids that were bullying me. It<br />
bothered me, <strong>and</strong> I tried to defend myself. Sometimes I stumbled, <strong>and</strong> when<br />
they bothered me, I could not control my emotions. Afterwards, they sent me<br />
to the Dominican Republic, <strong>and</strong> I started living where my gr<strong>and</strong>ma lives.<br />
Sometimes I behaved badly, <strong>and</strong> sometimes I behaved well. One day I was<br />
upset, <strong>and</strong> I told my dad that I did not want to go to my gr<strong>and</strong>ma’s, because<br />
over there they accused me <strong>of</strong> things I had not done. So they sent me to my<br />
mother’s, <strong>and</strong> there, I started behaving better. My dad told me that when he<br />
came to the United States, he was going to scold me if I was behaving badly,<br />
but my mom told him I was behaving much better, <strong>and</strong> he did not scold me.<br />
Finally, I am going to talk about my sister. She is like my mother because she<br />
has been with me in good <strong>and</strong> bad times. When she did not have her baby,<br />
she was more emotional, but now, she makes me do things right. If I don’t do<br />
things right, she gets angry at me <strong>and</strong> scolds me, like always. I love her<br />
because she has taken care <strong>of</strong> me like a mother here, as my mother is in the<br />
Dominican Republic.<br />
Now that I have come to the United States <strong>and</strong> this school, I am behaving<br />
very well. I decided that I must do everything well: behave well; have courage<br />
<strong>and</strong> values; <strong>and</strong> listen to my teachers, my elders, <strong>and</strong> my parents.<br />
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“I decided that I<br />
must do everything<br />
well: behave well;<br />
have courage <strong>and</strong><br />
values; <strong>and</strong> listen<br />
to my teachers,<br />
my elders, <strong>and</strong><br />
my parents.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
17
Kevin Nguyen<br />
Lindsay Worstell, Teacher<br />
Norm<strong>and</strong>in Middle School, New Bedford, MA<br />
When I think <strong>of</strong> courage, I think <strong>of</strong> people st<strong>and</strong>ing up to their fears <strong>and</strong><br />
doing impossible things, like fighting a bear to save their own life. But there<br />
are other ways <strong>of</strong> showing courage too. <strong>Courage</strong> is also when you st<strong>and</strong> up to<br />
people <strong>and</strong> are brave in difficult situations. But I have a different story—my<br />
courage isn’t like that.<br />
It happened not too long ago—it was September 2022. I was brought to my<br />
mom’s nail salon after school by my aunt. We were sitting around, just waiting<br />
to be brought home, <strong>and</strong> she suddenly asked, “Do you want to go back to<br />
Vietnam or stay here?”<br />
For context, Vietnam is all the way in southern Asia. That is REALLY far<br />
from here. I said I didn’t know. She asked me to think about it, <strong>and</strong> she said<br />
she was going to leave <strong>and</strong> come back later for me. I started thinking. A few<br />
days later, she asked me again. I said no, but on the other h<strong>and</strong>, my sister<br />
chose to go, <strong>and</strong> so did my two brothers. That was that. A few days before<br />
they left, my mom asked me once again if I wanted to go, <strong>and</strong> I still said no.<br />
<strong>The</strong> day before they left, my sister <strong>and</strong> brothers went to school to say goodbye<br />
to their teachers <strong>and</strong> friends. <strong>The</strong> next morning, they got ready to go, <strong>and</strong> I<br />
said goodbye to them. When I came home, I half expected them to be there<br />
like always, but when I got there <strong>and</strong> checked around our house, they were<br />
really gone.<br />
After that, it was like a part <strong>of</strong> me disappeared. I was sad <strong>and</strong> a little<br />
depressed—sad because I knew I wouldn’t see them again for a few years.<br />
<strong>The</strong>m leaving me felt like my heart was ripped in half. My sister was always<br />
there for me. We would always fool around, have fun, be mad at each other,<br />
<strong>and</strong> sometimes people couldn’t tell the difference between our faces <strong>and</strong> it<br />
would make us laugh. Same with my brothers—they would fool around, <strong>and</strong><br />
I would be mad sometimes, but I always loved them.<br />
To be honest, without them I feel like someone different. <strong>The</strong> only things that<br />
keep me going are my hope, friends, <strong>and</strong> school. I love school—mostly math—<br />
<strong>and</strong> that’s why I still have hope <strong>and</strong> happiness within myself. Also, I have my<br />
family, even though they are far away.<br />
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“It took courage<br />
to make my own<br />
choices, but I was<br />
able to do it with<br />
confidence.”<br />
I have learned that life is full <strong>of</strong> decisions, <strong>and</strong> that the only way to go<br />
through life is to either make your own decisions, or have someone make<br />
choices for you. <strong>The</strong>re can be hard ones <strong>and</strong> easy ones, but we need to<br />
make our choices wisely. It took courage to make my own choices,<br />
but I was able to do it with confidence.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
19
Glory Regis<br />
Melissa Ma <strong>and</strong> Nicole Precourt, Teachers<br />
Salemwood School, Malden, MA<br />
It’s never easy leaving your loved ones behind. When I was nine years old,<br />
I was leaving Haiti <strong>and</strong> my family behind. It feels like just yesterday, <strong>and</strong> I<br />
remember me <strong>and</strong> my parents crying. My dad assured me it was for the best.<br />
Although I had been on a plane by myself before <strong>and</strong> it was extremely fun,<br />
I did not have the same feelings this time.<br />
I come from a country named Haiti, <strong>and</strong> it wasn’t a good place for me to live.<br />
I couldn’t get a proper education because <strong>of</strong> crime. While I was in Haiti, I had<br />
family members who wanted me to come to the United States because they<br />
were concerned about my safety. My parents had decided that it was best for<br />
me to live in America. It wasn’t easy for my mom <strong>and</strong> dad to come along with<br />
me because they had to pay a lot <strong>of</strong> money to get to this country. However, the<br />
process was easier for me because I was born in the U.S. My dad sent me on<br />
the plane by myself, <strong>and</strong> I met my aunt when I arrived at the airport.<br />
When I was at the airport in Haiti, I had nothing to do but cry. Not only was<br />
I getting separated from my family, but I was also worried about their safety.<br />
I felt like I was walking <strong>and</strong> leaving them in the dust. I was extremely nervous<br />
because I was getting on the plane with the flight attendant—a complete<br />
stranger to me. I still remember trying to hold in my tears to the point where<br />
my throat hurt a lot. To this day, I am still away from my parents, <strong>and</strong> never<br />
have I ever thought I would live so many years without them.<br />
Presently, my mom <strong>and</strong> dad have moved to the other side <strong>of</strong> the isl<strong>and</strong> that<br />
Haiti is on, to a country called the Dominican Republic. <strong>The</strong>y are safer there,<br />
which is great news. Though I don’t get to see my parents, I am grateful I live<br />
in the U.S. with my aunts <strong>and</strong> uncles. To this day, I am still showing courage<br />
by leaving my parents <strong>and</strong> learning a new language. I talk to them every day<br />
on the phone, but it never feels the same. To me, courage means being able<br />
to leave anything you love behind for a better future.<br />
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“To me, courage<br />
means being able to<br />
leave anything you<br />
love behind for a<br />
better future.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
21
Helena “Nina” Taylor<br />
Jaclyn Poremski <strong>and</strong> Sarah Tran, Teachers<br />
St. Agatha School, Milton, MA<br />
I had to be courageous when I was diagnosed with learning differences. It all<br />
started in second grade. I was struggling to learn to read. I couldn’t keep up<br />
with my classmates. My parents had me tested through the Milton Public<br />
School system. <strong>The</strong>y found that I had ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity<br />
disorder), <strong>and</strong> I was put on an IEP (individualized education plan or program).<br />
This meant that I would get extra help outside <strong>of</strong> the classroom.<br />
I started getting help at Collicot Elementary School while still attending St.<br />
Agatha School. Since I had to leave school each day for an hour <strong>and</strong> come<br />
back, I felt very different. My classmates would ask me where I was going,<br />
<strong>and</strong> I didn’t like st<strong>and</strong>ing out like that. I felt insecure <strong>and</strong> wanted to be<br />
invisible in the classroom.<br />
I transferred to Collicot for third grade. It was hard to leave the school that<br />
I loved <strong>and</strong> my friends, but I was brave. I met new friends <strong>and</strong> was getting<br />
comfortable with being pulled out <strong>of</strong> class for extra help. I didn’t feel so<br />
different since so many kids were doing the same thing. <strong>The</strong>n COVID hit, <strong>and</strong><br />
we all had to learn from home. I didn’t like remote learning because it was<br />
already difficult for me to learn. I get distracted easily, so being on a screen at<br />
home, with my siblings taking classes <strong>and</strong> my dog walking around, didn’t help.<br />
I returned to St. Agatha School for fourth grade since the public schools were<br />
still remote learning. I stayed at SAS even when the public schools were back in<br />
person. I’m so glad I did, because my fifth grade teacher made an observation<br />
that changed my life.<br />
Mrs. Smith noticed that I was still having trouble reading even after all <strong>of</strong> the<br />
support I was getting. She recognized it as dyslexia. Her daughter was<br />
diagnosed with dyslexia around the same age, so she was experienced with it.<br />
My parents brought me to a new place to be tested, <strong>and</strong> I was formally<br />
diagnosed with dyslexia. I had a really hard time accepting that I had to learn<br />
in a different way than others. <strong>The</strong> book Fish in a Tree helped me underst<strong>and</strong><br />
that many smart <strong>and</strong> successful people have dyslexia. Just because I have<br />
dyslexia doesn’t mean that I’m dumb. It was good to know it wasn’t my fault.<br />
I was trying, but the way I was being taught didn’t work for me.<br />
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“I now have the<br />
courage to admit I<br />
have some learning<br />
differences.<br />
That’s one part<br />
<strong>of</strong> who I am, but<br />
not all <strong>of</strong> me.”<br />
My parents have given me the courage to be proud <strong>of</strong> who I am. I love having<br />
family <strong>and</strong> friends who support me. To me, courage means being strong inside<br />
<strong>and</strong> out. It doesn’t matter what you look like, who you are, if you’re poor, if<br />
you’re wealthy—you are who you are on the inside. You should love yourself.<br />
I now have the courage to admit I have some learning differences. That’s one<br />
part <strong>of</strong> who I am, but not all <strong>of</strong> me. I am also an artist, I love hockey, <strong>and</strong> I’m<br />
a good friend. With time <strong>and</strong> courage, I’m learning not to care what other<br />
people think. It’s what I think <strong>of</strong> myself that matters—<strong>and</strong> I love myself!<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
23
Mark Curran<br />
Faith Smith, Teacher<br />
South <strong>Boston</strong> Catholic Academy, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
My story <strong>of</strong> courage isn’t about one big “wow” accomplishment. I find courage<br />
within myself in small moments throughout my day. I gather up all the<br />
courage <strong>and</strong> energy to do basic things other people find easy to accomplish.<br />
I have attention-deficit <strong>and</strong> sensory processing disorders <strong>and</strong> have trouble<br />
with executive functioning, which affect everything I do. Simple things like<br />
organizing my homework binders, riding a bike, going to the mall, playing<br />
basketball, <strong>and</strong> keeping up conversations with my friends are a challenge for<br />
me. I can hear the slightest sounds <strong>and</strong> notice small movements invisible to<br />
other people. It’s very difficult, <strong>and</strong> I get disappointed in myself. I must pause<br />
<strong>and</strong> think, one step at a time.<br />
When I’m at a party, or at a park with friends, or in school, I can get<br />
overstimulated. I need a break from it all. When that happens, my body needs<br />
a quiet place to recharge, so I move to the corner <strong>of</strong> the classroom while my<br />
friends are all playing a game together. Or I ask to leave the party before<br />
everyone else does. Having the courage to take care <strong>of</strong> myself instead <strong>of</strong> doing<br />
what I really want takes all my energy.<br />
I go to occupational <strong>and</strong> speech therapy twice a week to help me. My OT has<br />
taught me to have confidence, listen to my body, <strong>and</strong> use my voice, <strong>and</strong> to<br />
apply the tools from therapy to everyday life. It’s challenging <strong>and</strong> takes a lot<br />
<strong>of</strong> patience with myself. I can ride a bike now without getting dizzy!<br />
I decided to learn drums. When I first started taking lessons, I didn’t think I<br />
could do it. <strong>The</strong> sounds, the sticks. How would I learn to use drumsticks when<br />
I can’t use a bat or hold a pencil the correct way? I practiced on a drum pad<br />
but wasn’t motivated. I finally went into the studio <strong>and</strong> practiced on real<br />
drums. It was amazing! My body <strong>and</strong> mind felt free from all bonds <strong>of</strong> worry.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y were working as a team finally!<br />
Three years later, I participated in my first music concert this June, on Father’s<br />
Day, where I played the song “Imagine” by John Lennon in front <strong>of</strong> my family<br />
<strong>and</strong> hundreds <strong>of</strong> people. Because it’s hard to focus or stay engaged for long<br />
periods <strong>of</strong> time, I was afraid I would forget how to play or become restless.<br />
I have a tough time with public activities. Sitting through the noise <strong>and</strong> other<br />
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performances was a major struggle. I wanted to tell my dad that we should<br />
leave. But I took a breath <strong>and</strong> walked up there. My hard work paid <strong>of</strong>f!<br />
I was fantastic.<br />
Playing drums has made me more confident by helping me overcome my fear<br />
<strong>of</strong> doing activities in public, like doing a speech in front <strong>of</strong> tons <strong>of</strong> people. I’ll<br />
be playing the song “In My Life” at my next concert. If I am afraid, I know<br />
I will find the courage to push through it.<br />
When I first heard ADD, I cried in the doctor’s <strong>of</strong>fice. I thought it was a<br />
disease. That was a tough day. Now I am learning that the things that cause<br />
me trouble are gifts. Being hyper-aware <strong>of</strong> sounds <strong>and</strong> movement allowed me<br />
to find a hidden talent. I know I can do anything in life. It may take longer<br />
<strong>and</strong> look different, but I got this!<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> in small doses can make a big difference.<br />
“Now I am learning<br />
that the things<br />
that cause me<br />
trouble are gifts.<br />
Being hyperaware<br />
<strong>of</strong> sounds<br />
<strong>and</strong> movement<br />
allowed me to find<br />
a hidden talent.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
25
Harrison Leerink<br />
Merrill Hawkins, Teacher<br />
<strong>The</strong> Park School, Brookline, MA<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> is having a fear <strong>of</strong> something, anything, <strong>and</strong> then gradually<br />
overcoming that fear or struggle. <strong>Courage</strong> is also being brave <strong>and</strong> building up<br />
enough self-confidence to defeat your negative thoughts. <strong>Courage</strong> happens<br />
every minute, <strong>and</strong> you do not even realize it. Everyone is different <strong>and</strong> has<br />
different ways <strong>of</strong> learning, <strong>and</strong> I was born with dyslexia.<br />
I started meeting with a private tutor in first grade. I was going to Academic<br />
Support at school but didn’t really underst<strong>and</strong> why I was going. I would ask my<br />
mom, “Why do I need this extra work?” I hated it, <strong>and</strong> tutoring was annoying<br />
beyond belief. I remember crying before each session <strong>and</strong> getting all worked up.<br />
It wasn’t until fourth grade that I found out that school was harder for me than<br />
it is for many <strong>of</strong> my classmates. This is when I understood what it means to<br />
have dyslexia. Dyslexia makes it harder to read <strong>and</strong> makes your reading slower.<br />
This is why school is harder for people with dyslexia.<br />
One day in fourth grade, my teacher, Ms. Botsford, called on me to read a long<br />
passage in front <strong>of</strong> the whole class, which personally is not my favorite thing to<br />
do. I was totally shaking <strong>and</strong> my h<strong>and</strong>s were sweaty, because what if people<br />
laughed at me or talked about me behind my back? It was very scary because<br />
I was not as good as my classmates at reading <strong>and</strong> hadn’t really read in front <strong>of</strong><br />
my classmates, mostly only my tutors <strong>and</strong> family. When I started reading, it<br />
wasn’t that bad, but then I hit a huge word that I couldn’t pronounce. Ms.<br />
Botsford saw that I was struggling, <strong>and</strong> she said the word out loud. After that,<br />
my reading was fine, but I couldn’t wait for this to end.<br />
Afterward, I said to myself, Good job. Good thing I didn’t mess up. I was looking<br />
around the room to see if anyone was laughing, but they weren’t. I survived.<br />
I might have read a couple <strong>of</strong> words wrong <strong>and</strong> read pretty slowly, but I did it.<br />
Reading in front <strong>of</strong> people is still not my favorite thing, but this experience<br />
taught me that courage is trying something difficult even if I might not do it<br />
perfectly. I’m a good enough student, <strong>and</strong> my reading might not be as strong,<br />
but that’s okay. We all have strengths <strong>and</strong> weaknesses. I happen to love<br />
basketball <strong>and</strong> play a lot <strong>of</strong> sports, which is my favorite thing in the world. If<br />
someone in practice misses a shot, nobody ever laughs. If a coach sees someone<br />
who is weaker at the drill, they go over <strong>and</strong> help, just like Ms. Botsford helped<br />
me. At the end <strong>of</strong> practice, we run three sprints, <strong>and</strong> then the coach asks who<br />
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“Most people would<br />
think dyslexia is<br />
a disability, but it<br />
has actually helped<br />
me. My dyslexia<br />
has made me work<br />
harder in school<br />
<strong>and</strong> made me a<br />
more determined<br />
athlete.”<br />
is gonna take us out. Whoever he picks has to shoot a free throw, <strong>and</strong> if they<br />
miss, we run again. If they make the shot, then practice is done. This last shot<br />
takes so much courage because I just started with this team <strong>and</strong> I’m just getting<br />
to know the players. If I miss the shot, then I will be thinking about it all week,<br />
<strong>and</strong> I don’t want to let my teammates down. I feel really good if I make it <strong>and</strong><br />
extremely horrible if I miss it. This shot takes courage, just like reading did.<br />
<strong>The</strong> courage that I showed reading in front <strong>of</strong> the class has paid <strong>of</strong>f, because<br />
now I am not as afraid. Most people would think dyslexia is a disability, but it<br />
has actually helped me. My dyslexia has made me work harder in school <strong>and</strong><br />
made me a more determined athlete. I’ve had to learn to overcome a<br />
challenging obstacle <strong>and</strong> face my fears <strong>and</strong> struggles.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
27
June N.<br />
Jeanine Stansfield <strong>and</strong> Kristen Spadafora, Teachers<br />
Warren-Prescott K-8 School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Do you know what it is like to have OCD, ADHD, <strong>and</strong> to be on the<br />
spectrum? My name is June, I am eleven years old, <strong>and</strong> here is my story.<br />
How OCD affected/affects me:<br />
•When I was three or four, I washed my h<strong>and</strong>s again <strong>and</strong> again. I had a<br />
ritual to follow while I washed my h<strong>and</strong>s. I washed my h<strong>and</strong>s so much,<br />
<strong>and</strong> they got dry so much that sometimes they would even bleed.<br />
Sometimes Mama would wrap my h<strong>and</strong>s in gauze.<br />
•When I was four through six, I needed Papa to smooth out the bottom<br />
sheet on my bed so that there were no wrinkles. I would lie down for<br />
about 20 seconds, <strong>and</strong> then I would make Papa smooth out the bottom<br />
sheet all over again. I was screaming while this happened. It got very late<br />
at night. I would scream so much that sometimes Mama would come<br />
down to my bedroom <strong>and</strong> scream, “Do you want to spend the night in the<br />
hospital?” That really made me scared. Now I underst<strong>and</strong> that she wasn’t<br />
trying to scare me, but she just didn’t know what else to do.<br />
•When I was four or five through eight or nine, I kept putting my shoes<br />
<strong>and</strong> clothing on <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong>f <strong>and</strong> on <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong>f, trying to get them on just right.<br />
If I just wanted to go outside <strong>and</strong> play, it would take so much effort just to<br />
get outside.<br />
•When I was eight, coronavirus started. I took a bath after every outing,<br />
<strong>and</strong> the rest <strong>of</strong> the time, I stayed in my bed away from everyone. I even<br />
ate in my bed. When Papa came downstairs to put Tess <strong>and</strong> me to bed, I<br />
made him wear a mask.<br />
•Age eight through now, I won’t touch door h<strong>and</strong>les, <strong>and</strong> if I do, I wash<br />
my h<strong>and</strong>s after.<br />
•Now, I clean my desk <strong>and</strong> chair before using them.<br />
•When coronavirus started through now, I wear a mask.<br />
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“It never really gets<br />
better, but I show<br />
COURAGE by<br />
getting through<br />
each day.”<br />
•Age six through now, I have tics. Tics make people do different things,<br />
but for me, they:<br />
– Make me make little noises<br />
– Make me quickly shake my head without even thinking about it<br />
– Make my eyes twitch<br />
How ADHD affected/affects me:<br />
•Age six through now, I have trouble focusing. My medicine helps.<br />
•Age six through now, I get spaced out very easily.<br />
•Age six through now, I have very strong emotions <strong>and</strong> get stressed, mad,<br />
<strong>and</strong> sad VERY easily.<br />
•Age four or five through now, I get squirmy <strong>and</strong> fidgety.<br />
•Age eight through now, I have trouble with impulse control.<br />
How being on the spectrum affected/affects me:<br />
•Age nine through now, I have trouble making friends.<br />
•Age nine through now, people are mean to me.<br />
•Age nine through now, I have trouble communicating. I prefer to write a note.<br />
•Age eight through now, I have trouble controlling my emotions.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
29
•Age seven through now, I have different interests than most neurotypical kids:<br />
– Sesame Street<br />
– Puff the Magic Dragon<br />
– Lola<br />
– Willow<br />
– All living creatures<br />
•Age three or four through now, I have strong senses.<br />
•Age ten through now, I get confused easily.<br />
•Age eight through now, I have trouble following other people’s rules.<br />
•Age nine through now, I have trouble underst<strong>and</strong>ing what people<br />
are asking me.<br />
•Age seven through now, I have strong opinions.<br />
•Age nine through now, people see me being different, <strong>and</strong> they think I’m<br />
being bad.<br />
OCD, ADHD, <strong>and</strong> being on the spectrum don’t make me calm when they are<br />
kicking in; I cry <strong>and</strong> scream. I sometimes feel like I am worthless. It never really<br />
gets better, but I show COURAGE by getting through each day.<br />
I also want to say that writing this courage essay was not easy for me. This is<br />
something I wrote on an index card to my teachers when I first got this<br />
assignment: “I feel like I want to share my courage project, but then I feel like<br />
I will be sharing something I don’t want to share. For example, I want to write<br />
about me <strong>and</strong> how I have ADHD, OCD, <strong>and</strong> am on the spectrum, but I feel<br />
like I don’t want to share that. I feel like if I write something else, it will never<br />
be good enough. Whenever I start typing, I automatically get mad at myself<br />
<strong>and</strong> think what I wrote was dumb. <strong>The</strong>n I delete everything I wrote. I spend<br />
hours doing that. <strong>The</strong>n I finally give up. <strong>The</strong>n I decide to try again, but the<br />
same thing happens.”<br />
People who I feel like help me:<br />
•Mama (Family)<br />
•Papa (Family)<br />
•Gr<strong>and</strong>mom (Family)<br />
•Joanne (Church)<br />
•Ms. Spadafora (School)<br />
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Books you can read to learn more about OCD, ADHD,<br />
<strong>and</strong> the spectrum:<br />
Blink, Blink, Clop, Clop by E. Katia Moritz, Ph.D. (<strong>Children</strong>’s book)<br />
Tormenting Thoughts <strong>and</strong> Secret Rituals by Ian Osborn, M.D.<br />
Driven to Distraction by Edward M. Hallowell, M.D. <strong>and</strong> John J. Ratey, M.D.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome by Tony Attwood<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
31
Raw<strong>and</strong> Omar<br />
Joan Arches <strong>and</strong> Jeffrey Mestre, Teachers<br />
3Point Foundation / Dever Elementary School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> is when something is hard, but you find a solution. For instance,<br />
when someone is getting bullied, it’s important to take action. I, or whoever is<br />
present, should st<strong>and</strong> up for the victim. I show courage by doing karate <strong>and</strong><br />
using it for the greater good. I learn self-defense so I can defend myself <strong>and</strong><br />
others from bigger <strong>and</strong> stronger people. I believe that other people can show<br />
courage too, <strong>and</strong> I hope that I can encourage them.<br />
I started karate because my dad wanted me to learn self-defense. I started in<br />
2017, when I was seven years old. My hope is that when I get older, I won’t<br />
get hurt, <strong>and</strong> I will be able to defend myself <strong>and</strong> others. I also want to use<br />
karate to protect those around me. Protecting people around me could include<br />
my friends, family, <strong>and</strong> people in need. Through karate, I have made so many<br />
friends, <strong>and</strong> I would st<strong>and</strong> up for all <strong>of</strong> them, no matter the situation.<br />
In karate, I have learned how to do an uppercut, block punches, <strong>and</strong> do kicks<br />
to the solar plexus. One time, I showed courage when my karate teacher kicked<br />
me in the head. After that happened, I kept going, even though it hurt so much<br />
that I wanted to collapse. This took courage because sometimes people get hit<br />
in the head <strong>and</strong> they will give up because they don’t want to get hurt again.<br />
I have seen a lot <strong>of</strong> kids quit my class after getting hurt for the first time, <strong>and</strong><br />
that is something I hope to never do.<br />
It has been four months since I got hurt. I have continued doing karate even<br />
after taking that hard kick to the head. I never considered another option if I<br />
was to seriously injure myself doing karate. I was scared at first going into the<br />
emergency room after getting hit in the head so hard. I showed courage by<br />
keeping calm going through what they did to me in the emergency room.<br />
Even though it hurt so much to the point where I wanted to quit <strong>and</strong> give up,<br />
I still pushed myself to keep doing karate, <strong>and</strong> that shows courage.<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> is a good thing for someone because, if you’re scared to do something,<br />
you can still go out <strong>of</strong> your comfort zone <strong>and</strong> do it. I’ve had amazing<br />
accomplishments by demonstrating courage myself. Being courageous can be<br />
such a wonderful thing. Whenever you feel like giving up or quitting, always<br />
remember, with courage you can accomplish anything.<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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“I learn self-defense<br />
so I can defend<br />
myself <strong>and</strong> others<br />
from bigger <strong>and</strong><br />
stronger people.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
33
Finley Sylvia<br />
Michael Andrews, Teacher<br />
Barnstable Intermediate School, Hyannis, MA<br />
I always heard the sounds <strong>of</strong> girls laughing <strong>and</strong> children playing. I remember<br />
glaring in envy. <strong>The</strong> sight <strong>of</strong> kids running on the playground always made me<br />
feel like society was against me. As a young person I was always alone.<br />
However, I did not let that isolation stop me. <strong>Courage</strong> to me means never<br />
letting people change you <strong>and</strong> always being yourself.<br />
I remember I was about seven when the bullying started, when I started<br />
feeling alone. <strong>The</strong> people who bullied me were constantly making fun <strong>of</strong> the<br />
same few things about me, like my hair, my size, <strong>and</strong> my face. My tormentors<br />
made rude comments about me. <strong>The</strong> first incident was because I looked at<br />
her wrong. She came over to me <strong>and</strong> called me a “fat pig.” It stung so much;<br />
I did not underst<strong>and</strong> why she was so mean to me, but then I started to<br />
underst<strong>and</strong>. It was because I was different from most kids my age. I was a bit<br />
heavier than my peers. She called me fat more times than I could count.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y would always stare <strong>and</strong> giggle when I walked by. <strong>The</strong>y always made me<br />
feel like I did not belong, like I was a nobody.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se bullies loved to bring me down. One thing that really affected me was<br />
that I was lonely. I tried to hang out with these girls, but they called me an<br />
“ugly cow” <strong>and</strong> a “fat ugly rat.” My eyes glazed with tears. It felt like my<br />
heart was shattered, <strong>and</strong> I was only able to mutter, “Why are you so mean to<br />
me?” <strong>The</strong>y did not respond. I dragged myself back to the black top, sat down,<br />
<strong>and</strong> cried until I heard the bell ring. I wiped my tears <strong>and</strong> walked into class.<br />
I fought through the pain for the rest <strong>of</strong> the day.<br />
I sobbed every time I got home. When I let these words hurt me, they started<br />
to control me. I was always so sad <strong>and</strong> quiet. I was not myself. I was crying in<br />
my room one day, <strong>and</strong> I thought to myself, Why do you let those words hurt you?<br />
Do you want to live in sorrow for the rest <strong>of</strong> your life? This made me come up with<br />
a plan. When they are mean to me, I walk away instead <strong>of</strong> getting infuriated.<br />
I just started ignoring them.<br />
At first, it was so hard to ignore them, because it hurt every time they called<br />
me fat or ugly. However, it started becoming easier. I started going back to<br />
myself, <strong>and</strong> I realized people liked me more when I was myself. I made a few<br />
friends, <strong>and</strong> life was good. <strong>The</strong>re were still a few more incidents like this. <strong>The</strong><br />
girls walked up to me again <strong>and</strong> called me ugly, but I just did not care. It felt<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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“It felt so thrilling<br />
to just be me.”<br />
great finally not acknowledging what they thought. I just walked away. It felt<br />
so thrilling to just be me.<br />
Sometimes I still get stares <strong>and</strong> a few whispers, some comments when I walk<br />
by. What matters most is to have amazing friends that like me for me. I finally<br />
feel like I am wanted. I did not let them change me, <strong>and</strong> I learned to not care<br />
what people think. Now, I promise to always be myself.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
35
Mehreen Shaik<br />
Sara Coyle, Teacher<br />
Beverly Hills Academy, Beverly Hills, MI<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> is the ability to work through a tough situation. We all have faced<br />
challenges in this world, mental <strong>and</strong> physical. Acts <strong>of</strong> courage are committed<br />
on a daily basis without people even realizing it.<br />
You probably know that playing soccer isn’t that easy. Now imagine being the<br />
only girl on a team with a bunch <strong>of</strong> boys. It’s even more difficult, more than<br />
you think. When I was in second or third grade, I was on a soccer team with<br />
only boys, <strong>and</strong> most <strong>of</strong> them refused to pass the ball to me <strong>and</strong> made fun <strong>of</strong><br />
me a lot. I wasn’t bothered by it at first. I just had to work harder to prove<br />
they were wrong. Eventually they started to become friends with me as they<br />
got to know me better, except this one kid. No matter what I did, he kept<br />
making fun <strong>of</strong> me, even if I got the winning shot or made a good play. That is<br />
when I started to be bothered by it. I knew I was as good as he was. Even<br />
though it bothered me, I didn’t do anything about it because I didn’t think it<br />
would make a difference.<br />
Until one day just before a game, he came up to me <strong>and</strong> started insulting me.<br />
He kept telling me how I would never be as good as any <strong>of</strong> them because I<br />
was a girl <strong>and</strong> other things like that. At this point, I had had enough <strong>of</strong> it. He<br />
was being mean for absolutely no reason. So I stood up for myself <strong>and</strong> told<br />
him what I thought. I looked him in the eye <strong>and</strong> said that I didn’t care about<br />
what he thought or what he was saying because it didn’t matter. No matter<br />
what he said, I knew I was as good as any <strong>of</strong> the other people on the team.<br />
After that day, he didn’t bother me again.<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> is needed to help this world change for the better. If it weren’t for<br />
courage, there would be no one to speak up for the rights <strong>of</strong> all different<br />
people. If it weren’t for people like Martin Luther King Jr., there would still<br />
be segregation. If it weren’t for people like Susan B. Anthony, women still<br />
wouldn’t be able to vote. <strong>The</strong>se people showed courage. <strong>Courage</strong> gets us<br />
through the hardest times.<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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“No matter what he<br />
said, I knew I was<br />
as good as any <strong>of</strong><br />
the other people<br />
on the team.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
37
Camila Orantes Huezo<br />
Aaron Cohen, Teacher<br />
Blackstone Elementary School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Was there ever a time in your life where you kept telling yourself you couldn’t<br />
do something? I know I’ve had a few moments like that, but the most<br />
important time to me was the first time I went roller skating.<br />
In the spring on a rainy day about one or two years ago, my uncle came over<br />
<strong>and</strong> asked if we wanted to try roller skating. My sisters said yes, <strong>and</strong> I was<br />
the only one who didn’t want to. I think the main reason I said I didn’t<br />
want to go wasn’t that I didn’t want to try; it’s because I’m a little bit <strong>of</strong> a<br />
perfectionist, <strong>and</strong> I always put pressure on myself to seem perfect.<br />
<strong>The</strong> whole drive there was miserable. I kept saying to myself that I would<br />
embarrass myself <strong>and</strong> that I should give up before I even started. I was so<br />
anxious the whole ride. I couldn’t focus on anything except for what was<br />
going to happen when I got there.<br />
A little bit later, we got there. As soon as we walked in, I think the very loud<br />
music playing made my overthinking even worse. While we were putting<br />
on the roller skates, I tried to calm my nerves so that even if I wasn’t fine,<br />
I would at least look okay.<br />
<strong>The</strong> second I got onto the rink, I started realizing that I could very easily fail.<br />
I started moving, <strong>and</strong> it was definitely very different. Almost every time I<br />
tried to skate more towards the middle <strong>of</strong> the rink, I would fall. I got <strong>of</strong>f the<br />
rink to take a break, <strong>and</strong> while I was resting, my older sister came up to me<br />
<strong>and</strong> asked if I was okay. I told her I was fine but was annoyed that I kept<br />
falling. I thought she would comfort me, but she laughed. I sat there<br />
confused. She stopped laughing <strong>and</strong> told me that it’s only normal to fall or<br />
fail when trying something new. “No one’s perfect,” she said.<br />
In a way, that made me realize that it was fine to fail. I got back into the rink<br />
<strong>and</strong> tried again. After a little bit, I stopped falling <strong>and</strong> I could actually enjoy<br />
it. I realized that most <strong>of</strong> it was in my head <strong>and</strong> that I was actually fine.<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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“In a way, that<br />
made me realize<br />
that it was fine<br />
to fail. I got back<br />
into the rink <strong>and</strong><br />
tried again.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
39
Ivy Eskin DeMarrais<br />
Amy Higginbotham, Teacher<br />
Haley Pilot School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
My brother’s birthday started with a hike in the woods, which, as I would soon<br />
find out, would be very exciting, just not in the way I’d expected. We all hopped<br />
in the car with snacks, a piñata, cupcakes, <strong>and</strong> party hats. I was kind <strong>of</strong> excited<br />
because I had never hiked in this part <strong>of</strong> the Blue Hills before. When we got to<br />
the woods, a million nine year old boys got out <strong>of</strong> separate cars <strong>and</strong> started<br />
thumping my brother on the back, saying, “Happy birthday, man!” <strong>and</strong>, “Bro,<br />
you’re ten, man!” I sighed. I only came for the treats. <strong>The</strong> only other kids there<br />
besides all my brother’s annoying friends were two kids who lived next door to<br />
us. Keziah, or Kez, <strong>and</strong> Joshy. Kez was nine <strong>and</strong> had a lot <strong>of</strong> anxiety. Joshy was<br />
six <strong>and</strong> very loud <strong>and</strong> talkative.<br />
My parents rallied up all the kids, <strong>and</strong> my mom yelled, “All right, gang! Let’s<br />
go!” I swear she sounded like a boy scout troop leader. We all hiked through the<br />
woods, stopping frequently for snacks, sneezing, shoe tying, <strong>and</strong> things like,<br />
“Oh no! I have an itch! I need to stop for five minutes <strong>and</strong> itch it!”<br />
We all spread out. I couldn’t even see the people at the front. Kez <strong>and</strong> I had<br />
trailed to the back, bringing up the caboose with my dad. Suddenly, we heard a<br />
scream, <strong>and</strong> then an “Owwwww,” <strong>and</strong> then some crying. My dad rushed up<br />
ahead to go see what was happening. We found out later that it was just Joshy,<br />
who had scraped a knee on a rock. That, though, would be the least <strong>of</strong> our<br />
problems.<br />
We soon came to a fork in the road. That was when it dawned on me that my<br />
dad had left us, <strong>and</strong> neither <strong>of</strong> us had any sort <strong>of</strong> map or sense <strong>of</strong> direction<br />
whatsoever. Suddenly things weren’t so fun anymore. <strong>The</strong> trees were now dark,<br />
evil giants instead <strong>of</strong>, as my dad had put it earlier, “nice little homes for all the<br />
cute little chipmunks.” Now I started worrying. We would have to sleep out<br />
here, <strong>and</strong> then get rabies, <strong>and</strong>… I noticed Kez sitting down on a rock on the<br />
edge <strong>of</strong> the path with wide eyes <strong>and</strong> his teeth biting his lip. All my thoughts<br />
about rabies <strong>and</strong> sleeping here were worries, but for him, that was pure truth<br />
for all he knew. He was so much more scared than me; my thoughts <strong>and</strong><br />
worries were probably nothing compared to his.<br />
I realized I had to take leadership. I had to decide which way to go. I had to get<br />
us out <strong>of</strong> there <strong>and</strong>, most importantly, I had to help Kez. I looked both ways.<br />
One way, for some reason, looked more promising. “That way!” I decided. We<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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“I realized I had to<br />
take leadership.<br />
I had to decide<br />
which way to go.”<br />
started walking, <strong>and</strong> I put my arm around Kez. “We’re gonna be fine,” I said,<br />
not sure if I should actually believe myself. While we were just walking, Kez<br />
seemed to relax. I saw his eyes s<strong>of</strong>ten <strong>and</strong> his h<strong>and</strong>s unclench. I felt like a<br />
superhero leading Kez down the path, or maybe a squad leader, marching,<br />
head held high.<br />
It started to get a little dark, <strong>and</strong> then all my superhero feelings went away. We<br />
were supposed to be having pizza, laughing, <strong>and</strong> talking right now. I felt a little<br />
tang in my stomach. I kept walking, unsure about… well, everything! Would we<br />
ever find our way out? Suddenly, we came to a big road. I realized that I<br />
recognized the road! We had walked on this road to get up to the woods! I could<br />
tell Kez must have realized it too, because he ran over to me. I grabbed him<br />
<strong>and</strong> shook him side to side. “We found our way out, we did it, yesssssssss!” I<br />
grabbed his h<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> he grabbed mine, <strong>and</strong> we rushed out onto the road. We<br />
ran for what seemed like eternity, <strong>and</strong> finally, we met everyone else. <strong>The</strong>y were<br />
all eating pizza.<br />
“I knew you’d find your way out. You know the woods like the back <strong>of</strong> your<br />
h<strong>and</strong>,” my dad said.<br />
My mom came over <strong>and</strong> gave me a huge squeeze. Finally, it was my brother’s<br />
turn. He didn’t hug me or say any loving words; he threw his h<strong>and</strong>s up in the<br />
air <strong>and</strong> screamed, “LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!!!”<br />
That time in the woods has really scarred me, but it’s helped me realize that I<br />
can be brave in a time when it’s worrisome, <strong>and</strong> I CAN get through it, <strong>and</strong> I<br />
CAN keep pushing. It’s also helped me learn more about Kez’s anxiety <strong>and</strong><br />
how I can help someone like him through that. I really had to show courage.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
41
Binta Diallo<br />
Alicia Reines-Leo, Teacher<br />
Josiah Quincy Upper School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
“My name is Binta.”<br />
“I’m Aliou. Nice to meet you.”<br />
“Thank you,” I responded. “Me too. I’m happy to know you.”<br />
At first he seemed very nice, but I was mistaken. A bit later, Aliou introduced<br />
me to his friend Issa. We were all greeting each other, <strong>and</strong> it was all pleasant.<br />
A few minutes later, Issa asked Aliou to pass the pencil, <strong>and</strong> everything<br />
changed suddenly.<br />
Aliou snapped back at Issa, “You have feet <strong>and</strong> h<strong>and</strong>s, so you can get it<br />
yourself.” I was shocked! Aliou had been nice to me <strong>and</strong> didn’t show me this<br />
bad behavior. I did not think he was that kind <strong>of</strong> person.<br />
“He asked you for a pencil,” I told him. “He didn’t ask you to move<br />
a mountain.”<br />
Aliou seemed angry. “I don’t care what other people think <strong>of</strong> me. Nobody has<br />
the right to judge me. You don’t have the right to tell me what to do!” After<br />
this, everyone in the class was afraid <strong>of</strong> Aliou. All my friends were afraid <strong>of</strong><br />
him too. <strong>The</strong>y told me not to talk to him because they were afraid <strong>of</strong> what he<br />
would say, or worse, what he would do!<br />
I was so angry that I didn’t even want to look at him. He thought he was<br />
superior to everyone, but I knew that no one was superior to me <strong>and</strong> that he<br />
had no right to treat other human beings this way. I am a human being just<br />
like him, <strong>and</strong> I was not going to be afraid. I could not let this st<strong>and</strong>. I made<br />
myself a promise to advise Aliou even if he didn’t listen to me. At least I<br />
would keep my promise. I decided that even if I had to fight the world to help<br />
make him a good person, I would do it.<br />
About two weeks later, I walked up to Aliou <strong>and</strong> used all my strength to tell<br />
him, “Aliou, you are arrogant, <strong>and</strong> I do not like the way that you spoke to<br />
Issa.” No one had found the courage to confront Aliou before, but I showed<br />
him that I was not afraid <strong>of</strong> him. I had courage because I fought for him to<br />
learn the truth that arrogance is useless.<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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“I decided that even<br />
if I had to fight the<br />
world to help make<br />
him a good person,<br />
I would do it.”<br />
Much to my surprise, Aliou did not get angry with me. Instead, Aliou said<br />
that he trusted me because I would tell him what is good for him. I also made<br />
him a promise that I would always be there for him as a best friend in good<br />
<strong>and</strong> bad times. He also made me the same promise. He told me, “Since you<br />
came into my life as my best friend, my life has turned around in the right<br />
direction. I thank you very much.” He also told me that I would be his best<br />
friend because he trusted me to tell him the truth. No one had ever done this<br />
for him before. “I fully trust you,” he admitted, “<strong>and</strong> I thank you.”<br />
I responded, “Me too. And friends don’t need to thank each other.” We<br />
promised each other that we would always be there for each other as friends,<br />
in good times <strong>and</strong> bad.<br />
Today, even though he is far away, we are still best friends. He has been<br />
telling me, “Since you have been with me as my best friend, my life took a<br />
new direction, <strong>and</strong> I am a better person.” I don’t say I’m perfect, but I always<br />
keep my promises. I know no one is perfect in life.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
43
Sarah Br<strong>and</strong><strong>of</strong>f<br />
Peter Bulmer, Teacher<br />
Lesley Ellis School, Arlington, MA<br />
When I think <strong>of</strong> the word courage, a million thoughts fly into my head. Being<br />
brave, facing your fears, or not stopping even when you’re scared. <strong>Courage</strong><br />
means all that to me, but it also means the ability to keep going when you’re<br />
ready to give up: being resilient. While it can be hard sometimes to be brave<br />
<strong>and</strong> to keep going, courage can bring us onto new paths, <strong>and</strong> lead us to<br />
new destinations.<br />
About two years ago, I was inspired to try horseback riding. I wanted to one<br />
day be able to experience the feeling <strong>of</strong> riding against the wind with my horse<br />
at a racing gait, flying across the arena. I asked my mom to schedule a trial<br />
horseback riding lesson, <strong>and</strong> a few weeks later, we went to a nearby stable.<br />
<strong>The</strong> musty smell <strong>of</strong> hay enveloped me as I walked in the stable, feeling<br />
incredibly excited. I had been waiting for this moment for weeks. It didn’t<br />
quite turn out as I expected, though. As the instructor brought out the horse,<br />
I realized how big they really are, <strong>and</strong> I couldn’t even go two feet away from<br />
the horse. In other words, I was terrified. I wanted to ride so badly, so I was<br />
very reluctant to leave. I tried to get my courage up, but eventually I just had<br />
to go home, feeling devastated <strong>and</strong> upset with myself. I felt like I would never<br />
get past my fear <strong>and</strong> would never be able to ride or even get close to a horse<br />
because I had let my fear take over.<br />
Although my first encounter with horses hadn’t gone as I’d hoped, I wasn’t<br />
ready to let go <strong>of</strong> my dream. I debated giving up, but I wanted to get past my<br />
fear <strong>and</strong> realized I had to keep going. My gr<strong>and</strong>mother’s good friend owned<br />
her own horse farm <strong>and</strong> invited me to come over to meet the horses to get<br />
used to being around them. I gladly took the <strong>of</strong>fer <strong>and</strong> started to go to her<br />
farm every Sunday. I slowly felt myself little by little getting more comfortable<br />
with horses. First, I started grooming them, then I started leading them<br />
around, <strong>and</strong> finally the day came when I got the courage to climb on <strong>and</strong> go<br />
for a ride. I was feeling overjoyed because I had worked past my fear, <strong>and</strong> all<br />
the work I’d put into this had paid <strong>of</strong>f.<br />
I felt comfortable enough to start riding at a real stable <strong>and</strong> take lessons. Now,<br />
two years later, horses <strong>and</strong> riding are my favorite things in the world. I ride<br />
twice a week, <strong>and</strong> I’ve even competed in a few shows along the way. If I<br />
hadn’t decided to be brave <strong>and</strong> had given up after the first encounter, I would<br />
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“While it can be<br />
hard sometimes to<br />
be brave <strong>and</strong> to keep<br />
going, courage can<br />
bring us onto new<br />
paths, <strong>and</strong> lead us to<br />
new destinations.”<br />
have never found my favorite hobby, <strong>and</strong> would have never ended up on this<br />
path. I have learned that while being brave can be the hardest thing to do at<br />
times, it can be one <strong>of</strong> the most rewarding, <strong>and</strong> you can end up in places you<br />
never imagined you could be.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
45
Akai’yah Colton<br />
Dionne Manchester, Teacher<br />
Keith Middle School, New Bedford, MA<br />
When I wake up, I always get reminded by my mom to have a good day <strong>and</strong><br />
do what I’m supposed to do. I feel good about this reminder from my mom;<br />
it makes me feel capable <strong>and</strong> like my mom cares.<br />
I get to school <strong>and</strong> I am in class, but suddenly I have urges to st<strong>and</strong> up, walk<br />
around, or hit something. It’s a challenge for me to sit still, not talk back, or<br />
walk away from people I dislike talking to. My body knows that I should be<br />
sitting down, typing, writing, or even reading, but my brain always wants to go<br />
to war with my body. My body sits down <strong>and</strong> does the work, but then I look<br />
over to something, <strong>and</strong> my brain makes me forget the work I was doing <strong>and</strong><br />
pay attention to something else. This does make my teachers upset at me, as<br />
everyone knows teachers do try to put you back on track, but if you don’t<br />
listen, they yell. Once someone yells at me, I go <strong>of</strong>f on them. I get mad, which<br />
makes my body <strong>and</strong> my brain work together for once as the first swear comes<br />
to my mind. I say it <strong>and</strong> walk out.<br />
Later, when people see me, they tell me I have a lot <strong>of</strong> courage for saying those<br />
words to a teacher, but that’s not what courage is about. You shouldn’t be<br />
praised or rewarded for having a bad mouth to an adult; instead, you could<br />
use your mouth to st<strong>and</strong> up for people <strong>and</strong> try fixing what’s wrong.<br />
Now I have decided I have had enough, <strong>and</strong> it is time to change. When I get<br />
<strong>of</strong>f track, I do have to remind myself, or even pinch myself, to get back on<br />
track, because I don’t want to be a ninth grader staying back in the eighth<br />
grade. I do get reminded a lot. I have a smart brain, but sometimes I don’t<br />
use it as it should be used. My brain should be used to open a passion for math<br />
or ELA. Instead, it’s used for not listening to the teachers, trying to start<br />
arguments with everyone, or just getting up <strong>and</strong> walking around.<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> isn’t something like st<strong>and</strong>ing up to a teacher. <strong>Courage</strong> is raising your<br />
h<strong>and</strong> to answer a question. <strong>Courage</strong> is helping another peer stuck on<br />
something or having a bad day. That’s what I think courage is.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Courage</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Children</strong>: <strong>Boston</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Beyond</strong><br />
46
“Now I have<br />
decided I have had<br />
enough, <strong>and</strong> it is<br />
time to change.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
47
Shed Bonnet<br />
Melissa Ma <strong>and</strong> Nicole Precourt, Teachers<br />
Salemwood School, Malden, MA<br />
Have you ever wondered what it is like to ride a bike for the first time? Well,<br />
it took a lot <strong>of</strong> courage <strong>and</strong> bravery for me. This event took place in my<br />
backyard in 2016. To this day, I look back <strong>and</strong> think <strong>and</strong> remember the<br />
hardships I had to encounter to be able to ride a bike successfully. I was<br />
hurt, sad, nervous, <strong>and</strong> excited all at once. Even when I thought I couldn’t<br />
do it, I tried again until I could succeed.<br />
In 2016, a phone call changed everything. My dad told me that he wanted<br />
to get a br<strong>and</strong> new two-wheeled bike for me. I was excited, <strong>and</strong> the next day<br />
we started to go to different stores to look for the perfect bike. It didn’t take<br />
long, <strong>and</strong> we found a bike <strong>and</strong> purchased it. I was super excited, but my<br />
mom told me that I would still have to wait because it needed to be cleaned<br />
<strong>of</strong>f first. After washing the bike, I was as ready as can be.<br />
I was more than excited to ride it. After waiting for the bike to dry, it was<br />
ready for me. I started to dance <strong>and</strong> almost fell on the ground because it was<br />
an exhilarating feeling to try something new. My mom said that she would<br />
be inside the house if I needed her. It was funny—I remember all <strong>of</strong> my<br />
neighbors screaming at me because I was yelling at the top <strong>of</strong> my lungs from<br />
all my excitement.<br />
As soon as I hopped on, I realized I didn’t actually know how to ride a bike!<br />
I tried to balance on it <strong>and</strong> was having lots <strong>of</strong> trouble. I ended up falling.<br />
<strong>The</strong> pain was horrendous, <strong>and</strong> I saw blood trickling down my leg. My foot<br />
scraped against the concrete ground. I called for my mom, but she did not<br />
hear me. I sat on the ground in pain for about an hour, dreading the<br />
decision that I made <strong>of</strong> getting onto a bike without the proper training.<br />
Even though both <strong>of</strong> my legs were scraped, I knew I couldn’t give up. I had<br />
to try again. I picked myself <strong>and</strong> the bike back up <strong>and</strong> tried again. This time,<br />
I was successful! I rode the bike fluently, <strong>and</strong> I felt much happier.<br />
Even when you fall, you should pick yourself back up <strong>and</strong> try again. This<br />
applies to many things, not just riding a bike. Things like math for solving<br />
problems, or science for finding a formula. This experience taught me that<br />
if you try again, you will eventually succeed, <strong>and</strong> you will thrive.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Courage</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Children</strong>: <strong>Boston</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Beyond</strong><br />
48
“I was hurt, sad,<br />
nervous, <strong>and</strong> excited<br />
all at once.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
49
Ella Lam<br />
Dan Cesario, Teacher<br />
Tynan Elementary School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
I was st<strong>and</strong>ing in Elton’s bedroom. “When are you moving into your dorm?”<br />
I asked my brother.<br />
“I don’t know yet, but soon,” he replied.<br />
I was with my brother for my entire life. He had always been there for me,<br />
ever since I was born. My brother is the type <strong>of</strong> person who doesn’t care what<br />
other people think, doesn’t speak up unless someone asks him something, <strong>and</strong><br />
doesn’t go out much. He <strong>and</strong> I grew a stronger bond with each other because<br />
<strong>of</strong> this. He took care <strong>of</strong> me when nobody else was home, <strong>and</strong> he always helped<br />
me out with things I didn’t underst<strong>and</strong>. Even when he was frustrated with his<br />
own work, he would always ask me what I wanted to eat or ask if I needed<br />
help. He was always there for me, <strong>and</strong> I knew it was going to be hard to be<br />
away from my brother.<br />
<strong>The</strong> day finally came when he moved out. I walked out into the living room<br />
<strong>and</strong> saw the luggage he had packed. Seeing all the things packed up made<br />
his room empty. I sat on the couch realizing how big <strong>of</strong> an impact my brother<br />
had been in my life. I started to get sad. My oldest brother was becoming<br />
independent, <strong>and</strong> he would not be home to see me <strong>and</strong> take care <strong>of</strong> me. I<br />
didn’t know that him leaving for college would be that difficult.<br />
My gr<strong>and</strong>pa was home when it was time to leave. “Bye, Ông ngoại,” my<br />
brother said. “Bye, Gr<strong>and</strong>pa.” Saying those words in a s<strong>of</strong>t wispy voice, I knew<br />
he was sad. I cried. I couldn’t believe that he was out <strong>of</strong> our house, the house<br />
filled with memories <strong>of</strong> him <strong>and</strong> me being silly together. As soon as he left the<br />
house, everything became silent, empty, quiet, <strong>and</strong> it just felt unreal that my<br />
oldest brother left <strong>and</strong> was starting a new chapter in his life.<br />
<strong>The</strong> next day, Elton came back to grab the things he left behind. I was happy<br />
he was home, but I knew it would be a while before I saw him again.<br />
“Goodbye, Ella. I hope to see you soon. Text me if you want anything.” My<br />
heart dropped as soon as those words came out <strong>of</strong> his mouth, <strong>and</strong> all I could<br />
feel were tears coming down my face again. He walked out the door. I was<br />
happy that he was becoming independent <strong>and</strong> exploring the world, but at the<br />
same time, I felt sad.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Courage</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Children</strong>: <strong>Boston</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Beyond</strong><br />
50
“I will always <strong>and</strong><br />
forever miss being<br />
together side by<br />
side, but now I am<br />
learning to live<br />
apart from him.<br />
I’m getting the<br />
chance to grow.”<br />
I know that my brother will always come back for me if I need anything, but<br />
I know he won’t be home <strong>of</strong>ten. I will always <strong>and</strong> forever miss being together<br />
side by side, but now I am learning to live apart from him. I’m getting the<br />
chance to grow. I have had the courage to finally let go <strong>of</strong> him. <strong>Courage</strong> means<br />
stepping out <strong>and</strong> doing things on your own. While he is learning to live on his<br />
own, I’m getting my own chance to become independent. It takes courage<br />
knowing that we are apart, but I know that we will always be there for each<br />
other, even when there is a distance between us.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
51
Wyatt Gaspar<br />
Lindsey Daigle, Teacher<br />
Roosevelt Middle School, New Bedford, MA<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are a lot <strong>of</strong> meanings <strong>of</strong> courage, but to me, I think that courage is<br />
when you overcome something that has emotionally hurt you.<br />
When I was younger, I loved going to my gr<strong>and</strong>ma’s house. She was a really<br />
nice person, <strong>and</strong> she did lots <strong>of</strong> things with me. I cried whenever I had to<br />
leave her house because I wanted to spend the night. She made up fun songs<br />
<strong>and</strong> played games with me. My cousin was also there sometimes. I really<br />
enjoyed playing with my gr<strong>and</strong>ma because she was so nice! She made me<br />
laugh a lot too!<br />
One day, all the fun that I had with her came to an end. Sadly, when I was<br />
around four years old, she got really sick from a cancer that was really hard<br />
for the doctors to diagnose. I don’t remember it very clearly, but I know that<br />
she passed away around 2015.<br />
After my parents told me that she had passed away, I was really upset<br />
because she had been a big part <strong>of</strong> my life. I can assume that my mom, my<br />
great aunts, <strong>and</strong> great gr<strong>and</strong>ma were having a tough time too, but they<br />
didn’t really show it <strong>of</strong>ten. <strong>The</strong>y were very strong through that tough time,<br />
<strong>and</strong> I am thankful that I had my family to get me through it all.<br />
As you can imagine, being so young, I was upset, so I went to a children’s<br />
therapist to help me work through what had happened. During my sessions,<br />
we played fun games while I talked about all <strong>of</strong> the fun I had with my<br />
gr<strong>and</strong>ma. We played games like Sorry, Pop the Pig, <strong>and</strong> Ants in the Pants. It<br />
was really fun, <strong>and</strong> it helped me get over what happened.<br />
Now, I still miss her a lot, <strong>and</strong> I know that my family does too, but I got<br />
through it with my family, <strong>and</strong> I feel like that displayed courage.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Courage</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Children</strong>: <strong>Boston</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Beyond</strong><br />
52
“<strong>The</strong>y were very<br />
strong through<br />
that tough time,<br />
<strong>and</strong> I am thankful<br />
that I had my<br />
family to get me<br />
through it all.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
53
Saida Muhammad<br />
Hanna Shibles, Teacher<br />
Mother Caroline Academy, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Have you ever had an embarrassing moment <strong>and</strong> panicked, <strong>and</strong> you just had<br />
to take a Woosah? When I say “Woosah,” I mean a deep breath. Well, I had<br />
to do that when I had a fashion emergency. <strong>Courage</strong> can mean different things<br />
to everyone. One time I showed courage was when I had to be brave <strong>and</strong> go<br />
on stage to dance after a part <strong>of</strong> my costume ripped!<br />
I had just gotten <strong>of</strong>f stage after finishing a dance, <strong>and</strong> I noticed that my tights<br />
had ripped. Obviously, I was very worried <strong>and</strong> did not know what to do. I was<br />
horrified! I was panicking <strong>and</strong> had nothing to fix it. My fear was that when I<br />
went on stage for my next dance, people would see that my tights were ripped<br />
<strong>and</strong> make fun <strong>of</strong> me! Also, I was nervous that my tights would become more<br />
ripped as I continued with the dance. I thought this because the dance floor<br />
had some holes in it, <strong>and</strong> someone had already gotten hurt from that dance<br />
floor before, so they told us to be careful.<br />
I pulled myself together <strong>and</strong> told myself, I can do this. It doesn’t matter that much<br />
if my tights are ripped or not. It just matters if I do a really good job on my dance, <strong>and</strong><br />
make people feel entertained, <strong>and</strong> make them smile. When this all happened, I had a<br />
mix <strong>of</strong> emotions: I was worried, panicked, <strong>and</strong> did not know what to do. After<br />
those feelings, I just had to relax <strong>and</strong> believe in myself. <strong>The</strong>n, I did my dance<br />
<strong>and</strong> moved on.<br />
After this experience, I felt relieved <strong>and</strong> happy. I showed courage because it<br />
takes a lot for someone who has been practicing <strong>and</strong> working hard on<br />
something for months to deal with having it ruined by one little thing, but<br />
you have to persevere <strong>and</strong> move forward.<br />
This story is important to me because I learned to keep moving forward even<br />
when there are a few bumps in the road. What people can take away from my<br />
experience is to not give up or worry too much after something happens that<br />
might affect what you’re doing. You have to at least try to make the best out<br />
<strong>of</strong> it. Besides, the show must always go on.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Courage</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Children</strong>: <strong>Boston</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Beyond</strong><br />
54
“You have to at<br />
least try to make<br />
the best out <strong>of</strong> it.<br />
Besides, the show<br />
must always go on.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
55
Georgio Cordova<br />
Mariya Timkovsky, Teacher<br />
Lesley Ellis School, Arlington, MA<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> cannot be measured, nor can some acts <strong>of</strong> courage be valued over<br />
other ones. We all have different weaknesses <strong>and</strong> different strengths. If you<br />
have no fear <strong>of</strong> swimming or drowning or death, <strong>and</strong> you dive to the bottom<br />
<strong>of</strong> the sea to save the world, that’s not courageous. However, if you have<br />
arachnophobia <strong>and</strong> you put your h<strong>and</strong> in a spider’s nest to find your friend’s<br />
favorite toy, that is courage. <strong>Courage</strong> means exploring past the limits <strong>of</strong> your<br />
boundaries, even if you are a little afraid.<br />
When I was around seven, my parents told me I was going to have a violin<br />
recital. I was really excited to finally share my talents, but I was a little bit<br />
scared. I wasn’t worried about going on stage or playing in public. I did not<br />
care what strangers thought, but I did care about what my friends <strong>and</strong> family<br />
thought. Because <strong>of</strong> that, I practiced every song in my book twice a day. I<br />
made sure I would not mess up.<br />
In the days leading up to the recital, I was really nervous. At home, I asked<br />
my parents for tips <strong>and</strong> paid more attention than ever. I decided that I was<br />
determined not to fail. <strong>The</strong> week before my recital, I was ready, or at least<br />
that’s what I thought.<br />
<strong>The</strong> thing is, when the day <strong>of</strong> the recital came, <strong>and</strong> I stepped on the<br />
mahogany stage, I saw my parents, my friends, <strong>and</strong> my family. <strong>The</strong>y gave me<br />
courage. I took my weathered bow <strong>and</strong> my battered violin <strong>and</strong>… I played the<br />
wrong note. After all my practice. I was so sad that I wanted to give up, but<br />
I did not. I took a deep breath, <strong>and</strong> then my fingers twitched involuntarily.<br />
I picked up my bow, <strong>and</strong> although I was nervous, I played.<br />
First, I played the easiest songs to be sure that I would not mess up again.<br />
However, by the fifth, I was starting to get angry with myself. I did not want<br />
to play these easy songs. I played my hardest, even though I was scared. I<br />
made mistakes, but I just kept on playing. <strong>The</strong> bow was my conductor, <strong>and</strong><br />
the string a harmonious symphony. My fingers danced in a feverishly<br />
energetic rhythm. I felt my hard work <strong>and</strong> dedication play for me. I was<br />
completely at peace in the eye <strong>of</strong> the musical storm. Mistakes were beautiful,<br />
like a jagged edge. In this musical galaxy, I was but a twinkling star watching<br />
two supernovas shine. <strong>The</strong> feeling was wonderful.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Courage</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Children</strong>: <strong>Boston</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Beyond</strong><br />
56
“Without courage,<br />
no one would have<br />
eaten the first<br />
oyster. No one<br />
would’ve ever gone<br />
to the moon! <strong>The</strong><br />
earth would be<br />
flat, <strong>and</strong> science<br />
would be magic.”<br />
I learned that not everything is going to always go your way, <strong>and</strong> I was glad<br />
about that. I realized that if you never take risks, you are one hundred<br />
percent going to fail. However, if you take a chance, at least you have an<br />
opportunity for success. I am glad I learned this lesson because then I might<br />
have never entered this writing competition. I might not have ever tried sushi<br />
or joined the b<strong>and</strong>. Thanks to this experience, I exp<strong>and</strong>ed my horizons, <strong>and</strong><br />
I am forever grateful for that.<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> is something you need to get things done. Without courage, no one<br />
would have eaten the first oyster. No one would’ve ever gone to the moon!<br />
<strong>The</strong> earth would be flat, <strong>and</strong> science would be magic. Without courage, the<br />
world would be very different. <strong>The</strong> world depends on courage, <strong>and</strong> courage<br />
depends on us.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
57
Elias Valencia<br />
Helen Sullivan, Teacher<br />
Hurley K-8 School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
A group <strong>of</strong> kids ride by on their bikes. <strong>The</strong>y look about my age, some younger.<br />
Ugh, even a casual walk on the sidewalk reminds me that other kids can do things I<br />
should be able to do. I know people who have shown courage <strong>and</strong> experienced<br />
hardships unimaginable to me. I consider myself lucky that I don’t have one<br />
<strong>of</strong> those stories to tell. However, like everyone else, I have had to confront<br />
moments <strong>of</strong> worry <strong>and</strong> embarrassment.<br />
It was 2019. I was eight years old <strong>and</strong> sitting at home, ready to go out <strong>and</strong> take<br />
a walk with my mom. As I was struggling to put on my velcro shoes, my mom<br />
got a call. It was my gr<strong>and</strong>ma. <strong>The</strong>y talked about school <strong>and</strong> what they did over<br />
the weekend. All normal things to talk about. I knew it might be a while.<br />
“I don’t know, he can’t put on his shoes, let alone tie them, or pedal a bike, even<br />
with training wheels. His friends have invited him to come ride with them, but<br />
he’s so embarrassed,” my mom said. My gr<strong>and</strong>ma asked something I couldn’t<br />
hear. My mom responded, “I probably should, I have been thinking about it.”<br />
I wondered what they were talking about but decided not to ask. When my<br />
mom hung up the phone, I asked, “Are we still going to the park?”<br />
She responded, “Sure.” <strong>The</strong>n she bent down to help me put on my stupid shoes.<br />
A week later, my mom brought me to the doctor. I was more confused than<br />
nervous. When we walked in, I must have asked more than 30 questions in the<br />
time we were waiting for the elevator. After we checked in, I sat there for so<br />
long looking out the window, I swear I saw a seed sprout.<br />
“Elias Valencia!” my doctor yelled when he came in. I wasn’t sure why I was<br />
there, so I was a bit worried. I followed my doctor. With every step I took,<br />
I moved closer to finding out what was wrong with me.<br />
“I recommend physical therapy,” my doctor said, “for dyspraxia.”<br />
My mom responded, “What does that mean?”<br />
“He can’t do many <strong>of</strong> the things that come easily to most kids, like balancing on<br />
a scooter or pedaling a bike,” the doctor responded.<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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“I worked hard to<br />
accomplish what<br />
others might<br />
think was easy. I<br />
went from being<br />
embarrassed to<br />
being proud, nervous<br />
to excited, <strong>and</strong><br />
from scared to<br />
courageous.”<br />
I got mad at the doctor <strong>and</strong> my mom. Why did the doctor have to say that? Why<br />
is my mom making this a big deal? Am I not smart enough? Will this even help me?<br />
In my head, I drowned out their talking with my questions. Anger <strong>and</strong><br />
annoyance flooded my mind. I started to get embarrassed, nervous, <strong>and</strong> even<br />
scared. I realized I might be made fun <strong>of</strong>. I felt like I was carrying a weight on<br />
my shoulders.<br />
I walked through the doors with my mom into <strong>Boston</strong> <strong>Children</strong>’s Hospital.<br />
It had been a week since my doctor recommended physical therapy for my<br />
“dyspraxia.” I had no idea what that meant. I was embarrassed; the only kids<br />
I saw were younger than me. I was so annoyed; I sat on the bench in the<br />
waiting room for what felt like years.<br />
“Elias Valencia?” my physical therapist said. I got up <strong>and</strong> followed her to a<br />
room filled with colorful mats <strong>and</strong> exercise machines. She asked me what grade<br />
I was in <strong>and</strong> if I liked school—just basic questions <strong>and</strong> cliché conversation<br />
starters that adults always use. I did not do much that first day.<br />
I thought, Hmmmm, maybe this isn’t so bad.<br />
<strong>The</strong> second appointment was when I realized what this was actually going to be<br />
like. I saw kids in wheelchairs <strong>and</strong> families who didn’t speak English who took<br />
flights from all over the world to see the amazing doctors in <strong>Boston</strong>. <strong>The</strong>y<br />
listened intently to the doctor’s words <strong>and</strong> displayed such gratitude. <strong>The</strong>se<br />
parents wanted to make their kids’ lives better or maybe just help them feel a bit<br />
more normal. I noticed many <strong>of</strong> the kids couldn’t walk or talk. I felt like I was<br />
wasting the doctor’s time. My condition wasn’t nearly as serious as other kids’.<br />
Why was I here?<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
59
As I walked down the halls towards the room, I saw one child tentatively rise<br />
out <strong>of</strong> his wheelchair <strong>and</strong> take a step with the help <strong>of</strong> a walker. <strong>The</strong> physical<br />
therapists cheered for him <strong>and</strong> he smiled with pride. While I was working with<br />
my therapist, I felt sad, embarrassed, <strong>and</strong> privileged.<br />
“What are we going to do today?” I asked in a disinterested tone.<br />
My therapist responded with, “Squats.”<br />
That was my least favorite answer. I awkwardly tried a couple, but I got tired<br />
so quickly <strong>and</strong> easily. After a while, it got easier <strong>and</strong> actually kind <strong>of</strong> fun.<br />
Soon my least favorites became my favorites, <strong>and</strong> the hardest became the<br />
easiest. <strong>The</strong>se were such little achievements for most kids, but to me, they<br />
made a big difference.<br />
Although I was much older than other kids at accomplishing these tasks, I still<br />
felt proud. I couldn’t believe it; I tied my shoes, dribbled a basketball, <strong>and</strong> kept<br />
my balance on a scooter! I took my bike for a ride every chance I had <strong>and</strong> gave<br />
away those velcro shoes.<br />
“Merry Christmas!” my mom said as she peeked into my room, months later.<br />
I responded with, “I’m up, I’m up.”<br />
I fumbled down the stairs while rubbing my eyes. I got to the tree <strong>and</strong> saw my<br />
presents. I opened a rectangular box <strong>and</strong> found shoes—shoes with laces, laces I<br />
could now tie. That weight on my shoulders had finally been lifted.<br />
“Do you like them?” my mom asked.<br />
“I love them.” For the first time, I actually meant it.<br />
I worked hard to accomplish what others might think was easy. I went from<br />
being embarrassed to being proud, nervous to excited, <strong>and</strong> from scared to<br />
courageous. <strong>Courage</strong> can mean different things, but the result is <strong>of</strong>ten the same:<br />
the opportunity to believe in yourself.<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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Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
61
Lucia Ortega<br />
Amy Higginbotham, Teacher<br />
Haley Pilot School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
“Lucia, I told Dr. Geniveve. We have come up with a solution.” When I heard<br />
those words come out <strong>of</strong> my mom’s mouth, I froze. I started turning pale. I sat<br />
there silently in the back <strong>of</strong> the car. I was startled. What do I do? I wondered.<br />
When I was in first grade, I had been dealing with a lot <strong>of</strong> anxiety. I was<br />
worried about people trying to kill me, my dad getting deported, <strong>and</strong> what<br />
people thought <strong>of</strong> me. <strong>The</strong>se led to me having panic attacks once in a while.<br />
When I found out that my mom had told my doctor about my anxiety, I<br />
panicked. Beads <strong>of</strong> sweat were falling from my forehead. My eyes started getting<br />
blurry. <strong>The</strong>y were putting me in therapy. At first, I didn’t say anything, but it<br />
didn’t take long before I started freaking out. I started screaming. It sounded<br />
like a pig was dying. I told my mom that I was fine <strong>and</strong> that I didn’t need to see<br />
a therapist. I was worried that everyone in my class was going to find out I went<br />
to therapy <strong>and</strong> see me differently. I started yanking on my hair. Str<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> hair<br />
were ripping out <strong>of</strong> my head. Tears were falling from my eyes. My mom told me<br />
that my first appointment with the therapist was on Thursday. It felt like I had<br />
told her no a thous<strong>and</strong> times, but she didn’t take no for an answer. It was final.<br />
I was forced to go to therapy.<br />
<strong>The</strong>n came the day I had been dreading: Thursday. As I packed my bag to go<br />
home, I started imagining how terrible therapy would be, how mean the<br />
therapist would be, how weird it would be to talk to a stranger about my<br />
feelings. In reality, I was just scared. When I got home, my mom was waiting<br />
for me inside <strong>and</strong> told me we would be leaving in a couple <strong>of</strong> hours. My heart<br />
started racing. I had to do something to get my mind <strong>of</strong>f <strong>of</strong> it. When it was time<br />
to go, my h<strong>and</strong>s shook as I opened the car door. I started feeling sick, like<br />
butterflies were flying in my stomach but then biting whenever they got the<br />
chance. It just got worse as we entered the building. As my mom pressed the<br />
button for the floor we were going to be on, it finally felt real. I couldn’t feel my<br />
fingers, <strong>and</strong> I started hyperventilating. We stepped out <strong>of</strong> the elevator <strong>and</strong><br />
waited. We waited, waited, <strong>and</strong> waited.<br />
Finally, someone came out. She was with a kid. He looked happy when he went<br />
to his mom to go home. She called my name. “Lucia?” My face turned red. I<br />
started walking towards her. She was wearing blue jeans, a white floral shirt,<br />
<strong>and</strong> a pink cardigan. She introduced herself <strong>and</strong> said, “Hi, you can come with<br />
me!” We entered through a door that was filled with stickers <strong>of</strong> Disney<br />
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“My experience at<br />
therapy showed<br />
me that courage<br />
can be hard to<br />
find, but sometimes<br />
you have to push<br />
through <strong>and</strong> be<br />
brave to come out<br />
on the other side.”<br />
characters. We walked past different doors where I saw people hard at work on<br />
their computers. <strong>The</strong>n we arrived at the front door <strong>of</strong> her room. Her room had<br />
a box <strong>of</strong> costumes, nice furniture, her desk with her laptop, <strong>and</strong> games on the<br />
shelves. It smelled like the morning <strong>of</strong> Christmas. I sat down on a beanbag, <strong>and</strong><br />
she sat down in front <strong>of</strong> her desk. “Nice to meet you!” I nervously said it back.<br />
She started asking me questions. Her keyboard clicked each time she pressed<br />
a button. I wondered what she was writing down. I had a lot <strong>of</strong> questions,<br />
but I kept them to myself.<br />
It felt like the hour had gone by slowly, but quickly at the same time. As she<br />
walked me out into the hallway, I saw my mom <strong>and</strong> walked in silence. “How<br />
was it?” my mom asked.<br />
“It was good,” I said back. <strong>The</strong> drive home was quiet. <strong>The</strong> night sky was like an<br />
ocean <strong>of</strong> stars. My mouth slowly turned up into a U. I felt joy like a leaf that<br />
unfolds in the sun. I was so excited to go back.<br />
Each Thursday that I went, we did new things. We practiced strategies to do if<br />
the “anxiety bugs” came back, like brushing them <strong>of</strong>f my sleeve <strong>and</strong> stomping<br />
on them. Sometimes I would draw the “anxiety bugs,” <strong>and</strong> sometimes I would<br />
dress up as them. Sometimes we would just talk about them. Each time I saw<br />
her, my anxiety got lower <strong>and</strong> lower. It never went away, but it calmed down.<br />
I had my last visit <strong>and</strong> graduated from therapy when I was in third grade.<br />
My experience at therapy has helped me overcome a lot <strong>of</strong> my fears <strong>and</strong> helped<br />
me form courage that I use whenever I need it, like times when I’m scared to do<br />
something or when another panic attack comes. <strong>Courage</strong> has helped me be<br />
brave in some <strong>of</strong> the hardest situations. My experience at therapy showed me<br />
that courage can be hard to find, but sometimes you have to push through <strong>and</strong><br />
be brave to come out on the other side.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
63
Arabella Gonsalves<br />
Sabina Kozak, Teacher<br />
Our Sisters’ School, New Bedford, MA<br />
<strong>The</strong> definition <strong>of</strong> being courageous is when someone does something that they<br />
are afraid <strong>of</strong>. When you are courageous, you are brave. It means doing<br />
something that is scary. Being courageous is not easy.<br />
When I was six years old, something happened that changed my whole entire<br />
life. I was sexually assaulted by my mom’s boyfriend. I was super scared each<br />
time it happened. I was too scared to tell anyone, <strong>and</strong> it wasn’t until I was ten<br />
years old that I finally built up the courage to tell somebody what happened<br />
to me. It was very hard for me to tell.<br />
I realized that by choosing to finally speak up, I could help others to make sure<br />
their parents <strong>and</strong> family members are more aware <strong>of</strong> sexual assault. I will have<br />
courage when I go to court. I will be a strong girl <strong>and</strong> hopefully give strength<br />
to others to tell their stories. I have the courage to write this right now, even<br />
though it’s still hard for me to talk about it.<br />
Each time I was assaulted, I was so frightened. I called my gr<strong>and</strong>mother<br />
extremely distraught <strong>and</strong> asked her to come <strong>and</strong> get me, but I couldn’t tell her<br />
why because I was scared for my life. Eventually, my mother broke up with<br />
him. I never felt comfortable around men after this incident happened to me.<br />
For a year I have been going to therapy, <strong>and</strong> I feel it is helping me with all <strong>of</strong><br />
this <strong>and</strong> especially with how to be strong. My family is helping me with this,<br />
especially my gr<strong>and</strong>mother, who gives me the courage to be a strong young<br />
lady <strong>and</strong> to not let this get the best <strong>of</strong> me.<br />
I never thought this would happen to me or change who I was, but it did. <strong>The</strong><br />
carefree fearless child was gone. I was now always scared <strong>and</strong> full <strong>of</strong> anxieties.<br />
I felt like I had to hide the truth <strong>of</strong> what he was doing to me from my family.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re were days I would call my gr<strong>and</strong>mother distraught <strong>and</strong> crying to come<br />
pick me up. She would ask me what was going on, but I was scared he would<br />
kill me so I would lie to my gr<strong>and</strong>mother <strong>and</strong> not tell her the truth. She finally<br />
got me out <strong>of</strong> that house, <strong>and</strong> my mom broke up with him. But I still never felt<br />
safe as long as he was still out there; I didn’t trust anyone who wasn’t family.<br />
One day, when I was ten years old, I overheard my mom <strong>and</strong> gr<strong>and</strong>mother<br />
saying his name <strong>and</strong> that he died. I was so relieved that he couldn’t hurt<br />
anyone anymore. Soon after, I went on a trip to California with my<br />
gr<strong>and</strong>mother. We went to the Hollywood Walk <strong>of</strong> Fame. While we were<br />
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“I’m hoping that<br />
by telling my<br />
story, I can help<br />
others to have the<br />
courage to tell<br />
their stories…”<br />
walking there, I noticed all the people, <strong>and</strong> I started feeling anxious. My<br />
gr<strong>and</strong>mother started asking me what was going on, but I didn’t tell her. I<br />
wanted to, but I didn’t feel brave enough to say what happened. <strong>The</strong> next day,<br />
my gr<strong>and</strong>mother started talking to me <strong>and</strong> asking me questions, <strong>and</strong> out <strong>of</strong><br />
nowhere I blurted out that I was sexually assaulted. My gr<strong>and</strong>mother hugged<br />
me <strong>and</strong> told me everything was going to be okay <strong>and</strong> that I was safe. She said<br />
that once we were back home, we were going to go to the police station <strong>and</strong><br />
report what happened. I asked why, because I assumed he was dead already.<br />
That is when she told me he didn’t die, <strong>and</strong> that I had made a mistake when<br />
I overheard her talking about someone else with the same name as him. When<br />
she said that he was still alive, all my fears <strong>and</strong> anxieties filled my body like a<br />
flood. Now I had to stir up the courage again to go speak to a detective <strong>and</strong> let<br />
them know what happened to me four years ago.<br />
<strong>The</strong> day I was being interviewed by a detective was such a scary day. I had to<br />
be courageous to tell my story. I had to stop him from doing this to anyone<br />
else. I know <strong>of</strong> two others who he has done this to, <strong>and</strong> they told their stories<br />
because I had the courage to tell my story. I was embarrassed, <strong>and</strong> I always<br />
thought it was my fault that this happened to me. Since going to therapy,<br />
I know none <strong>of</strong> this is my fault <strong>and</strong> that he is a sick person who needs to be<br />
punished for what he has done. I hope I will have courage the day I have to<br />
face him in court so I can get justice for myself. He robbed me <strong>of</strong> my<br />
childhood <strong>and</strong> innocence.<br />
I’m hoping that by telling my story I can help others to have the courage to tell<br />
their stories if this happened or is still happening to them. I know now that I<br />
have the strength to move past this <strong>and</strong> not let what happens to me define who<br />
I am going to be. I am not a victim, I’m a survivor.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
65
Dakota Vieira<br />
Kyle Farnworth <strong>and</strong> Jason Cornaglia, Teachers<br />
Norm<strong>and</strong>in Middle School, New Bedford, MA<br />
What courage means to me is showing strength in the face <strong>of</strong> pain or grief.<br />
I showed a great amount <strong>of</strong> courage at the start <strong>of</strong> fifth grade, when I was<br />
being bullied by some people in my class. <strong>The</strong>y hated me for things that were<br />
completely out <strong>of</strong> my control. I went to school every day wanting to cry my<br />
eyes out. At some point, I could barely get out <strong>of</strong> bed. I was so depressed that<br />
I didn’t even tell anybody about it, not even my own mother. I felt as if it was<br />
pointless, <strong>and</strong> that nobody would care regardless. I wanted to do something<br />
about it, but couldn’t find the strength to st<strong>and</strong> up for myself.<br />
I had been dealing with this for too long. I wanted to say something, but I<br />
didn’t want to cause a scene. I told my teacher, but she told me to just ignore<br />
it. Everybody that I came to with my situation told me to just ignore them.<br />
I was so distraught. Nobody understood what I was feeling. I fell into a deep<br />
depression. I didn’t clean my room for weeks <strong>and</strong> it was difficult for me to even<br />
come to school. I quickly became suicidal. I just didn’t want to live on this<br />
earth anymore. I felt so worthless that I began having panic attacks every day.<br />
But soon enough, my best friend found out, <strong>and</strong> she was so mad at herself for<br />
not knowing beforeh<strong>and</strong>. But she still tried to help <strong>and</strong> make me feel better<br />
about what was going on. She referred me to some mental help hotlines <strong>and</strong><br />
told me that everything would get better soon.<br />
When I got home, I called the number my friend had given me. I was on hold<br />
for about three hours before somebody came to the phone. I told the worker<br />
what was going on, <strong>and</strong> they asked me why I didn’t try just ignoring them. But<br />
something struck me. I remembered all the people who love me <strong>and</strong> make me<br />
feel like a person. And I remembered how it would make them feel. And a<br />
small spark <strong>of</strong> hope lit up inside <strong>of</strong> me.<br />
I decided that I would finally get the help I needed <strong>and</strong> talked to my school<br />
guidance counselor, <strong>and</strong> she tried to help me through what was going on.<br />
I didn’t make excuses for myself because I knew I was only hurting the people<br />
I cared about. It took some courage to decide to help myself instead <strong>of</strong> relying<br />
on others to call the shots for me. But I knew I was stronger than what others<br />
said. I just had to prove it to them. And so I did. It was a long journey to get to<br />
where I am today. But at least I can say I did it with no one st<strong>and</strong>ing behind<br />
me, telling me what I should <strong>and</strong> shouldn’t do. And ever since I began making<br />
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“It took some<br />
courage to decide<br />
to help myself<br />
instead <strong>of</strong> relying<br />
on others to call<br />
the shots for me.<br />
But I knew I was<br />
stronger than<br />
what others said.”<br />
my own decisions, I honestly could not be more proud <strong>of</strong> myself. I underst<strong>and</strong><br />
that it’s not as easy as I made it sound, but I truly do hope that my story will<br />
touch many people who are going through the same thing as I was.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
67
Isabella Amaral<br />
Stefanie Lyn Machado, Teacher<br />
Keith Middle School, New Bedford, MA<br />
This memory is forever imprinted in my brain. I was around six years old, <strong>and</strong><br />
it was a cold, rainy night, <strong>and</strong> the night sky was pitch black. This was when I<br />
started to show courage.<br />
I was woken up by what sounded like fireworks going <strong>of</strong>f in front <strong>of</strong> my house.<br />
At first, I didn’t think anything <strong>of</strong> it because my neighbors loved to party. That<br />
sound, though, at eleven o’clock, just felt different. I hopped out <strong>of</strong> bed <strong>and</strong><br />
went straight to my window, but I could not see anything. I proceeded down<br />
the wooden stairs to talk to my parents, who were in the living room. Halfway<br />
down the stairs, I could hear my dad talking to someone on the phone; it was<br />
the police. It was at that moment that I knew something was wrong.<br />
I stopped in my tracks <strong>and</strong> listened to the conversation. As soon as my mom<br />
saw me, she told me to go to her. By then, my sister was with us too. All <strong>of</strong> us<br />
together in one room, waiting <strong>and</strong> listening. My mom was explaining to us that<br />
the sounds we were hearing were not fireworks. <strong>The</strong>y were something<br />
dangerous. It felt like forever, but within two minutes, the police were outside.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y came to our front door <strong>and</strong> asked to speak with my parents <strong>and</strong> my<br />
neighbor. Unfortunately, the police have been to my street before. Before this<br />
incident happened, my neighbor’s house was broken into. <strong>The</strong> police looked<br />
around <strong>and</strong> said everything looked okay. My sister <strong>and</strong> I tried to go back to<br />
sleep, but at this point, we were afraid, <strong>and</strong> our parents let us sleep downstairs<br />
on the couch. <strong>The</strong> last place we wanted to be was alone in our bedroom.<br />
Well, the next night came. BANG! BANG! BANG! This time it was 10:30 p.m.<br />
<strong>The</strong> police were called again. <strong>The</strong>y did not find anything again. Clearly, this was<br />
not fireworks! When the cops came this time, my parents wanted them to come<br />
in <strong>and</strong> talk to us. Inside the house, the <strong>of</strong>ficers explained to my sister <strong>and</strong> me<br />
that they would protect us <strong>and</strong> we had nothing to worry about. This did not<br />
help at all. I think they were just trying to calm us down.<br />
I asked a lot <strong>of</strong> questions. I was really worried about feeling safe. By the end <strong>of</strong><br />
the conversation, they did make us feel better, <strong>and</strong> they gave us stickers on their<br />
way out. Still, at this point, I was petrified to even leave the house. I knew that I<br />
could not miss school, so I had to get the courage to leave my house. <strong>The</strong> police<br />
stayed in the neighborhood for a few days <strong>and</strong> nights, but nothing happened. I<br />
thought I was finally safe.<br />
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“I soon realized that<br />
fear can’t control<br />
me! Slowly, I got<br />
over my fears.”<br />
WRONG! <strong>The</strong> next morning, I was getting ready for school. We got in the car,<br />
<strong>and</strong> as my mom pulled out <strong>of</strong> the driveway we noticed graffiti on my neighbor’s<br />
porch. I was in complete shock at the words that were written. Let’s just say that<br />
it was not nice at all! I begged my mom to let me stay home, <strong>and</strong> she said, “No.”<br />
I went to school <strong>and</strong> had to pretend that everything was okay, but it wasn’t. No<br />
part <strong>of</strong> my life right then felt safe. I was scared <strong>and</strong> tired. I had barely gotten any<br />
sleep during the last few days since this ordeal started, <strong>and</strong> it was starting to take<br />
a toll on me. I could not stop thinking about my family <strong>and</strong> our safety. I just<br />
wanted to stay in my room FOREVER.<br />
Night time <strong>and</strong> darkness were not my friends. I found no peace in the tranquility<br />
<strong>of</strong> night. FEAR again! BANG! BANG! BANG! Police were called. This time, they<br />
came with police dogs, <strong>and</strong> when they searched the neighborhood, they found<br />
shell casings from the guns being used. When would this end?<br />
Our neighbor started looking for a place to move. I was scared <strong>of</strong> all the loud<br />
noises. Fireworks, which I once loved, became something that made me<br />
nervous. Loud bangs would startle me. I did not want to go anywhere or do<br />
anything because <strong>of</strong> this. How was I going to manage my life now? I soon<br />
realized that fear can’t control me! Slowly, I got over my fears.<br />
My neighbor apologized for everything. He explained that he was part <strong>of</strong> a very<br />
bad group before moving to the neighborhood, <strong>and</strong> the people that he left were<br />
mad <strong>and</strong> wanted to make a point <strong>of</strong> how upset they were with him. For some<br />
strange reason, although I did not want anything to happen to my neighbor, it<br />
was reassuring to know the source <strong>of</strong> the violence on those dark, loud nights.<br />
I believe that in your life, you need to show courage at least once. That time<br />
shows up differently for everyone. This is a story <strong>of</strong> how my time decided to<br />
show up for me.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
69
Katherine Ramos<br />
Amy Rojek, Teacher<br />
Community Preparatory School, Providence, RI<br />
While walking around the mall with my mom <strong>and</strong> sister, we were deciding<br />
which store we would go to next. My sister <strong>and</strong> I saw a store we wanted to go<br />
to. When we stepped inside, the store was pretty small, <strong>and</strong> there were many<br />
things on the wall. <strong>The</strong> st<strong>and</strong>s were all the same but were able to swivel. Some<br />
had a sign that said “Buy 3, Get 3 Free.” We didn’t want the total amount <strong>of</strong><br />
things we bought to be over twenty dollars, so we decided to only buy from<br />
those st<strong>and</strong>s. My sister saw some keychains she liked, so she asked my mom if<br />
she could buy two. My mom agreed <strong>and</strong> also grabbed some hair accessories.<br />
We then went to the cashier area, <strong>and</strong> my mom calculated how much it would<br />
cost. We waited patiently while the salesperson did her job. She told my mom<br />
the total amount, <strong>and</strong> my mom grabbed her purse to pay. I could detect the<br />
confused expression on my mom’s face. She paid <strong>and</strong> took us outside.<br />
My mom grabbed her purse <strong>and</strong> took out her receipt. She looked at it <strong>and</strong><br />
then took out the things we bought. It seemed like she did this continuously.<br />
My mom didn’t underst<strong>and</strong> why the total amount was more expensive than<br />
what she calculated, as they were all from the “Buy 3, Get 3 Free” area.<br />
Because I was the only English speaker, I was the one chosen to talk to the<br />
salesperson.<br />
While walking towards the salesperson, I could feel my legs shaking <strong>and</strong> my<br />
body wanting to go back. I was stuck inside my thoughts worrying, but at least<br />
I had my little sister accompanying me. Before talking, I convinced myself that<br />
the worker was kind, so I raised my hopes up <strong>and</strong> started to speak. I heard my<br />
voice stuttering, but I made myself keep going <strong>and</strong> just hoped to finish this<br />
conversation quickly.<br />
I saw the woman glare at us, which made me feel like I was some kind <strong>of</strong> thief.<br />
After talking to her, I headed back, relieved. I tried my best to explain what<br />
happened to my mom. She didn’t underst<strong>and</strong>, so I headed back to the store.<br />
<strong>The</strong> salesperson seemed annoyed that my sister <strong>and</strong> I came back, <strong>and</strong> I tried<br />
to do things more quickly. She told us the keychains weren’t from the deal, <strong>and</strong><br />
explained what was from the deal. I kept the keychains because my sister<br />
wanted them <strong>and</strong> returned everything else.<br />
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“Even talking to<br />
someone can be<br />
a struggle, <strong>and</strong><br />
you will need<br />
to use a lot <strong>of</strong><br />
courage, knowing<br />
that some people<br />
around you don’t<br />
underst<strong>and</strong> how<br />
difficult it can be.”<br />
My mom questioned why I got the keychains, but I tried to hide my tears <strong>and</strong><br />
told her I wanted to leave. My mom realized how stressed I was, so she<br />
hugged me <strong>and</strong> apologized. After that, I felt better, <strong>and</strong> we decided not to<br />
go there again.<br />
To me, courage can be things you decide to do that are outside your comfort<br />
zone. Even talking to someone can be a struggle, <strong>and</strong> you will need to use a<br />
lot <strong>of</strong> courage, knowing that some people around you don’t underst<strong>and</strong> how<br />
difficult it can be.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
71
Alan Chen<br />
Melanie Smith, Teacher<br />
Josiah Quincy Upper School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
“Excuse me,” I said, clutching onto my pants.<br />
“Yes?” the worker said with a deep voice.<br />
“Where is the… umm… uhhhhhhh,” I said, with a nervous look on my face.<br />
“What he is trying to say is, where is the pasta sauce?” my brother corrected<br />
me, annoyed.<br />
If you don’t know what that was, well, people with non-English-speaking<br />
parents should know. It was talking to r<strong>and</strong>om strangers in English because my<br />
parents don’t know English. My definition <strong>of</strong> courage is doing something that<br />
you are afraid to do.<br />
Being one <strong>of</strong> the two only people in the family who speaks English is really hard<br />
<strong>and</strong> scary. You have to translate what people say, <strong>and</strong> sometimes I don’t even<br />
know how to translate because for some <strong>of</strong> the words in English, I don’t know<br />
how to say them in Chinese. That sometimes puts me under pressure because<br />
I feel like I’m going to get something wrong. Google Translate comes in very<br />
h<strong>and</strong>y. In the past, I just took care <strong>of</strong> the “easy” stuff, like phone calls, <strong>and</strong> my<br />
brother took care <strong>of</strong> the “important” or “hard” stuff, like medical-related topics.<br />
But I know that’s going to change. Furthermore, my brother is busy, almost in<br />
college, <strong>and</strong> doesn’t have the time for the “translator” role.<br />
My parents want to train me to talk with people other than family <strong>and</strong> friends<br />
so I can fulfill my brother’s job as the family “translator.” I used to feel anxious<br />
every time I made a phone call or went up to an employee to ask where the<br />
cereal was. I remember this one time, I was calling someone, I think a<br />
plumber, to come fix my faucet.<br />
My dad said, “I want you to say, ‘Can you please fix my faucet?’”<br />
“Ok,” I said. It was only me <strong>and</strong> my dad at home, so I couldn’t make an excuse<br />
<strong>and</strong> get out <strong>of</strong> it. So I got my phone <strong>and</strong> dialed the number.<br />
Bleep Bloop Bloop Bleep. I dialed the number <strong>of</strong> the plumber. I called <strong>and</strong> it took<br />
two rings. Oh shoot, what am I going to say? I forgot what my dad told me to say, I<br />
thought. <strong>The</strong> panic monster had taken over. <strong>The</strong> person answered. My heart<br />
was beating so fast.<br />
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“Hello?” answered a woman impatiently. It sounded like she was tired <strong>of</strong><br />
doing her job.<br />
“Hey, ummmm… So, my faucet is broken,” I said at the speed <strong>of</strong> light.<br />
It felt like ten years <strong>of</strong> awkward silence.<br />
“Two years ago,<br />
I was scared to<br />
talk to everyone.<br />
Now I can do it as<br />
easy as 1, 2, 3.”<br />
“Um, I couldn’t quite pick up what you said, could you please repeat that?”<br />
I was really nervous <strong>and</strong> thought <strong>of</strong> hanging up but didn’t. “So ummm,<br />
my faucet is broken,” I repeated nervously.<br />
“I cannot make out what you said,” the woman said firmly. At this point,<br />
I didn’t know if it was my phone or if she had a problem, so I hung up.<br />
I would call her later.<br />
Talking to strangers can be frightening <strong>and</strong> make you feel like it’s the end <strong>of</strong><br />
the world, but I promise you, it’s not! Two years ago, I was scared to talk to<br />
everyone. Now I can do it as easy as 1, 2, 3. Like they always say, “practice<br />
makes perfect.” My hope for the future is to be able to help my parents with<br />
the big boy medical stuff.<br />
My definition <strong>of</strong> courage is doing something that you are afraid to do.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
73
Noemie Maria Alice Xaviera Pinto<br />
Hope Bynoe, Teacher<br />
Keith Middle School, New Bedford, MA<br />
One afternoon my gr<strong>and</strong>mother sent me to the supermarket. In front <strong>of</strong> the<br />
supermarket, there were people <strong>and</strong> their big dogs. I was very afraid <strong>of</strong> dogs!<br />
When I was younger <strong>and</strong> living in Dakar, Senegal, there were many<br />
neighborhood dogs. A lot <strong>of</strong> times, some dogs would come <strong>and</strong> sniff people.<br />
Whenever one <strong>of</strong> them would approach, I would get so nervous that I would<br />
begin to shiver. Sometimes the dogs would even growl or bark.<br />
On the day my gr<strong>and</strong>mother sent me to the supermarket, I could not tell her<br />
that I was very afraid <strong>of</strong> dogs. I was ashamed <strong>of</strong> being so afraid <strong>of</strong> the dogs.<br />
I didn’t want her to tell my friends that I was very scared <strong>of</strong> dogs because<br />
they were not scared <strong>of</strong> dogs. I was the only one in the group scared <strong>of</strong> dogs.<br />
So I went to the supermarket to buy what my gr<strong>and</strong>mother had asked me.<br />
I couldn’t refuse, otherwise it would be a lack <strong>of</strong> respect.<br />
When I arrived at the door, one <strong>of</strong> the dogs started to sniff me. I got scared<br />
<strong>and</strong> ran away, shouting, “Help, help, a dog wants to attack me!’’ <strong>The</strong> dog<br />
continued to follow me. It was running faster than me. At one point, I<br />
tripped in the s<strong>and</strong> because my shoe broke. When I l<strong>and</strong>ed on the ground,<br />
s<strong>and</strong> went in my mouth, in my nose, in my eyes, in my hair, <strong>and</strong> all over my<br />
clothes. Finally, when the dog caught up to me, it looked at me on the<br />
ground, made a strange sound, <strong>and</strong> returned to its owner. Everyone saw.<br />
I was embarrassed.<br />
My friends came looking for me. I was so mad. <strong>The</strong>y helped me up <strong>and</strong><br />
brushed me <strong>of</strong>f before bringing me back to my house. On the path home<br />
they were laughing at me. When my gr<strong>and</strong>mother saw me, she laughed too.<br />
<strong>The</strong>n she told me to go take a second shower. At my home in Senegal, there<br />
was no hot water. When I was done taking a shower <strong>and</strong> washing my hair in<br />
cold water, I had to go back to the supermarket.<br />
Before I left my mom spoke with me <strong>and</strong> told me, “Never be afraid <strong>of</strong> dogs.’’<br />
When I went back, my babysitter came with me to the supermarket. After<br />
such a terrible day, it took a lot <strong>of</strong> courage to go back. But I listened to my<br />
mother’s advice <strong>and</strong> went back. <strong>The</strong> second time around was much better.<br />
I saw the dogs, but I did not run. Now, I am not afraid <strong>of</strong> dogs anymore.<br />
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“After such a<br />
terrible day,<br />
it took a lot<br />
<strong>of</strong> courage<br />
to go back.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
75
Khalil James<br />
Jessica Tsai, Teacher<br />
Josiah Quincy Upper School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
My definition <strong>of</strong> courage is not to be rude to people, because you never know<br />
what people are going up against. My mom taught me not to be rude to<br />
people because you don’t want people to do it to you. I also learned that if<br />
others are being rude, then I should help in those situations.<br />
I had an experience at my old school where I saw a kid being bullied in the<br />
hallway. Two boys were making fun <strong>of</strong> my friend, calling him stupid, a loser,<br />
<strong>and</strong> ugly. He was afraid, <strong>and</strong> he looked like he wanted to cry. I did not like it,<br />
<strong>and</strong> it made me feel sad for my friend because he didn’t do anything to<br />
deserve that. I felt really bad, <strong>and</strong> I was thinking in my head, James should<br />
never get treated like that. Should I go up there <strong>and</strong> tell those kids to stop bullying him?<br />
My legs shook as I looked at them because they were as big as the Hulk, <strong>and</strong><br />
I was afraid they would fight me like WWE. I heard my mom’s voice in my<br />
head—I knew that I had to say something, because people should not be<br />
bullying others for no reason. I walked straight up to the boys with no fear<br />
<strong>and</strong> said in a normal voice, “Can you guys hop <strong>of</strong>f <strong>and</strong> stop picking on him?<br />
Pick on someone your own size!” I stepped between the bullies <strong>and</strong> the kid.<br />
“Stop bullying my friend, because you would not want him to do it to you or<br />
your friend,” I told them. <strong>The</strong> kid who was doing the bullying didn’t like that<br />
I stepped in, but I had to.<br />
I felt really good about helping the innocent kid out. I could tell he felt better<br />
after. He walked up to me later at lunch <strong>and</strong> thanked me for st<strong>and</strong>ing up for<br />
him <strong>and</strong> helping him out. I told him no problem, <strong>and</strong> I gave him some<br />
advice. I told him to never let someone be mean to him. I also told him to<br />
st<strong>and</strong> up for himself because if he let them bully him they will always bully<br />
him. He said okay. I’m proud <strong>of</strong> myself, <strong>and</strong> I only did what I would want<br />
someone to do for me or my little brother.<br />
I went home <strong>and</strong> told my mom, <strong>and</strong> she was very proud <strong>of</strong> me. Bullying<br />
is not okay.<br />
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“<strong>The</strong> kid who was<br />
doing the bullying<br />
didn’t like that<br />
I stepped in, but<br />
I had to.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
77
Anne-Sagine Nicolas<br />
Hanna Shibles, Teacher<br />
Mother Caroline Academy, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Have you ever shown courage or been embarrassed in front <strong>of</strong> your friends or<br />
your class? I had this problem one day in the stairwell at school with my<br />
classmates. My experience was important because it taught me how to face<br />
people after being embarrassed, <strong>and</strong> that’s exactly what I did, even though<br />
I was scared. <strong>Courage</strong> is an action that you commit with fear in your heart.<br />
One afternoon, after science class, we lined up in front <strong>of</strong> the stairwell, <strong>and</strong><br />
we started to walk down to our homeroom. I was happy because it was finally<br />
time to get ready for recess <strong>and</strong> lunch. Halfway down, I tripped over air, <strong>and</strong><br />
I slid down the rest <strong>of</strong> the stairwell, banging my elbow a couple <strong>of</strong> times really<br />
hard while trying to get up. <strong>The</strong>n someone let out the loudest laugh in human<br />
history, <strong>and</strong> it kept ringing in my head. I was really embarrassed, <strong>and</strong> I ran to<br />
the nurse’s <strong>of</strong>fice, <strong>and</strong> for some reason I started having a panic attack. I went<br />
to a little room with a bed in it as someone told me to slow down, <strong>and</strong> I<br />
started crying. I was already pretty sad to begin with that day, <strong>and</strong> I didn’t<br />
even know why. I was really afraid, <strong>and</strong> I wanted to go home. I know it was a<br />
bit extreme, but I was really embarrassed.<br />
I stayed for lunch <strong>and</strong> recess in that little room. Some people, including<br />
teachers, came to check up on me, <strong>and</strong> three <strong>of</strong> them stayed with me for<br />
lunch. Talking about it made me feel less clumsy. I realized that even though<br />
I was still afraid, hiding wasn’t going to make anything better. Not to mention<br />
that they helped me realize that everyone falls from time to time. Talking to<br />
other clumsy people helped. I was still afraid, but I had the courage to show<br />
my face in front <strong>of</strong> my classmates. I was still embarrassed, but I was feeling<br />
better already. Besides the fact that everyone was asking if I was okay (which<br />
meant that they knew what had happened), I was so proud <strong>of</strong> myself for this<br />
little gesture <strong>of</strong> courage.<br />
It’s important to have courage <strong>and</strong> show your face in school, especially after<br />
doing something really embarrassing. You can’t hide forever anyway, so it<br />
helps if you calm down <strong>and</strong> show courage. I learned that running away from<br />
problems like this only makes you feel worse. So if you ever encounter a<br />
problem like this, taking some time away could help, but it’s better if you face<br />
the problem. You’ll feel much more proud after doing so, trust me. Everyone<br />
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“I realized that even<br />
though I was still<br />
afraid, hiding wasn’t<br />
going to make<br />
anything better.”<br />
does something embarrassing every once in a while, like tripping or hitting<br />
themselves by accident. Remember this every time you do something<br />
embarrassing. It’ll help you feel way better. After all, you can’t have any<br />
courage without fear.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
79
Benissa F.<br />
Taenari Phillips-Thompson, Teacher<br />
Menino YMCA After-School Program, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
A time when I showed courage was when I stood up to my bully. My bully had<br />
been bullying me since third grade. I always thought he abhorred me for being<br />
the only girl in the classroom. But last year, everything changed. How? Well, I<br />
am friends with his friends, so every time they were around, they would st<strong>and</strong><br />
up for me. It was like they were my guardians. Until one day, they were tired<br />
<strong>of</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ing up for me, <strong>and</strong> instead <strong>of</strong> helping me, they bullied me until I cried<br />
every day coming back home.<br />
I had enough <strong>of</strong> them, so the next day, I told them something basic like, “Why<br />
are you bullying me? Are you bullying me because I’m going through stuff<br />
right now?” <strong>The</strong>y didn’t respond after that, <strong>and</strong> at that point I felt much better<br />
because I knew what I did was gonna change everything. From that day on,<br />
they didn’t bother me. <strong>The</strong>y didn’t even look at me while I walked through the<br />
hallways, <strong>and</strong> I knew I did something great for the first time in school.<br />
A week later, I got sent to the principal’s <strong>of</strong>fice. When I went in, I saw the kids<br />
that had been bullying me for my whole life, <strong>and</strong> they said I was bullying<br />
them. Could you believe them?! I said in my mind. I have done nothing wrong, they<br />
are the ones who should be in trouble right now, not me. <strong>The</strong>y have been bullying me<br />
since we were kids, <strong>and</strong> you guys believe them! I can’t right now.<br />
<strong>The</strong> principal said, “Since you didn’t say anything, we thought there was<br />
nothing wrong between you <strong>and</strong> them,” which I was surprised to hear because<br />
I thought he had been watching the cameras from his <strong>of</strong>fice since the<br />
beginning <strong>of</strong> the school year. <strong>The</strong> principal said I would be suspended for<br />
three weeks <strong>and</strong> that I had to do all my classwork <strong>and</strong> homework at home<br />
before seven o’clock at night. I thought he was bugging because I have things<br />
to do after school <strong>and</strong> have no time to do it before seven.<br />
I couldn’t say no, so I said, “Yes, sir, it will be done.” And I had to apologize to<br />
my bullies like I did something wrong to them. I was annoyed with everyone<br />
<strong>and</strong> everything, but I walked out like everything was fine.<br />
When I got home that day, I had a fight with my mother <strong>and</strong> siblings about<br />
the same thing. <strong>The</strong>y didn’t believe me, <strong>and</strong> I felt a little disappointed in them<br />
because <strong>of</strong> how they reacted to me after hearing it. That same night, I couldn’t<br />
sleep because <strong>of</strong> how I thought my bully would get away with this <strong>and</strong><br />
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“By the end <strong>of</strong> the<br />
day, me <strong>and</strong> my bullies<br />
were finally getting<br />
along at last.”<br />
everything else. I felt angry <strong>and</strong> threw something at the wall. I think it was<br />
a flashlight, but I know it was something small.<br />
<strong>The</strong> next morning I woke up, skipped breakfast, <strong>and</strong> headed out the door as<br />
fast as I could, because I didn’t want to see them, not right now, but maybe<br />
when I cooled <strong>of</strong>f. I got on the bus, <strong>and</strong> as soon as I did, everyone was staring<br />
at me with disgust like I did something I shouldn’t have done. When I got into<br />
class <strong>and</strong> I saw them, I thought, Maybe they’re not the problem, but I am. I went to<br />
see them <strong>and</strong> to apologize, ignoring the fact that they had to say this instead to<br />
me. By the end <strong>of</strong> the day, me <strong>and</strong> my bullies were finally getting along at last.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
81
Kiara Diakite<br />
Kate Lynch, Teacher<br />
Roosevelt Middle School, New Bedford, MA<br />
A time where I had to be brave was when I had seizures. When I was younger,<br />
I would be in <strong>and</strong> out <strong>of</strong> the hospital numerous times because <strong>of</strong> how bad it<br />
was. It got to the point where I had to stay in the hospital for almost two<br />
weeks. It got worse by the day. <strong>The</strong>re was really nothing that would help me<br />
besides medicine.<br />
I would have family come over to help <strong>and</strong> comfort me throughout the days.<br />
One day, my mom bought me flowers <strong>and</strong> set them on the table beside me.<br />
My dad walked in <strong>and</strong> went to sit down on the other chair beside my mom.<br />
After I woke up, my mom placed a teddy bear on my hospital bed. I grabbed<br />
it, hugged it tightly, <strong>and</strong> then thanked my mom. She nodded. My dad hugged<br />
me <strong>and</strong> then walked back out <strong>of</strong> the room to go watch my brothers. After that,<br />
my babysitter walked in. She greeted me <strong>and</strong> I waved, <strong>and</strong> we all sat there,<br />
talking <strong>and</strong> sharing memories, <strong>and</strong> even creating some.<br />
Later that day, the doctor walked in, <strong>and</strong> my mom’s eyes lit up, thinking I<br />
would be out <strong>of</strong> the hospital, though the doctor shook his head. “We have to<br />
keep her for an extra week, just to do some tests, <strong>and</strong> to be safe,” the doctor<br />
said, walking back out <strong>of</strong> the room.<br />
My mom grabbed my h<strong>and</strong>, squeezing it. “Just a couple more days <strong>and</strong> you’ll<br />
be back home, I promise,” my mom said, looking at me. After some time, my<br />
babysitter walked out, <strong>and</strong> my dad walked back in. He sat with my mom for<br />
some time <strong>and</strong> hugged me. <strong>The</strong> nurse came in <strong>and</strong> h<strong>and</strong>ed me a little iPad,<br />
<strong>and</strong> I played some games while talking to my parents. After some time, I put<br />
the iPad on the table beside me <strong>and</strong> pulled over the covers, going to sleep with<br />
my parents beside me the entire time.<br />
I felt like I was trapped in a hole, one I couldn’t escape, ever. When I woke up,<br />
it was around morning. <strong>The</strong> doctors brought me into a separate room where<br />
they hooked wires onto my head. <strong>The</strong>y were colorful, <strong>and</strong> they would check if<br />
I had any other tumors in my head. My dad <strong>and</strong> my mom were also there. It<br />
did hurt having the wires on my head. It felt a bit better afterwards, but I still<br />
had the tumors. So after that, the doctors unhooked all the wires, <strong>and</strong> I went<br />
back into my hospital room.<br />
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“I went to jump on<br />
the bed, <strong>and</strong> I felt<br />
full <strong>of</strong> life again.”<br />
I thought I wasn’t ever going to get out <strong>of</strong> this unhappy life. It felt like<br />
everything just brought me down, <strong>and</strong> my seizures ruined my life. I could have<br />
been outside playing right then, but instead I was in a hospital bed beside my<br />
parents who were extremely worried. I was young <strong>and</strong> needed to let it all go,<br />
so I decided to keep going <strong>and</strong> ignore my seizures, even though they weren’t<br />
easy to ignore. I had to be brave <strong>and</strong> show courage.<br />
Over the week, the doctors did more tests on me. <strong>The</strong>n one morning, the<br />
doctor came in with a smile. “She is ready to go home, but we will have to give<br />
her medicine to clear the tumors inside her head,’’ the doctor said as he<br />
signaled my parents to go outside. When my parents were outside talking to<br />
the doctor, my brothers came in with a bag FULL <strong>of</strong> toys. (Remember, I was<br />
younger at the time.) My brother gave me a toy bunny. It talked, <strong>and</strong> I<br />
immediately smiled. <strong>The</strong> toy looked as if it was full <strong>of</strong> life.<br />
After I got changed into my spare clothes <strong>and</strong> was in the car playing with some<br />
toys, I got out <strong>of</strong> the car <strong>and</strong> dashed into the house. I immediately went to my<br />
room. It was the same, good <strong>and</strong> well taken care <strong>of</strong>. I went to jump on the bed,<br />
<strong>and</strong> I felt full <strong>of</strong> life again too.<br />
Two years later, I went to a hospital in <strong>Boston</strong>, <strong>and</strong> I had wires hooked to my<br />
head once again. It was to check if I had any more tumors, <strong>and</strong> to my surprise,<br />
I had none. It was like I was a normal child again who had just shown bravery<br />
<strong>and</strong> courage throughout their problem.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
83
Amsale Tewodros<br />
Jaclyn Poremski <strong>and</strong> Sarah Tran, Teachers<br />
St. Agatha School, Milton, MA<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> is doing something brave. But it could also be speaking up for yourself<br />
or others. Being courageous means st<strong>and</strong>ing up for someone or doing something<br />
that scares you. Showing courage can feel like jumping from one side <strong>of</strong> a<br />
bridge to another. I’ve had terrible anxiety since I was younger, so showing<br />
courage is something that makes me feel good about myself.<br />
In my case, it was asking for help when I was embarrassed. Since I was young,<br />
I’ve always gotten panic attacks, but they’ve always been small. Whenever my<br />
panic attacks occurred, I always felt as if all <strong>of</strong> the oxygen was being squeezed<br />
out <strong>of</strong> me. As a kid, I also had some breathing troubles, so I thought that it was<br />
just a factor in the way my breathing would slowly stop. I had no clue what<br />
panic attacks were until fifth grade.<br />
It was the last period, <strong>and</strong> my class was art class. I asked to go to the nurse<br />
because I didn’t feel too good. <strong>The</strong> nurse sent me back to class because it was<br />
the last period <strong>and</strong> I didn’t want to miss my b<strong>and</strong> class. When I came back<br />
down, I was bombarded with,<br />
“What’s wrong?”<br />
“Are you ok?”<br />
“What happened?”<br />
I was glad that people cared for my well being, but with my head pounding<br />
<strong>and</strong> all <strong>of</strong> the questions, a sudden wave <strong>of</strong> stress came over me, <strong>and</strong> all I wanted<br />
to do was cry.<br />
I felt so vulnerable, <strong>and</strong> when I sat in my seat, I slowly started sobbing, <strong>and</strong><br />
I kept on breathing faster <strong>and</strong> faster until I couldn’t breathe anymore. I felt<br />
trapped <strong>and</strong> hated myself for not being able to ask for help because I was so<br />
ashamed. Once I finally built up the courage to go up to the teacher <strong>and</strong><br />
attempt to ask for help, the teacher brought me out into the hallway to guide<br />
me through breathing.<br />
More people started appearing: my homeroom teacher, the nurse, the guidance<br />
counselor, my brother, <strong>and</strong> the music teacher. <strong>The</strong> more teachers that started<br />
appearing, the worse my panic attack became. All <strong>of</strong> the teachers had the same<br />
advice: “Just keep breathing.” It felt so hard to breathe because it felt like I was<br />
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“I am very grateful<br />
for the people who<br />
were there for me<br />
<strong>and</strong> showed acts <strong>of</strong><br />
courage in helping<br />
me overcome anxiety<br />
<strong>and</strong> panic attacks.”<br />
trapped in a box with no room for air. <strong>The</strong> nurse phoned my mom <strong>and</strong> asked<br />
her to come <strong>and</strong> help, <strong>and</strong> by the time my mom came, everyone was dismissed,<br />
so we went to her car. From there, my mom helped me face my fears.<br />
Acts <strong>of</strong> courage don’t have to be big, but the feeling <strong>of</strong> knowing you stood up<br />
for yourself or for others gives you a boost <strong>of</strong> confidence that you did the right<br />
thing. It could be as simple as telling someone to back <strong>of</strong>f when you see them<br />
being mean. I am very grateful for the people who were there for me <strong>and</strong><br />
showed acts <strong>of</strong> courage in helping me overcome anxiety <strong>and</strong> panic attacks.<br />
To me, courage means bravery or strength to overcome something.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
85
Sasha Farb<br />
Alex Jones, Teacher<br />
<strong>The</strong> Park School, Brookline, MA<br />
Many people think that the only act <strong>of</strong> courage is doing something flashy, like<br />
confronting a bully or going down a steep ski slope, but to me, that is not the<br />
case. I think courage comes in a multitude <strong>of</strong> ways, <strong>and</strong> it would be impossible<br />
to capture all <strong>of</strong> what it means in one singular sentence. I believe this because<br />
everyone is constantly having new experiences that change their perspective<br />
on courage, whether they realize it or not. For instance, I never thought that<br />
courage could be accepting that something in your life has changed, until I<br />
was put into a situation where accepting a fact took a lot <strong>of</strong> inner strength.<br />
In 2019, my gr<strong>and</strong>pa was diagnosed with brain cancer. He got sick very<br />
quickly <strong>and</strong> was rapidly fading from the vibrant, humorous human whom<br />
I had always known. When the hospital care in Canada wasn’t able to provide<br />
all that he needed, his doctors decided that moving to <strong>Boston</strong> for the best<br />
medical care was the right thing to do. Everyone agreed, <strong>and</strong> it was decided<br />
that because my family lived in <strong>Boston</strong>, he would be staying with us. When<br />
I heard the news, my eight-year-old, naive self was flooded with excitement.<br />
My parents quickly started to make accommodations for him to stay with us<br />
when he was not receiving treatment at the hospital.<br />
That summer, he moved in with us. At first, he acted mostly like his normal<br />
self, but as his chemotherapy continued, he changed more <strong>and</strong> more. He<br />
started to struggle with his speech, <strong>and</strong> he became less aware <strong>of</strong> his<br />
surroundings. Him living with us was turning out to be far from what I<br />
originally thought it would be—it cast a feeling <strong>of</strong> sorrow across the house.<br />
I tried my best to ignore the fact that he was sick <strong>and</strong> changing, but as he got<br />
worse, it got harder to live in denial. I eventually started to avoid being around<br />
him because it was easier to run away than to face the truth I was fighting so<br />
hard not to believe. When he eventually started to spend more time in the<br />
hospital, it became easier to avoid reality, but I knew that what I was doing<br />
was unhealthy for me <strong>and</strong> ultimately not fair to him.<br />
I thought a lot about how the only way to be at ease with the fact that he had<br />
cancer was to accept it. I talked to my mom about how I was feeling, <strong>and</strong> she<br />
comforted me in a way that made me feel understood <strong>and</strong> not alone. As time<br />
went on, when conversations about my gr<strong>and</strong>pa started, I didn’t try to steer<br />
clear <strong>of</strong> the topic, <strong>and</strong> I sometimes even contributed to the discussion. It felt<br />
freeing to accept the reality that he was sick.<br />
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“Although I didn’t<br />
put my life on the<br />
line, I allowed<br />
myself to feel<br />
vulnerable, <strong>and</strong>,<br />
to me, that is<br />
courageous.”<br />
Even though nobody else realized how much I was struggling inside during<br />
that time, I was <strong>and</strong> still am incredibly proud <strong>of</strong> myself for overcoming my<br />
fears. I learned that not every act <strong>of</strong> courage has to be a typical superhero act;<br />
it can be as simple, yet as hard, as accepting that someone you love is sick <strong>and</strong><br />
not getting better. Although I didn’t put my life on the line, I allowed myself<br />
to feel vulnerable, <strong>and</strong>, to me, that is courageous.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
87
Anosha Khan<br />
Sawsan Mezyan, Teacher<br />
Al-Noor Academy, Mansfield, MA<br />
As a diabetic, I find doing regular daily things much harder for me. I<br />
remember the day I found out I had type 1 diabetes at the beginning <strong>of</strong> my<br />
sixth grade year. Although I was a prediabetic, I never really cared about it as<br />
I should have. I found out I had diabetes at a doctor’s appointment. <strong>The</strong><br />
doctors took my glucose meter <strong>and</strong> went into another room. <strong>The</strong>re was<br />
another nurse with me, <strong>and</strong> she asked if I had any symptoms. I did have very<br />
noticeable symptoms, which were frequent headaches, feeling very tired, being<br />
thirsty all the time, <strong>and</strong> having to use the bathroom very <strong>of</strong>ten. <strong>The</strong>se<br />
symptoms screamed out my diabetes diagnosis.<br />
<strong>The</strong> other doctor came in <strong>and</strong> showed the nurse my A1C, a blood test that<br />
measures your average blood glucose. After she took a look at it, the only<br />
words she said were, “She needs to be rushed to the ER.” I broke down in<br />
tears. I thought I was going to die. My mother <strong>and</strong> the nurses tried to calm me<br />
down, but the tears wouldn’t stop rushing down my face. <strong>The</strong> reason I needed<br />
to be hospitalized was because I had to go on insulin. My pancreas stopped<br />
producing insulin. <strong>The</strong> nurse told me I could not have done anything to<br />
prevent this, but I still thought that everything was my fault because I did not<br />
take care <strong>of</strong> my health issues.<br />
After minutes <strong>of</strong> crying, I was able to calm myself down. <strong>The</strong>n a doctor asked<br />
if I could walk to the emergency room because no ambulance was available. I<br />
said, “That’s fine.” So my mom, the doctor, <strong>and</strong> I started walking. We arrived<br />
at the ER, <strong>and</strong> we spent three hours in the waiting lodge. By midnight, I finally<br />
got to my room.<br />
<strong>The</strong> next morning, I started to learn how to take insulin, which was very<br />
hard for me. <strong>The</strong> needle was huge, <strong>and</strong> it hurt when the insulin was being<br />
injected. Plus, some math was involved, which is why I was so confused, but<br />
my nurse said, “Taking insulin is like brushing your teeth,” <strong>and</strong> that’s what<br />
encouraged me.<br />
Taking insulin now really is like brushing my teeth. One thing, though, is that<br />
taking insulin can really hurt sometimes. Checking my blood sugar can be<br />
very stressful because it can get high or low very fast. If I get too stressed <strong>and</strong><br />
my sugar is high, it will get higher, <strong>and</strong> if my sugar is low <strong>and</strong> I get stressed,<br />
my sugar gets lower.<br />
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“In my religion,<br />
Islam, we believe<br />
that this life is<br />
a test. Diabetes<br />
is my unique test<br />
I must pass.”<br />
Although dealing with diabetes is very hard, especially at a young age, I am<br />
very grateful for <strong>Boston</strong> <strong>Children</strong>’s Hospital helping me take care <strong>of</strong> it. In my<br />
religion, Islam, we believe that this life is a test. Diabetes is my unique test I<br />
must pass. Although being woken up at 3:00 a.m. to take more insulin or<br />
having to constantly monitor my Dexcom (a device that allows me to track my<br />
blood sugar levels on my phone) are difficulties most people do not experience.<br />
Islam gives me the courage I need to overcome these obstacles. <strong>The</strong>re’s a verse<br />
in the Quran that says, “God does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear”<br />
(2:286). I always remember it when I feel like my diabetes overwhelms me.<br />
With my religion to comfort me, I feel like I can easily pass my test.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
89
John Martinez<br />
Joan Arches <strong>and</strong> Jeffrey Mestre, Teachers<br />
3Point Foundation / Tech<strong>Boston</strong> Academy, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
What is courage? <strong>Courage</strong> is the ability to do something that frightens you. A<br />
roadblock, to put it simply. <strong>Courage</strong> builds character <strong>and</strong> makes you stronger.<br />
I play basketball, <strong>and</strong> I am not where I want to be yet, but I’m better than I<br />
was last year. I used to be scared to step on the court <strong>and</strong> thought that I was<br />
the worst. Over time, I’ve realized that being scared to do something is a<br />
limitation that I don’t want to set for myself.<br />
<strong>The</strong> feeling <strong>of</strong> being scared overpowered my desire to be better, so I was<br />
destined to fail every time I tried. I am blessed enough that I got to meet<br />
amazing people at 3Point this year <strong>and</strong> last. <strong>The</strong>y have taught me how to<br />
have courage <strong>and</strong> confidence in myself. Sometimes when I would play with<br />
my teammates, it felt as if I were dragging them down. I was lucky to be<br />
around a great group who only encouraged me to keep going <strong>and</strong> to not care<br />
what anyone else said.<br />
I started to develop courage <strong>and</strong> became more confident in myself. Even<br />
though I’m not a star, I try to do my best on defense <strong>and</strong> getting rebounds. In<br />
basketball, we call this “the dirty work.” Failure helped me gain courage, <strong>and</strong><br />
I learned that it isn’t bad to fail <strong>and</strong> that it can actually be a positive. Michael<br />
Jordan is one <strong>of</strong> the greatest basketball players <strong>of</strong> all time, <strong>and</strong> he got cut from<br />
his basketball team in high school. He showed courage by putting in the work<br />
<strong>and</strong> not giving up. He overcame his roadblock <strong>and</strong> made it all the way to the<br />
NBA <strong>and</strong> had an amazing career.<br />
When you are afraid <strong>of</strong> failure, you need to sometimes think <strong>of</strong> what your<br />
long term goals are. You need to think about how failing can ultimately lead<br />
to a positive. I am a prime example <strong>of</strong> courage because <strong>of</strong> the roadblocks that<br />
I have had to overcome. I know this essay focused on basketball, but the<br />
courage I’ve gained can be applied in many different parts <strong>of</strong> my life. Once<br />
again, I am really thankful for the program. I have improved at basketball<br />
<strong>and</strong> feel better about the person that I am becoming.<br />
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“I have improved<br />
at basketball <strong>and</strong><br />
feel better about<br />
the person that<br />
I am becoming.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
91
Ehan Uddin<br />
Peter Laboy, Teacher<br />
Bellesini Academy, Lawrence, MA<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> is the thing that makes you st<strong>and</strong> up to your fears. To me, courage is<br />
being brave. In the moment, I agreed to something that scared me.<br />
When I woke up in the morning, I heard we were going to see real whales on a<br />
sea cruise tour. My heart thumped loudly because I have a fear <strong>of</strong> water called<br />
thalassophobia. My family <strong>and</strong> I got ready to go on the cruise. When we got to<br />
the port in Bellingham, I stepped onto the plank to get on the ship, <strong>and</strong> my<br />
heart dropped. I heard all <strong>of</strong> the loud noises <strong>of</strong> the ocean, the kids talking, <strong>and</strong><br />
the ocean breeze pressed against my body. I boarded the luxury White Cloud<br />
ship, <strong>and</strong> when it started to move, I felt like I was a bullet speeding through the<br />
wind. I could see the coast disappearing. Within half an hour, we were in the<br />
middle <strong>of</strong> nowhere. I anxiously waited to get <strong>of</strong>f the boat.<br />
I waited for half an hour. Maybe the tour would be canceled. Right as I was<br />
eating my Doritos, the speaker said there was a whale. I stayed inside, pale <strong>and</strong><br />
mute, while my family ran to the railing. As time passed, I felt braver <strong>and</strong> went<br />
outside to the shiny metal railing. To my surprise, there was a humongous<br />
whale right next to the boat. It went under the boat, <strong>and</strong> everyone paused with<br />
terror. I wished I could go back inside the ship, but it was too late. I felt like I<br />
was on the brink <strong>of</strong> death, in the middle <strong>of</strong> nowhere, <strong>and</strong> not even my<br />
gr<strong>and</strong>parents would know if we died. We all remained silent until the whale<br />
appeared on the other side. Eventually the whale left <strong>and</strong> swam somewhere<br />
else. I was relieved to go back inside.<br />
I agreed to do something that chilled me to the bone. I had to face my fears<br />
<strong>and</strong> show courage. I had to hide from a whale! That day I learned that<br />
everything is not always what you think. People have phobias, <strong>and</strong> over time<br />
they realize that they’re not that scary. You have to be prepared for the<br />
unexpected that will change your life.<br />
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“I agreed to do<br />
something that<br />
chilled me to the<br />
bone. I had to<br />
face my fears <strong>and</strong><br />
show courage.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
93
Riley Dixon<br />
Aaron Kesler <strong>and</strong> Alison Spade, Teachers<br />
<strong>Boston</strong> Renaissance Charter Public School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
To me, courage means facing your fears even when you’re afraid. You don’t<br />
need a whole background or lifetime <strong>of</strong> saving people, but just finding the<br />
courage to face your fears is already showing courage.<br />
It was summer <strong>of</strong> 2017. I was six at the time, going into the first grade. I was<br />
sitting on the couch with my teddy bear, watching one <strong>of</strong> my favorite TV<br />
shows. At the time, my parents <strong>and</strong> I were just coming back from our trip to<br />
Toronto, Canada. <strong>The</strong> windows were open, <strong>and</strong> my parents were unpacking<br />
their stuff when my dad got an urgent call <strong>and</strong> had to run out. I got up after<br />
hearing all the commotion, wondering what was going on. I asked my mom,<br />
<strong>and</strong> she said to wait. I just walked away <strong>and</strong> went back to the couch. <strong>The</strong>n, a<br />
few minutes later, my mom got a call from my dad. My mom then told me to<br />
come to her. She told me words I couldn’t believe: “Riley, your brother got in<br />
a motorcycle accident <strong>and</strong> died.” At that moment, it was like my feet were<br />
planted to the ground, stuck there. Tears drained from my eyes. All I could<br />
do was go up to my mom <strong>and</strong> bawl <strong>and</strong> hug her while she did the same. I went<br />
outside because my dad was back. And at the time, my sister was also living<br />
with us too. I tried to smile <strong>and</strong> cheer everyone up. I saw my dad pacing<br />
around, not knowing what to do. I saw my sister crying her heart out on the<br />
steps. My dad tried to smile, but I could see he forced that one a lot. After that<br />
day, things would never be the same.<br />
I learned things about myself that I never knew. For example, how to<br />
empathize <strong>and</strong> to sympathize. But the most important thing I learned was that<br />
I needed to be courageous to move past this point <strong>of</strong> mine. I learned that life is<br />
tough, like, really tough. You can’t have everything you want in life. I learned,<br />
“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Use the good things that come<br />
out <strong>of</strong> the bad things. Moving past the hard points in life makes you stronger.<br />
As Kelly Clarkson sang, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” I also<br />
know that my brother will always be there with me, because he is in me. He is<br />
always there even when he is not actually here. I’ll always have him. And the<br />
greatest thing that you can overcome in life is moving forward no matter what,<br />
but letting go is the hardest.<br />
I’m stronger today because <strong>of</strong> this grief <strong>and</strong> hardship. I’m a hardworking,<br />
determined student. I care about others more when I see they need help or<br />
when they’re sad or upset because I don’t like others being hurt <strong>and</strong> I don’t<br />
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“I’m stronger today<br />
because <strong>of</strong> this grief<br />
<strong>and</strong> hardship.”<br />
want them to experience the things that I went through. I learned to put more<br />
thought into things <strong>and</strong> look at things with a different point <strong>of</strong> view. I learned<br />
to think before I act. I learned to appreciate things greatly <strong>and</strong> know that<br />
nothing comes easy <strong>and</strong> that you have to work for what you believe in. In<br />
conclusion, this experience taught me how to have courage <strong>and</strong> be the Riley<br />
who I am today.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
95
Cora Dias-Mourao<br />
Valerie Carvalho, Teacher<br />
Keith Middle School, New Bedford, MA<br />
<strong>Courage</strong>: A way <strong>of</strong> expressing yourself through actions <strong>and</strong> words. A way to<br />
mark your life by choosing a path, whether it be telling someone about your<br />
styles, emotions, tastes, <strong>and</strong> options; dealing with a problem <strong>and</strong> how you take<br />
care <strong>of</strong> it, with a smile or a fist; or telling your fears you’re worth more than<br />
what they say you are, <strong>and</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ing up.<br />
It’s 2022. December, the happiest time <strong>of</strong> the year, but without snow. I’m in<br />
school, sitting down in a chair, my bag <strong>and</strong> water bottle next to my feet, making<br />
a colorful clay figure with my sleeves up. It’s past school time, <strong>and</strong> I’m in a club,<br />
a Pride club at that. I had told my stepdad when we were walking to my mom’s<br />
car that I wanted to be in the Pride club. It made my stomach feel funny when I<br />
first said that, <strong>and</strong> he <strong>of</strong> course was happy to hear that, since some <strong>of</strong> his family<br />
were in the community. <strong>The</strong>n when we got to the house, he asked, “So are you<br />
going to tell mom, or do you want me to?” I had thought about that before,<br />
telling my mom, but even though she would always say she’d accept me, it<br />
didn’t really feel right somehow.<br />
I’ve always known that I like girls <strong>and</strong> that I am nonbinary, since the first time<br />
I was introduced to it. I was happy to finally know my identity. I told my friends<br />
<strong>and</strong> my older cousin. <strong>The</strong>y accepted me <strong>and</strong> loved me. I was comfortable at<br />
school <strong>and</strong> with my cousin, yet I was not at home. I hadn’t told my mom or<br />
stepdad about my identity. I tried to avoid the thought <strong>of</strong> telling them, but it<br />
always came back <strong>and</strong> haunted me <strong>and</strong> asked, Well? Are you? Are you gonna tell<br />
them soon? When they find out, they’ll feel betrayed. <strong>The</strong>y’ll be disgusted in you. <strong>The</strong>y’ll<br />
hate you. After weeks <strong>and</strong> weeks <strong>of</strong> it, I made up my mind that I was going to tell<br />
them on New Year’s Eve. I went to my friends <strong>and</strong> told them my plan. Of<br />
course, they were supportive <strong>and</strong> loving.<br />
<strong>The</strong> last day before winter break, everyone was ecstatic in the hallways. All you<br />
could see for miles were bright, cheerful faces ready for Christmas morning <strong>and</strong><br />
the New Year. People were exchanging gifts, laughs, <strong>and</strong> hugs. I hugged my<br />
friends <strong>and</strong> wished them happy holidays. In the span <strong>of</strong> the holiday break, I<br />
went to my Mimi’s house since my father was away <strong>and</strong> wouldn’t be back for at<br />
least a year or more. While I was over my Mimi’s, my parents went to New<br />
York to see the ball drop. That ruined my plans completely. <strong>The</strong>y were stuck in<br />
traffic that night <strong>and</strong> could not come back until the afternoon <strong>of</strong> the next day.<br />
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“<strong>Courage</strong>: A way <strong>of</strong><br />
expressing yourself<br />
through actions<br />
<strong>and</strong> words. A way to<br />
mark your life by<br />
choosing a path.”<br />
By the next month, I’d had enough <strong>of</strong> this waiting <strong>and</strong> struck. I told my<br />
stepdad, <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> course, he was happy to hear.<br />
My story may be the same as another, or completely different from another.<br />
But I see my story as an original because it holds my feelings <strong>and</strong> actions in the<br />
pages—no others, just mine, <strong>and</strong> mine to keep.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
97
Owen Hannigan<br />
Mary Budrose, Teacher<br />
Proctor Elementary School, Topsfield, MA<br />
I feel mixed emotions <strong>of</strong> sadness, fear, <strong>and</strong> loneliness, not knowing where to<br />
go or what to do. I feel like I’m all alone, not knowing what has just hit me.<br />
However, courage is about always helping others <strong>and</strong> stepping out <strong>of</strong> your<br />
comfort zone. When COVID-19 hit us in 2020, my family <strong>and</strong> I didn’t think<br />
much <strong>of</strong> it. I just thought we had a long weekend, so I was excited. My family<br />
<strong>and</strong> I were fine for a while, but in the summer, things took a turn for the worse.<br />
One Friday morning, my mom got extremely sick with COVID, <strong>and</strong> then a<br />
few days later, my dad <strong>and</strong> brother got sick, leaving me as the only kid who<br />
wasn’t sick. That left me with a lot <strong>of</strong> responsibility that I wasn’t ready for. I<br />
felt miserable. I didn’t know what to do because I couldn’t be around them,<br />
but I had to take care <strong>of</strong> them. At first I was confused, but then I realized that<br />
I had to do this to help my family, no matter how challenging it may be. I<br />
didn’t know how to run a house all by myself, so I was lost. <strong>The</strong>y weren’t sick<br />
with just a cold—they were all very sick. I knew that I had to take care <strong>of</strong><br />
them, so I took their temperatures, fed them, <strong>and</strong> helped them with things<br />
around the house. I gave them their medicine every day, <strong>and</strong> I hoped that the<br />
things I was doing would work soon.<br />
Every single day I had to hustle to cook food, which I wasn’t very good at; do<br />
laundry; take care <strong>of</strong> the dog; do dishes; <strong>and</strong> do many more things. After every<br />
day, I was exhausted, drained, <strong>and</strong> barely had any time to relax or do things<br />
that I wanted. I also couldn’t socialize because I had to quarantine. But I had<br />
this feeling in my body that if I helped them, they would get better, then I<br />
would feel like I accomplished that. It was difficult because we all had to stay<br />
in different rooms. I made a routine for what I would do every day. My mom<br />
always woke up first, so I made her food first, then my dad, then my brother.<br />
After doing all this for two weeks, I was starting to lose hope, but I pushed<br />
through it. Even though I wanted to always take a day <strong>of</strong>f, I never gave up on<br />
them <strong>and</strong> never left them <strong>and</strong> didn’t stop helping <strong>and</strong> attending to them. I still<br />
got what they asked <strong>and</strong> did everything in my power to help them. <strong>The</strong>n the<br />
day came when my mom’s temperature went down overnight. She still had a<br />
cold, so she wasn’t all better, but I was still very excited for her recovery. <strong>The</strong>n<br />
over the next couple <strong>of</strong> days, my mom had no more symptoms <strong>and</strong> had no<br />
fever, so she was all better. I felt so relieved, <strong>and</strong> she was able to help me take<br />
care <strong>of</strong> my brother <strong>and</strong> my dad. <strong>The</strong>n the next day, my dad got all better <strong>and</strong><br />
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“At first I was<br />
confused, but then I<br />
realized that I had<br />
to do this to help<br />
my family, no matter<br />
how challenging<br />
it may be.”<br />
that let me lay <strong>of</strong>f a bit while my brother got better, <strong>and</strong> to my surprise, the next<br />
day, the whole family was all better. I was so relieved, <strong>and</strong> my whole family<br />
thanked me for what I had done to help them.<br />
Throughout those 18 days <strong>of</strong> helping my family, I learned just how much my<br />
parents care for me because they always do things that make me happy, <strong>and</strong> I<br />
am so thankful for having them in my life <strong>and</strong> making my life one million times<br />
better. I appreciate them because they have taken care <strong>of</strong> me for my whole life,<br />
<strong>and</strong> I realized that they have worked as hard as I did for my whole life. <strong>The</strong>y<br />
do all those little things that make me love them.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
99
Briella Nesta<br />
Melissa Ma <strong>and</strong> Nicole Precourt, Teachers<br />
Salemwood School, Malden, MA<br />
Have you ever tried a new sport? When I was ten years old, on August 2,<br />
2021, I signed up for tackle football. When I was driving to the football field,<br />
I was nervous <strong>and</strong> excited at the same time. When I got there, I saw a lot <strong>of</strong><br />
boys staring at me <strong>and</strong> many people talking to other people. This made me<br />
feel even more nervous.<br />
When it was the first day <strong>of</strong> practice, I was super anxious because I was the<br />
only girl on the team. <strong>The</strong> boys were playing around, <strong>and</strong> the coaches were<br />
talking to each other. When practice started, I heard a boy ask, “Is that a<br />
girl?” My coaches were busy <strong>and</strong> did not hear or see anything. I just brushed<br />
it <strong>of</strong>f, <strong>and</strong> shortly after we started practicing drills.<br />
After two months <strong>and</strong> countless tackle football practices, I got a lot more<br />
comfortable with being the only girl on the team. I got more comfortable<br />
with hanging out with the boys. I became friends with some <strong>of</strong> them who<br />
were on my team. When I got more comfortable with being the only girl on<br />
the football team, it became easier to blend in.<br />
With all the practices, I was able to know a lot more about tackle football.<br />
I was also able to play in games on Sundays. My team <strong>and</strong> I won about<br />
five games <strong>and</strong> lost three. We were able to make it to the play<strong>of</strong>fs but lost<br />
in the first round. After the season was over, I continued to play sports with<br />
much more confidence <strong>and</strong> signed up again for tackle football when the<br />
season restarted.<br />
I learned that you should follow your dreams, even if it’s hard <strong>and</strong> people try<br />
to put you down. What courage means to me is to not give up, even if people<br />
don’t believe you. Even though it made me nervous when the boys on the<br />
team were looking at me <strong>and</strong> talking about me, I thought about what my<br />
parents said <strong>and</strong> how they supported me. I gained confidence, ignored<br />
negative comments, <strong>and</strong> became a great athlete.<br />
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“I gained confidence,<br />
ignored negative<br />
comments, <strong>and</strong><br />
became a great<br />
athlete.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
101
Nadia Ashrafi<br />
Sawsan Mezyan, Teacher<br />
Al-Noor Academy, Mansfield, MA<br />
You can show courage in different ways. It can be as small as telling the truth.<br />
It can also be as huge as st<strong>and</strong>ing up to a bully. <strong>Courage</strong> can help you get<br />
through life, especially when times are tough.<br />
My courage story begins on a Saturday night at dinner. I wanted to try some<br />
paneer, a type <strong>of</strong> Indian cheese. I’m allergic to nuts, so everything I try is<br />
checked by my parents first to make sure it doesn’t have nuts in it. This time,<br />
though, they decided the paneer was fine to eat. After I tried it, I had a bad<br />
stomach ache. Hoping that it would be better in the morning, I went to bed<br />
early. However, little did I know that would become the least <strong>of</strong> my problems.<br />
At around midnight, I woke up to an itchy feeling. It felt uncomfortable, <strong>and</strong><br />
instantly, I knew something was wrong. I went to my mom to check. She<br />
discovered that hives were forming on the back <strong>of</strong> my neck <strong>and</strong> were<br />
spreading. Inside, I was panicking, but I knew that I had to stay calm.<br />
Soon, my mom called 911. As she explained the situation to the lady on the<br />
phone, I felt scared <strong>and</strong> worried. Would I be okay after this passed? Would<br />
everything go back to normal after this? Soon, I learned that I would have to<br />
take my EpiPen. It looked a little intimidating, but it was the fastest way to<br />
treat it. One, two, three, <strong>and</strong> it was over. <strong>The</strong> hives that had reached my h<strong>and</strong>s<br />
<strong>and</strong> legs started to disappear. I felt a little better. I was going back to normal!<br />
To make sure that I was okay, I had to go to Sturdy Memorial Hospital—in an<br />
ambulance! I left the house in my pajamas with my dad, hoping everything<br />
would be okay.<br />
In the ambulance, I had to get a few tests to make sure my blood pressure was<br />
regular again. I also had to get a shot. At the hospital, I had to wait for the<br />
doctor. When she arrived, she gave me a checkup. I was healthy, but I still had<br />
to wait there. After two hours, I could go home. My dad called an Uber to take<br />
us. I was finally going home!<br />
This experience was terrifying. My family was more cautious about nuts <strong>and</strong><br />
cross-contamination. However, I had the courage to live my life after. Even if I<br />
couldn’t get party snacks or share food, I never let that put me down. Instead,<br />
I tried to be happy with what I had <strong>and</strong> still have fun.<br />
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“<strong>Courage</strong> isn’t<br />
getting rid <strong>of</strong><br />
all your fear;<br />
it’s choosing<br />
to persevere<br />
through it.”<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> isn’t getting rid <strong>of</strong> all your fear; it’s choosing to persevere through it.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re’s going to be a time in everyone’s life when it’s rough. However, you<br />
should go through that time with courage, <strong>and</strong> not let it stop you from living<br />
your life.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
103
Jordan Eldredge-Bryant<br />
Michael Andrews, Teacher<br />
Barnstable Intermediate School, Hyannis, MA<br />
My definition <strong>of</strong> courage is to always believe in yourself, even when all <strong>of</strong> the<br />
odds are against you. I showed courage when my mom needed medical<br />
attention.<br />
Imagine you are a four- or six-year-old kid. You are having a normal day, but<br />
when you wake up, you don’t see your mom up before you. You say, “Hmm,<br />
that’s strange. Usually Mom’s always up before me!”<br />
You try to wake her up, jumping on the bed, shaking her, even opening her<br />
eyelids. She won’t wake up… you panic! Sweat dripping, h<strong>and</strong>s shaking, you<br />
go into flight or fight mode—<strong>and</strong> you fly. You run to the nearest house you can<br />
find <strong>and</strong> ask them for help while sobbing, “Help, help! My mom is not awake.”<br />
My mom <strong>and</strong> I have always been a family <strong>of</strong> two, nothing else <strong>and</strong> nothing<br />
more. We have always been great friends <strong>and</strong> family. It has not always been a<br />
happy life with the both <strong>of</strong> us, though. My dad used to abuse my mom before<br />
I was born. She was a tough cookie for surviving that traumatic <strong>and</strong> terrible<br />
experience. This caused Mom to experience severe depression, <strong>and</strong><br />
sometimes she would take it out on me. I didn’t know at the time; I was still a<br />
child, <strong>and</strong> even if I were to try to comfort her, I couldn’t. All I could do was<br />
hug her, but she did not let me.<br />
After I called for help from the neighbors, they called 911, <strong>and</strong> my mom was<br />
sent to the hospital. I was in shock that all <strong>of</strong> this happened in one morning.<br />
My nana picked me up, <strong>and</strong> I lived with her for one year or so. I really missed<br />
my mom, but she was always there for me still. Next, I lived with my aunt,<br />
<strong>and</strong> my life got better, yet I really missed my mom, <strong>and</strong> I wondered how she<br />
was doing. I finally got to see my mom, as we all moved in together when I<br />
turned six.<br />
I saw these other kids at school with dads, but I did not have one. I wondered<br />
why mine was never texting me back. I fell into a deep depression, just like<br />
Mom, as a nine- <strong>and</strong> ten-year-old. That was a real problem. I always felt like<br />
I was a ghost in school, like no one cared for me or even knew that I was<br />
there at times. I was really tired <strong>and</strong> sad at that time. I barely could get four<br />
hours <strong>of</strong> sleep every night because <strong>of</strong> it.<br />
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“Eventually, you<br />
will find that<br />
golden shine in<br />
your life that you<br />
were wishing for.”<br />
When I got a new house, I started to get better, but I still had depression.<br />
I was getting sick <strong>of</strong> everything happening to me, so I started to get better<br />
grades <strong>and</strong> do all <strong>of</strong> my homework as soon as it got h<strong>and</strong>ed to me. I changed<br />
my mindset, <strong>and</strong> I actually became happier. It made me happier because<br />
I became more proud <strong>of</strong> myself.<br />
Only recently do I really feel that I have gotten out <strong>of</strong> that deep spot in my<br />
life. I have gotten happier because <strong>of</strong> my mom, my grades, <strong>and</strong> my friends.<br />
That’s why you should always believe in yourself, even if you’re in a dark<br />
moment like I was in my life. Eventually, you will find that golden shine in<br />
your life that you were wishing for.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
105
Gracia Veras<br />
Peter Laboy, Teacher<br />
Bellesini Academy, Lawrence, MA<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> to me means having the bravery <strong>and</strong> confidence to defend or st<strong>and</strong> up<br />
for yourself in difficult situations. Regardless <strong>of</strong> how much courage people have,<br />
I certainly had enough to st<strong>and</strong> up for my uncle. Here’s what happened.<br />
One weekend, I was on the sidewalk with my uncle. It was a great day so far,<br />
<strong>and</strong> we were happy as we walked to the park. As we walked, I watched the great<br />
sapphire blue skies, <strong>and</strong> my uncle watched all the fun carnival rides. <strong>The</strong>re was<br />
even a smell <strong>of</strong> barbeque that caught our attention. It was a lukewarm<br />
temperature that I could feel on my skin. You could hear the birds chirping<br />
happy songs, the rustling <strong>of</strong> leaves <strong>and</strong> bushes as squirrels skittered along in<br />
nature, <strong>and</strong> people talking <strong>and</strong> screaming. However, we heard something that<br />
caught our attention.<br />
We heard a particular scream that pierced through the voices <strong>of</strong> everyone else<br />
screaming <strong>and</strong> talking. “DISABLED,” someone shouted. We directed our eyes<br />
toward a man who appeared well over the age <strong>of</strong> 25. It took a couple <strong>of</strong> seconds<br />
for me to realize that the man had been referring to my uncle. My uncle, born<br />
with polio, has had a permanent limp ever since he was born. Polio prevented<br />
him from doing various things like walking right, cutting fruit, <strong>and</strong> other<br />
actions associated with cooking, running, or walking. My blood was boiling,<br />
<strong>and</strong> I was unsure if my face had looked red. I wanted to st<strong>and</strong> up <strong>and</strong> scream at<br />
him to defend my uncle, but I had the courage to think twice about my actions.<br />
As my body felt hot, I thought twice about my next action <strong>and</strong> thought, This<br />
guy just wants to pass his pain onto others. <strong>The</strong>n, I decided that it was not worth<br />
yelling at the man. I felt the tension in my body fade away, <strong>and</strong> that put a<br />
slight smile on my face. I looked over to my uncle, who did not seem that<br />
<strong>of</strong>fended. I felt bad for him but thought that he did not think it was worth<br />
yelling at the man, either. I walked away with my uncle, continuing to head<br />
to the park.<br />
In conclusion, I had enough courage to maintain my composure when faced<br />
with a difficult situation. I realized that sometimes it is not worth fighting back<br />
against bullies because they want to see you react. My courage helped me to not<br />
confront the man, even when I had a nagging feeling to confront him.<br />
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“I realized that<br />
sometimes it is not<br />
worth fighting<br />
back against bullies<br />
because they want<br />
to see you react.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
107
Javier Gonzalez<br />
Helen Sullivan, Teacher<br />
Hurley K-8 School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Inhala, Exhala. In English, it means to breathe, but right now, I can’t.<br />
I was five years old at my abuela’s house. I remember playing with old toys<br />
from El Salvador that my Abuelo brought back from the El Salvador civil<br />
war—the drums that made beautiful beats <strong>and</strong> the beautiful flower-covered<br />
capirucho. That is all I remember.<br />
I recently asked my Mom to tell me more about what happened.<br />
“¡Venga aquí mi amor!” My abuela had recently just finished making food that<br />
smelled delicious. I ate the most amazing arroz con pollo. Less than an hour<br />
later, my parents arrived to pick me up from Abuela’s house, but my stomach<br />
was hurting horribly when we got home. My dad was getting ready to leave for<br />
his game night with his high school friends. My mom had just finished giving<br />
my brother his bottle <strong>and</strong> was putting him to sleep when my sister gasped.<br />
“MA, HE HAS HIVES!” my sister screamed. My mom rushed over <strong>and</strong> came<br />
to look at me; that’s when she realized that I was having an allergic reaction.<br />
My parents were confused. Thankfully, my brother was already asleep <strong>and</strong><br />
didn’t have to see what was happening. <strong>The</strong> next thing I knew, I was in a<br />
hospital. I hugged my mom with all my might. My eyes were an ocean <strong>of</strong> pain. I<br />
didn’t know what was happening because I was five <strong>and</strong> didn’t know what to do.<br />
I finally got to see the doctor, <strong>and</strong> he told me that I needed to get a shot. You<br />
see, I hate shots. My dad showed up <strong>and</strong> enveloped me in his arms. My mom<br />
decided to stay with me at the hospital <strong>and</strong> have a “sleepover.” I remember the<br />
monitor beeping, burnt croissants from the cafe, <strong>and</strong> a lot <strong>of</strong> Caso Cerrado (a<br />
very popular Latino TV show). <strong>The</strong> whole day felt like a dark cloud following<br />
me around that got worse over time.<br />
After I left the hospital, although I was no longer having an allergic reaction,<br />
I felt like I couldn’t breathe. My anxiety levels were high, <strong>and</strong> I felt like crying<br />
all the time.<br />
I asked my mom shakily, “Why did this happen?”<br />
She responded, “Papito, this isn’t your first time.”<br />
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“I have to be<br />
courageous every<br />
day, not only to<br />
stay alive physically,<br />
but mentally.”<br />
On the ride home, everything felt gray, like I was missing a piece <strong>of</strong> myself.<br />
Who would’ve thought that something I experienced at the age <strong>of</strong> five would<br />
haunt me for the rest <strong>of</strong> my life? It’s not just that I have to carry an EpiPen with<br />
me at all times, it’s the fact that having this traumatic experience brought<br />
anxiety to the way I live.<br />
Seven years later, now I’m a 12 year old in sixth grade. To this day, I still<br />
experience high levels <strong>of</strong> anxiety, due in large part to my allergies. Every night,<br />
I have so many dark thoughts:<br />
Am I good enough?<br />
Why am I like this?<br />
Why can’t I be like others?<br />
Do my parents love me?<br />
I’m a failure.<br />
<strong>The</strong>n I remember my mom, who has been with me since day one with my<br />
anxiety. She’s almost been like my therapist, <strong>and</strong> I love her with all my heart.<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> can mean many things, but courage for me is not letting fear paralyze<br />
me. I have to be courageous every day, not only to stay alive physically, but<br />
mentally.<br />
“Recuerda papito, inhala, exhala.” I will always remember my mami’s words.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
109
Amir Al-Bakkour<br />
Sara Coyle, Teacher<br />
Beverly Hills Academy, Beverly Hills, MI<br />
My parents didn’t let me play online games with my friends much because<br />
they thought that it was the reason I wasn’t doing well in school, <strong>and</strong> I thought<br />
that was the reason too. I didn’t pay attention in class, I didn’t do my<br />
homework, <strong>and</strong> I skipped a lot <strong>of</strong> school days. It got pretty bad, so my parents<br />
took my PlayStation <strong>and</strong> my PC away because they thought everything would<br />
change, but nothing happened. A few weeks passed, <strong>and</strong> my dad got me an<br />
iPhone to stay in touch with others.<br />
Soon we were looking for ideas, so my parents took me to a therapist. As soon<br />
as we got in her <strong>of</strong>fice, she started asking nonsense questions which made me<br />
mad, <strong>and</strong> then she started making threats against me, like, “You may get<br />
kicked out <strong>of</strong> school,” <strong>and</strong>, “You may get the <strong>of</strong>ficer to come take you from<br />
your home <strong>and</strong> take you to a school for bad kids.” It made me feel sick <strong>and</strong><br />
scared. That same day, we went home. My dad called the therapist <strong>and</strong><br />
canceled the next appointment with her. We kept looking for new therapists<br />
until we found one. She was online, so we set up a meeting. I loved it. She was<br />
very kind <strong>and</strong> underst<strong>and</strong>ing. She told us about a disorder called ODD. I<br />
didn’t know anything about it, but she explained that it’s like ADHD in some<br />
ways. She explained other things, but I didn’t really hear her. I was starting to<br />
get worried. Later, when I started listening again, she recommended another<br />
doctor that we could sign up for too who would help. We went home <strong>and</strong><br />
instantly started looking up ODD.<br />
“To the car now,” my dad said in a rush when he woke me up the next day.<br />
We were going to see a new therapist. When we got there, the place was nice<br />
<strong>and</strong> clean, unlike the first therapy place. I got into the room, <strong>and</strong> the doctor<br />
welcomed me <strong>and</strong> started asking us questions about life <strong>and</strong> how everything<br />
was going for me. We told her the problem, <strong>and</strong> she instantly started finding<br />
signs <strong>of</strong> a small disorder. She didn’t let me know, but she told my dad her<br />
hypotheses; they were the same hypotheses as the other therapist that I saw<br />
recently. We saw them every week for four weeks. <strong>The</strong>n the idea came up:<br />
medicine. My dad looked stuff up about Adderall, <strong>and</strong> we thought about it for<br />
a few days. When we went back to the doctor, we accepted the medicine <strong>and</strong><br />
picked it up.<br />
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“But mostly my<br />
dad didn’t give up<br />
on me <strong>and</strong> kept on<br />
caring, <strong>and</strong> that’s<br />
why I’m here.”<br />
A few weeks later, after I started taking the medicine <strong>and</strong> the new quarter<br />
started, my mood instantly changed, <strong>and</strong> I started going to school. I was doing<br />
very well in school, unlike before. My life changed in a few weeks because I<br />
never gave up on myself. But mostly my dad didn’t give up on me <strong>and</strong> kept on<br />
caring, <strong>and</strong> that’s why I’m here.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
111
Bella Barrette<br />
Dionne Manchester, Teacher<br />
Keith Middle School, New Bedford, MA<br />
I’m going to tell you a story <strong>and</strong> explain what courage means to me. I’ve<br />
been dealing with social anxiety for some time now, but it has gotten much<br />
easier to deal with. I haven’t always had bad social anxiety. I started feeling<br />
judged, or like the odd one out, when I was around a lot <strong>of</strong> people from<br />
fourth grade <strong>and</strong> up.<br />
It all kind <strong>of</strong> started when I was first diagnosed with General Anxiety<br />
Disorder. I would get anxious all the time <strong>and</strong> would start panicking. I<br />
would think everyone was looking at me <strong>and</strong> judging me for something that<br />
I couldn’t control at the time. My social anxiety started getting a little better<br />
in fifth grade, until my dad started dating someone who was very judgy. She<br />
would bring me around new people <strong>and</strong> to crowded areas very <strong>of</strong>ten. While<br />
I would be with all these people, she would talk about me <strong>and</strong> my dad while<br />
I was right there, <strong>and</strong> I felt that everyone was judging me. I was so scared<br />
that she would yell at me if I told her how I felt, so I would just have to go<br />
with her each time, even though it was making me really anxious <strong>and</strong><br />
uncomfortable. I finally got the courage to express this feeling to my mom.<br />
My mom told my dad to talk to his girlfriend, but that didn’t do anything<br />
about how I felt. It got so bad that every time I was anxious <strong>and</strong> crowded,<br />
I would pick my skin till it bled. After a while <strong>of</strong> my dad’s girlfriend putting<br />
me in uncomfortable settings, <strong>and</strong> after me getting the courage to express to<br />
my dad how she was making me feel, she <strong>and</strong> my dad broke up. I still get<br />
anxious in crowds <strong>and</strong> stores, but I’m glad that I don’t have to be in a room<br />
where I feel judged <strong>and</strong> uncomfortable all the time.<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> to me is being able to talk to someone even if you’re scared how<br />
they’ll react. It took a lot <strong>of</strong> courage for me to talk to my mom <strong>and</strong> dad<br />
about how I felt, but I’m glad I did. Telling my parents how I felt made me<br />
feel like I can tell them anything <strong>and</strong> they won’t judge. A saying I am trying<br />
to stick with is, “What other people think <strong>of</strong> me is none <strong>of</strong> my business.” I’ve<br />
been trying to stick with this because every time I go out <strong>and</strong> think about all<br />
the “What ifs,” or, “What do they think about me?” I get anxious. But if I<br />
try not to think too much about it, then maybe when I go out in front <strong>of</strong><br />
people, it’ll be much easier for me, <strong>and</strong> I won’t pick at my skin or bite my<br />
nails. That is what courage means to me.<br />
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“I still get anxious<br />
in crowds <strong>and</strong><br />
stores, but I’m glad<br />
that I don’t have<br />
to be in a room<br />
where I feel judged<br />
<strong>and</strong> uncomfortable<br />
all the time.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
113
Gianna Silveira<br />
Lindsay Worstell, Teacher<br />
Norm<strong>and</strong>in Middle School, New Bedford, MA<br />
One <strong>of</strong> the most terrifying situations I’ve ever experienced was when my<br />
mother wanted to talk about something, something serious. It was a beautiful<br />
March day in 2022. It was warm but breezy. It was me, my mother, <strong>and</strong> my<br />
gr<strong>and</strong>mother in Shaw’s, just the three <strong>of</strong> us. We were having fun, just us, not<br />
being bothered by my gr<strong>and</strong>father <strong>and</strong> dad. I was organizing my gr<strong>and</strong>mother’s<br />
cart; it was like I was addicted to it. But I knew something was up, something<br />
serious. I could see it in my mother’s eyes, <strong>and</strong> also kind <strong>of</strong> in my<br />
gr<strong>and</strong>mother’s. <strong>The</strong>y were both laughing their heads <strong>of</strong>f, but I still felt<br />
something was up.<br />
I looked at my mom, possibly on the verge <strong>of</strong> tears. She looked at my<br />
gr<strong>and</strong>mother, <strong>and</strong> then she nodded. “Gianna, I have to talk to you,” she said<br />
as she pulled me <strong>of</strong>f to the side.<br />
Like I said, I knew something was up, but I shrugged it <strong>of</strong>f. “Okay! What do<br />
you have to say?” I asked her, smiling, as she put her h<strong>and</strong> on my shoulder.<br />
“This is important, if you feel the need to cry, then cry. All right?”<br />
she prompted, looking me in the eyes s<strong>of</strong>tly.<br />
I blinked, knowing what she was going to say was really, really serious.<br />
“All right.”<br />
“I have cancer. We have to fight it together, do you underst<strong>and</strong>?” She kept<br />
looking at me in the eyes, tearing up.<br />
I froze. It was like I was in fifth grade all over again, st<strong>and</strong>ing in front <strong>of</strong> the<br />
class like a statue. “Oh. I underst<strong>and</strong>, I guess,” I said, mumbling.<br />
She hugged me tightly. This was her way <strong>of</strong> telling me it was okay to cry.<br />
“I will always love you, even if I’m far away. Promise me that you’ll always<br />
remember that.”<br />
I looked at her in the eyes, “I promise,” I said, weakly, not wanting to cry my<br />
heart out in front <strong>of</strong> strangers.<br />
She hugged me tighter. <strong>The</strong> feeling <strong>of</strong> her holding me made me want to cry<br />
even more—already knowing I wouldn’t have a lot <strong>of</strong> time with her, I kept<br />
imagining that I wouldn’t be able to talk to her, hug her, <strong>and</strong> after a while, the<br />
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“I’ve shown courage<br />
by knowing it’s<br />
okay to cry, that<br />
it’s okay to react<br />
however you are<br />
feeling around<br />
your guardians—<br />
they are there<br />
to guard you.”<br />
tears kept building up. I knew I was going to break, knew I was going to snap<br />
one way or the other. I knew she was in a lot <strong>of</strong> pain, <strong>and</strong> I could see it in her<br />
eyes. This was just the beginning <strong>of</strong> it—she was gonna receive a lot <strong>of</strong> pain <strong>and</strong><br />
suffering. I knew she was gonna have to be strong for me. <strong>The</strong>re would<br />
probably be a lot <strong>of</strong> doctor’s appointments, medications, <strong>and</strong> many more<br />
important things. It was hard for me to watch this pain my mother was going<br />
through, but we had to be strong for one another.<br />
“Are you okay, Gia?” she asked me, breaking the awkward silence.<br />
I looked at her, tearing up. My face was red, “Yeah, I’m okay,” I said.<br />
She sighed, hugged me even tighter. “Let it all out,” she whispered to me. I<br />
nodded, face all scrunched up, sniffling. I wanted her to hug me tighter. I didn’t<br />
want her touch to leave my body. “Remember, when I’m not here to protect<br />
you, you can always find me in the sky. Please promise me that you will<br />
remember that,” she said, s<strong>of</strong>tly, while lifting up my chin just to see my face.<br />
She kept saying it over <strong>and</strong> over again: “Remember, when I’m not here to<br />
protect you, you can always find me in the sky.” I could just imagine myself on a<br />
grassy field, looking up at the sky, crying. Letting it all out, missing my mother<br />
dearly. It was heartbreaking. I didn’t like this feeling—it felt weird. It was a<br />
disgusting feeling, losing a loved one to cancer. I hated the feeling.<br />
I was quickly getting over this feeling, like a little mouse eating away at crumbs.<br />
It wasn’t fully gone, though. <strong>The</strong>re were little bits <strong>of</strong> grief chipping away at my<br />
heart. I knew I would overcome this sadness, but just not quite yet. It was like<br />
someone was telling me that I don’t have to be perfect, that it was okay to have<br />
a breakdown in front <strong>of</strong> strangers <strong>and</strong> my own mother. It was like a switch <strong>of</strong><br />
some sort went <strong>of</strong>f in my brain, <strong>and</strong> I was practically terrified.<br />
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I tried to overcome this fear <strong>of</strong> loss; I kept thinking that she was going to beat it,<br />
that she wouldn’t be in as much pain soon. I had to be strong for her; I had to<br />
show her I could control this grief, that I was responsible enough to process that<br />
she is not okay. I had been ignoring her when I didn’t want to hang out with<br />
her. I felt bad because I couldn’t care to notice she was in so much pain; it was<br />
like I couldn’t recognize myself anymore.<br />
<strong>The</strong> next day was practically depressing. I was in my room, blasting my music.<br />
Not good for me, I know. I was still thinking about how I would tell my best<br />
friend, Kayla. She loved my mom—she was practically attached to her,<br />
mentally <strong>and</strong> physically. Just like I was. I finally told her how my own mother is<br />
in pain. Her jaw dropped. We were on FaceTime, so <strong>of</strong> course I could see her<br />
face. My face was still red; I had been crying the entire night. We said our<br />
goodbyes <strong>and</strong> hung up. I flopped onto my warm, comfy bed <strong>and</strong> slowly drifted<br />
<strong>of</strong>f to sleep.<br />
I am still upset over this, but it’s not as bad. It’s almost been a year since she<br />
told me, <strong>and</strong> we’ve had our ups <strong>and</strong> downs. But I still love her <strong>and</strong> she loves me.<br />
Some <strong>of</strong> the events we’ve had with each other are what make me who I am. I’ve<br />
shown courage by knowing it’s okay to cry, that it’s okay to react however you<br />
are feeling around your guardians—they are there to guard you.<br />
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Philip Chamian<br />
Patrick Moran, Teacher<br />
St. Paul’s Choir School, Cambridge, MA<br />
Over the past few months, the eighth grade class has been looking into what<br />
courage means to each <strong>of</strong> us. Many presenters with different definitions <strong>of</strong><br />
courage came in to deliver lectures on their specific definition. So what is<br />
courage? <strong>Courage</strong> to me is remaining calm <strong>and</strong> collected when the situation<br />
around you is erratic <strong>and</strong> unpredictable.<br />
Among the first capstone classes was one concerning a boy named Max<br />
Warburg, who was gravely ill. He did not let his illness control him. He faced<br />
his treatment with a calm focus <strong>of</strong> energy to h<strong>and</strong>le the pain. Max made other<br />
sick children in the hospital smile, for example, by throwing a Christmas party<br />
for them. In one <strong>of</strong> our last presentations, Fr. Kelly introduced to us a woman<br />
known as Nightbirde, a singer from America’s Got Talent who decided to come<br />
on the show even though she was gravely ill. She showed us that despite her<br />
terrible illness, she still kept a positive attitude, continued her love for singing,<br />
<strong>and</strong> did not let her illness stop her. This certainly exemplifies my definition <strong>of</strong><br />
courage. Both Max Warburg <strong>and</strong> Nightbirde remained calm <strong>and</strong> collected<br />
throughout their hard-fought illnesses.<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> is an act <strong>of</strong> perseverance <strong>and</strong> labor despite setbacks. Dr. Hafard<br />
introduced us to a man named Arthur Brooks who is an American social<br />
scientist, musician, <strong>and</strong> columnist for <strong>The</strong> Atlantic. Arthur Brooks tells us that<br />
being grateful is more important than trying to get satisfaction, for we are not<br />
able to get it. “Money,” by Barrett Strong, is filled with repetitive lyrics about<br />
seeking more money. Seeking more money is seeking satisfaction, which is<br />
not a courageous act. Money does not buy happiness, <strong>and</strong> seeking more <strong>and</strong><br />
more <strong>of</strong> it will not lead to satisfaction. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by the<br />
Rolling Stones does not imply courage. Seeking satisfaction is not courageous;<br />
being grateful is.<br />
Desmond Doss from Hacksaw Ridge was a United States Army Corporal who<br />
served as a combat medic in World War II. Doss kept going into battle to save<br />
more <strong>and</strong> more people. This is another act <strong>of</strong> courage. Desmond saved as<br />
many people as he could, whether those people respected him or harassed him<br />
for being a pacifist. C.S. Lewis says that loving someone is not easy because it<br />
takes risks. <strong>The</strong>re are four types <strong>of</strong> love, according to Lewis, <strong>and</strong> the best to<br />
help us underst<strong>and</strong> Doss is charity. At its heart, charity asks us to give <strong>of</strong> what<br />
we have unselfishly to others. In the case <strong>of</strong> Desmond Doss, he saves his fellow<br />
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“I am living my<br />
definition <strong>of</strong><br />
courage by<br />
keeping a calm <strong>and</strong><br />
collected approach<br />
in my new school<br />
environment.”<br />
soldiers despite their earlier insults <strong>and</strong> harassment. Doss, in the ultimate act<br />
<strong>of</strong> charity, saves his fellow man simply because he is giving <strong>of</strong> himself. “Lord<br />
let me get one more” becomes his repeated prayer, <strong>and</strong> what is most telling<br />
about this prayer is his commitment to help others regardless <strong>of</strong> their attitude<br />
<strong>and</strong> actions towards him. Truly this is a courageous act.<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> is being calm <strong>and</strong> collected, when what happens to you is erratic <strong>and</strong><br />
unpredictable. In my new school, the environment is quite different <strong>and</strong> is<br />
something I am struggling with adjusting to. I am living my definition <strong>of</strong><br />
courage by keeping a calm <strong>and</strong> collected approach in my new school<br />
environment. Many <strong>of</strong> the people we looked into in this project also kept a<br />
calm <strong>and</strong> collected manner, <strong>and</strong> I believe that is important in order to be<br />
courageous. I learned a lot throughout this project, <strong>and</strong> I hope when life<br />
brings you a challenge, you will be able to step up <strong>and</strong> h<strong>and</strong>le it with courage.<br />
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Maya Bekheirnia<br />
Scott Larivee, Teacher<br />
Mary Lyon K-8 School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
In your life, you’ve definitely heard about the word courage. You might easily<br />
ignore it, thinking it’s not important; but it is. It can mean a lot <strong>of</strong> different<br />
things to different people. It can even come in different amounts <strong>and</strong> ways. But<br />
to me, those aren’t the pure meanings <strong>of</strong> courage. As Martin Luther King Jr., a<br />
leader <strong>of</strong> the Civil Rights movement, once said, “A man dies when he refuses to<br />
st<strong>and</strong> up for that which is right.” I believe he’s right. I think courage means that<br />
if you’re in a situation <strong>and</strong> you’re scared, fighting for what you believe is right is<br />
courageous, even though you know that you have to make a lot <strong>of</strong> sacrifices<br />
along this path.<br />
Don’t believe me? Well, I’m going to give you a better perspective. It’s about a<br />
truly courageous moment that I’ve completely witnessed <strong>and</strong> felt, <strong>and</strong> despite<br />
fear that has continued over the course <strong>of</strong> many years <strong>and</strong> still to this day, that<br />
courage still persists! And it started 40 years ago in Iran, my home country.<br />
<strong>The</strong> calendar read 1979, <strong>and</strong> that year was a life-changing year for the people<br />
<strong>of</strong> my beloved country, Iran. <strong>The</strong> new rulers had come to power by promising<br />
good <strong>and</strong> free will for the people. But then, after reaching power, they turned<br />
to the people <strong>and</strong> took <strong>of</strong>f their masks, <strong>and</strong> they revealed dictator rulers who<br />
forced their will upon the people in a way, as if the people had been taken<br />
hostage. Why do I say this? Because the government had taken away the free<br />
will <strong>of</strong> the people, especially <strong>and</strong> mostly the women. For example, they would<br />
have to wear m<strong>and</strong>atory hijab, they would be censored at times from singing,<br />
they wouldn’t be able to travel without the permission <strong>of</strong> a man, they wouldn’t<br />
be able to keep their child after a divorce, etc.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re was a very swift escalation <strong>of</strong> their power. Each day, the government<br />
started putting more <strong>and</strong> more pressure on the people (mostly the women) in<br />
different ways. Some people then started to complain, but they weren’t unified,<br />
so they were captured or killed. People witnessed this brutal scene, their eyes<br />
bulging, horror settling on their hearts. So, people then went silent, in fear <strong>of</strong><br />
getting killed. Years went by. Each day passed, <strong>and</strong> life got harder <strong>and</strong> harder,<br />
but people were still silent. Fear had clouded their judgment. <strong>The</strong>y had lost<br />
their hope for a good future. This lasted a long time…<br />
But then, four months ago, a young, innocent woman named Mahsa Amini<br />
was r<strong>and</strong>omly <strong>and</strong> unfairly arrested over not wearing her m<strong>and</strong>atory hijab<br />
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“Just like these<br />
women have been<br />
doing, I will now<br />
promise to myself<br />
to forever st<strong>and</strong> up<br />
for women’s rights<br />
<strong>and</strong> equality.”<br />
properly. She died while she was under the custody <strong>of</strong> the morality police. This<br />
was like a crack. <strong>The</strong> last crack on the dam <strong>of</strong> grief <strong>and</strong> fear, built brick by<br />
brick over years by the suffering <strong>of</strong> the women. Suddenly, a huge flood filled<br />
with rage, determination, courage, fortitude, <strong>and</strong> bravery smashed the dam <strong>of</strong><br />
oppression, spreading everywhere, going out to destroy the threat that was<br />
keeping it locked. This horrible act woke everyone up. It was like the cloud <strong>of</strong><br />
fear was gone.<br />
Those who had suffered the most, especially young women, rose up in<br />
unification <strong>and</strong> started fighting to destroy this threat once <strong>and</strong> for all! And men<br />
joined in, supporting women! <strong>The</strong> action began. <strong>The</strong> most courageous women<br />
took <strong>of</strong>f <strong>and</strong> held up their m<strong>and</strong>atory hijabs, clenched their fists, <strong>and</strong> started<br />
chanting, <strong>and</strong> they sent their message to the world with this slogan: “Women,<br />
life, freedom.” Many women <strong>and</strong> men began following them, all st<strong>and</strong>ing up to<br />
the armed military with bare h<strong>and</strong>s. <strong>The</strong>y went forward, knowing that they<br />
would get killed, <strong>and</strong> they did. <strong>The</strong>y were shot or arrested <strong>and</strong> then executed.<br />
During this revolution, everyone is doing their own courageous part. People<br />
protest, <strong>and</strong> many school girls <strong>and</strong> university students take <strong>of</strong>f their m<strong>and</strong>atory<br />
hijabs at school <strong>and</strong> university, knowing that they might get expelled or<br />
arrested. Male singers are canceling their concerts in support (while knowing<br />
that they might never have the chance to have a concert ever again), many<br />
athletes <strong>and</strong> actresses <strong>and</strong> actors are taking <strong>of</strong>f their hijabs during races or films,<br />
<strong>and</strong> songwriters are producing songs about this revolution to continue to give<br />
people motivation, even though they could get arrested or killed.<br />
But, are they able to stop people? NO! Because my people will continue to keep<br />
fighting for freedom, equality, <strong>and</strong> rights.<br />
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Are the people scared? Yes, they are scared. Scared to lose their lives or their<br />
families <strong>and</strong> jobs. But they continue to come out <strong>and</strong> persevere, because, as<br />
they believe now, one day living in freedom is better than years <strong>of</strong> fear.<br />
My country, Iran, also known as Persia, is a very ancient <strong>and</strong> wealthy country<br />
with more than 2,500 years <strong>of</strong> history, <strong>and</strong>, amazingly, we had women’s rights<br />
long ago. Now, it’s heartbreaking to see that women are fighting for their rights<br />
in the 21st century! However, a spark which created a small fire over four<br />
months ago has now turned into such a huge one that it’s impossible to put out!<br />
In many ways, this revolution has also inspired me. I now underst<strong>and</strong> why my<br />
family made a big decision to leave their comfortable life in Iran just to bring<br />
me here, so I could have more freedom, opportunities, <strong>and</strong> to be able to pursue<br />
my dreams as a young woman. I’ve also learned that even in the scariest <strong>and</strong><br />
most dangerous moments <strong>of</strong> life, you should st<strong>and</strong> up for what you believe is<br />
right, fight, stay strong, <strong>and</strong> persevere, even though you have to make a lot <strong>of</strong><br />
sacrifices. Just like these women have been doing, I will now promise to myself<br />
to forever st<strong>and</strong> up for women’s rights <strong>and</strong> equality. I strongly believe that the<br />
phoenix, an Iranian symbol <strong>of</strong> rebirth, will awaken <strong>and</strong> return from the ashes<br />
one more time in Iran. But this time, it’ll return for “women, life, freedom.”<br />
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123
Josie Swift<br />
Bonnie Hickey, Teacher<br />
Barnstable Intermediate School, Hyannis, MA<br />
Why can’t I get this right? I asked myself. I was so done. I’d been trying to get<br />
this drawing perfect for too long to count. I stared at the paper in front <strong>of</strong> me.<br />
Music rang from my headphones as I looked to my right, where a few<br />
crumpled up papers lay on the table. I looked to my left. Some pens <strong>and</strong><br />
pencils sat in a pile there. I looked back at my paper <strong>and</strong> sighed. I’m going to try<br />
again. I don’t know why, but I just am.<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> isn’t always something like being brave or strong. It can just be<br />
something like not giving up. That takes courage to do. When I’m courageous,<br />
not giving up, I find things just get done better. Whether it’s schoolwork or<br />
something that needs practice, not giving up helps me get my best work done.<br />
I think courage is an important key in life. I believe if you just give up on<br />
something, you’ll feel bad afterwards, <strong>and</strong> getting it finished, you will most<br />
likely feel proud <strong>of</strong> yourself.<br />
Some things I like to do, writing <strong>and</strong> drawing, require courage. Writing things<br />
like stories, books, paragraphs, simple sentences, <strong>and</strong> even the <strong>Courage</strong> Essay<br />
need, well, courage. Not giving up can help get work done <strong>and</strong> make the end<br />
result nice. You need the courage to try again. Say, if what I’m writing comes<br />
out bad, I’ll try again, try to take my time, <strong>and</strong> have it just be better. Not<br />
giving up <strong>and</strong> trying again helps me a lot with plenty <strong>of</strong> things.<br />
Like I said before, I like art. I do drawing, painting, <strong>and</strong> sketching. Art takes a<br />
lot <strong>of</strong> courage to do while not giving up. I’d call myself a perfectionist, so this<br />
type <strong>of</strong> courage helps me a lot. I think basically every hobby, archery, pottery,<br />
writing, or anything else, requires courage. Not giving up helps me continue the<br />
things I love to do. When doing art, it’s easy to just give up <strong>and</strong> ab<strong>and</strong>on what<br />
you’re working on, but courage is trying again. Persevering helped me get to the<br />
point where I am now, <strong>and</strong> right now the art I create makes me proud because<br />
I’ve improved a lot. I think courage helps me be proud <strong>of</strong> myself.<br />
Yet it’s just not me who has determination. Pretty much everyone has <strong>and</strong> uses<br />
courage. Even if courage isn’t trying again, because everyone interprets it<br />
differently, courage is still important for everyone. At least I think so. I think<br />
you have courage too. Even if it isn’t trying again <strong>and</strong> not giving up, you can<br />
choose to use your courage!<br />
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“Persevering helped<br />
me get to the point<br />
where I am now, <strong>and</strong><br />
right now the art<br />
I create makes me<br />
proud because I’ve<br />
improved a lot.”<br />
Summing it up, we can all be courageous. Even if courage is different for<br />
different people, courage is still a thing everyone has. <strong>Courage</strong> for me is not<br />
giving up <strong>and</strong> trying again. I think it is important in life. I think courage helps<br />
with most things in life, from school to hobbies you enjoy. You do have<br />
courage too, because courage is different for different people; it doesn’t have<br />
to be the same. Persevering helped me a lot in life, <strong>and</strong> it still does now. Just<br />
because courage is being strong <strong>and</strong> brave for someone else, it doesn’t mean<br />
my determination has to be the same. Not giving up <strong>and</strong> trying again is what<br />
I call courage.<br />
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Laraeya DeGrace<br />
Ryan Kaplan, Teacher<br />
Norm<strong>and</strong>in Middle School, New Bedford, MA<br />
In 2021, something really bad happened. My house caught on fire. It was a<br />
really hard day for me, <strong>and</strong> I was really scared. To make things worse, it<br />
happened at night. It was around 9:30 p.m. My uncle, my gr<strong>and</strong>ma, my<br />
cousins, <strong>and</strong> my sisters were all watching this old-school movie because my<br />
birthday was coming up <strong>and</strong> I wanted a 90s-themed party. Before we went to<br />
bed, my little sister went to check on our cat on the deck.<br />
She went to open the door, <strong>and</strong> she opened it a little, but that’s when she saw<br />
the fire. She told my gr<strong>and</strong>ma, <strong>and</strong> my gr<strong>and</strong>ma screamed, “FIRE!” I had to<br />
grab my baby brother, but I also had to get my sisters. One was four years old<br />
<strong>and</strong> the other was eight. <strong>The</strong> last people I got were my two cousins, one was<br />
one year old <strong>and</strong> the other was four years old. We had to use the stairs next to<br />
the basement because the other stairs were the ones on fire. I was crying so<br />
much on the way down the stairs. But I had to stay strong for the other kids<br />
<strong>and</strong> tell them it was going to be okay.<br />
It felt like it took the firefighters forever to come. To make things even worse,<br />
my mom was at work, <strong>and</strong> my older brother was with his dad. When the<br />
firefighters finally got there, all my siblings <strong>and</strong> I went to my neighbor’s house.<br />
We were really good friends with him, <strong>and</strong> his mom was really nice to us <strong>and</strong><br />
gave us popsicles. My mom finally got there, <strong>and</strong> she was crying so much. I felt<br />
so bad. All <strong>of</strong> the clothes <strong>and</strong> toys <strong>and</strong> just everything all burned in the fire.<br />
After they put the fire out, they said only the grown ups could go inside <strong>and</strong><br />
see. <strong>The</strong>y didn’t stay in for a long time, only a little bit. After that, we stayed<br />
at my mom’s friend’s house for the night. Everyone was scared because we all<br />
thought it was going to happen again. After some time, we stayed in a hotel<br />
for a few months.<br />
It was one <strong>of</strong> the hardest times <strong>of</strong> my life. When about two months passed,<br />
some people were going to pay for us to live in an apartment for nine months.<br />
We finally got to be in the apartment, <strong>and</strong> after nine months were up, we<br />
were able to go back to the house. I still always get this feeling that it’s going<br />
to happen again.<br />
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“But I had to stay<br />
strong for the<br />
other kids <strong>and</strong><br />
tell them it was<br />
going to be okay.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
127
Cyra Anvari<br />
Sara DeOreo, Teacher<br />
Proctor Elementary School, Topsfield, MA<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> is the ability to reach for your dreams <strong>and</strong> goals without stopping.<br />
I encountered this ability starting at two years old, when my parents realized<br />
that I had a speech disorder. My speech disorder was called Childhood Apraxia<br />
<strong>of</strong> Speech. CAS meant that even though I could underst<strong>and</strong> what was being<br />
said to me, I didn’t have the ability to say words myself.<br />
When I was two years old, I talked like a nine month old <strong>and</strong> could only say<br />
six words. Once my parents realized this, they took me to the hospital to get a<br />
language test. <strong>The</strong> results score was below the first percentile for expressive<br />
language, which led to me being immediately diagnosed with CAS. Most <strong>of</strong> the<br />
doctors thought my speech was so excruciatingly bad that I may never be able<br />
to speak for my whole life. Since the doctors had no hope for me, they tried<br />
convincing my parents to start teaching me sign language.<br />
Of course when my parents heard this, they knew I could fight through this<br />
disorder, so they decided to enroll me with a speech language pathologist<br />
named Mrs. Moore. She made learning so entertaining that I was always<br />
excited to go there, since she intertwined the language with games. I remember<br />
her putting a gumball in my mouth <strong>and</strong> telling me to try to pronounce words.<br />
<strong>The</strong> gumball helped me decide how to move my mouth the correct way so that<br />
the words I was saying could be understood by others. She also had me play<br />
board games, but she mixed up the rules to have language be part <strong>of</strong> the<br />
excitement <strong>of</strong> playing. Sometimes it would be a struggling competition during<br />
gameplay since I could only roll my dice if I pronounced a word correctly. I<br />
went there twice a week for more than four years, while my mom imitated the<br />
lessons at home three times a week.<br />
Sometimes I would become frustrated <strong>and</strong> baffled when I couldn’t make the<br />
correct mouth movements or pronounce words. One time when I was young,<br />
my friends were over <strong>and</strong> we were building a fort using pillows, blankets, <strong>and</strong><br />
more. We were all telling each other ideas <strong>and</strong> thoughts on what to do. I had<br />
an idea for how to build the fort, but I couldn’t pronounce the words correctly<br />
<strong>and</strong> just made r<strong>and</strong>om sounds. Since my friends didn’t wait for me, I was just<br />
st<strong>and</strong>ing there frustrated <strong>and</strong> so utterly astonished that I couldn’t explain my<br />
ideas because <strong>of</strong> my disorder. But having CAS just made me more resilient to<br />
overcome my weakness. Because I wanted to talk so badly, I would even<br />
practice my speech sounds alone to try <strong>and</strong> overcome this disorder.<br />
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“Everyone, including<br />
me, believed in<br />
me, <strong>and</strong> I am so<br />
thankful that I<br />
can communicate<br />
my thoughts with<br />
the world.”<br />
Finally, after four years I was able to speak properly thanks to Mrs. Moore, my<br />
mom, <strong>and</strong> especially me. Everyone, including me, believed in me, <strong>and</strong> I am so<br />
thankful that I can communicate my thoughts with the world.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
129
Baotien Nguyen<br />
Debra Mendes, Teacher<br />
Norm<strong>and</strong>in Middle School, New Bedford, MA<br />
It’s okay to be different, even though it is tough. It is fine being the odd one<br />
out—it defines you as unique. Do you get shamed for being another race? Or<br />
liking what others don’t like? Yes, I felt that for a long section <strong>of</strong> my current<br />
life. It didn’t look like I cared, but deep down, I wanted to just collapse.<br />
One day, on a school day in first grade, I thought everything would go as<br />
planned <strong>and</strong> nothing else would happen. That is where everything went<br />
downhill. I always hated when people made their eyes disappear, or said things<br />
like “<strong>The</strong> Great Wall <strong>of</strong> China” to me everyday. Some days it got worse, or it<br />
stayed the same. But not everyone was doing it in school—there were a lot <strong>of</strong><br />
people who were by my side, <strong>and</strong> they still are to this day. I was just happy that<br />
I had people who cared for me <strong>and</strong> did not mock me left <strong>and</strong> right. I tried my<br />
hardest to not let them get into my head, but in third grade, it hit me.<br />
In art class, we had to draw dragons <strong>of</strong>f <strong>of</strong> Chinese animals. We got paper at<br />
each table, <strong>and</strong> I got picked to have a rat as my animal. <strong>The</strong> boy that I sat<br />
near in the class was saying all the meanest things about my animal that I<br />
couldn’t change. I got bullied for that for the whole nine months <strong>of</strong> the school<br />
year. I just wanted to tell him that I couldn’t change anything about who I<br />
was <strong>and</strong> just ignore him. When I got home that day, all I wanted to do was<br />
cry. <strong>The</strong> bullying started to bring down my self-esteem. I kept on saying that<br />
I wasn’t good enough for anyone or that I wanted to change how I looked.<br />
You would think that because I was very little at that time, I would cry. But<br />
no. Yes, I was very little, but after that day, I just felt sad about almost<br />
everyone hating me or making fun <strong>of</strong> me because <strong>of</strong> my race. I can’t change<br />
to another race, it is not possible.<br />
Because I still wanted to stay the person I was despite all <strong>of</strong> the judging, I hid<br />
all <strong>of</strong> my feelings. People wouldn’t even know that I wasn’t okay because I<br />
didn’t want anyone to worry, <strong>and</strong> I still wanted to go<strong>of</strong> <strong>and</strong> joke around with<br />
everyone. At the end <strong>of</strong> me being a fifth grader, I went to my friend’s house for<br />
the first time, <strong>and</strong> we went outside to play. One <strong>of</strong> her neighbors came out <strong>and</strong><br />
saw me. At that time I didn’t know where to sit, so I sat down on the outside<br />
chair. <strong>The</strong>n he walked up <strong>and</strong> threatened me to get <strong>of</strong>f “his chair” <strong>and</strong> asked<br />
me if I ate cats <strong>and</strong> dogs. <strong>The</strong>n he left, <strong>and</strong> my mom came <strong>and</strong> picked me up<br />
to go home. All I could think about was him telling me to stop eating cats <strong>and</strong><br />
dogs. That was on my mind for weeks.<br />
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“It is fine being<br />
the odd one<br />
out—it defines<br />
you as unique.”<br />
In the summer, I kept on wondering, Why do people have to say stuff like that?<br />
Don’t they know I have feelings? I had no idea. That summer, I decided to stop<br />
slouching <strong>and</strong> to st<strong>and</strong> up for myself if no one else would. <strong>The</strong> next time I<br />
heard something <strong>of</strong>fensive, I would say something back to whoever said it, such<br />
as, “I love my small eyes, they make me st<strong>and</strong> out <strong>and</strong> different from others.<br />
If we were all the same, we couldn’t tell who is who.”<br />
I used to be scared to defend myself, but I always have quotes in my head that<br />
remind me <strong>of</strong> my gr<strong>and</strong>ma. “It is okay to be different. You are unique even<br />
though it is tough.” Having courage in me made me more confident in myself<br />
<strong>and</strong> made me a better person.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
131
Molly Kilpatrick<br />
Sara DeOreo, Teacher<br />
Proctor Elementary School, Topsfield, MA<br />
I think to have courage does not mean you have to do something huge; it could<br />
be the smallest little act, like learning something hard, or getting through a big<br />
test. So if you are looking for a story where I leap bravely in front <strong>of</strong> an angry<br />
animal to save my brother, you should move on.<br />
Earlier in the school year, we had a test on decimals. I hate dividing decimals.<br />
I almost always got the answer wrong, <strong>and</strong> when we got the test back, I stared<br />
at my grade. 73%! I looked at my grade in disappointment. My parents are going<br />
to try to explain EVERYTHING on this test to me if I show it to them, I thought as I<br />
tucked it into the back <strong>of</strong> my accordion folder.<br />
My parents seemed to forget about the math test. Every time they asked, I just<br />
said we hadn’t gotten it back yet. We had a test on our vocabulary words about<br />
a quick month later. When my teacher h<strong>and</strong>ed it back, she told us to change the<br />
sentences. She said we had to use the vocabulary words as verbs, <strong>and</strong> I asked<br />
myself, How do you even change them to verbs?!? I just changed all three <strong>of</strong> my<br />
sentences <strong>and</strong> hoped that the words were now verbs. When she h<strong>and</strong>ed them<br />
back for the second time, I could only wonder if they were verbs. As I got my<br />
paper, I saw that I had gotten a two. Ugh, verbs. At least it’s not a one, I thought.<br />
So I went over to my teacher <strong>and</strong> asked, “How do I use the words as verbs?”<br />
“A verb is an action word,” she told me. So I went back to my desk <strong>and</strong> tucked<br />
the vocab test in with the math test. But as soon as I got home, my mom asked<br />
about it, <strong>and</strong> I still said we hadn’t gotten it back.<br />
A couple days later, my math teacher gave us a review on dividing decimals.<br />
Oh no, I thought, I am going to blow this! But she put the decimal point above the<br />
one in the little dividing box when she did a few problems on the whiteboard<br />
to remind us how to do it. And when I tried it, I got the problem right!<br />
But the next day, my mom asked about the vocab test. “No, we still haven’t<br />
gotten it back,” I told her.<br />
“Are you sure? It’s been a while,” she replied.<br />
“Well,” I said, “I didn’t really get a good grade, <strong>and</strong> I thought you would<br />
be disappointed.”<br />
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“sometimes courage<br />
is a tiny voice at<br />
the back <strong>of</strong> your<br />
mind telling you<br />
to keep going.”<br />
“It’s ok. You can show it to me,” she said underst<strong>and</strong>ingly.<br />
“Ok… I have a math test in there too,” I replied as I took them out slowly. We<br />
had a whole conversation about them, <strong>and</strong> I told her how I asked my teacher<br />
what I did wrong, <strong>and</strong> how I figured out how to divide the decimals.<br />
And everything turned out fine. But at least I think it took courage to admit<br />
my mistakes <strong>and</strong> to fix them. <strong>The</strong> next vocab test we took, we also had to make<br />
the words verbs, <strong>and</strong> I did easily <strong>and</strong> got a way better grade. So I hope even if<br />
my story doesn’t have a big snarling beast <strong>and</strong> a terrified third grader, it is still<br />
just as good as it would be if it did. Sometimes courage is a tiny voice at the<br />
back <strong>of</strong> your mind telling you to keep going.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
133
Rayssa Aquino Paula<br />
Michael Andrews, Teacher<br />
Barnstable Intermediate School, Hyannis, MA<br />
“A gente vai mudar,” my parents said. I had just found out I was moving.<br />
To me, courage means to face something you’re scared <strong>of</strong>, or maybe insecure<br />
about. I showed courage when my parents said we were leaving for the<br />
United States.<br />
I had never moved or stayed away from my family, but that changed in 2018.<br />
I was seven years old, <strong>and</strong> I was happy to live in Brazil. I knew my parents<br />
wanted to go to the U.S., but I thought they wouldn’t. In the beginning <strong>of</strong> 2018,<br />
my parents started talking more <strong>and</strong> more about it. <strong>The</strong>y finally made the<br />
decision to move, but in June 2018, I still didn’t know about it yet. <strong>The</strong>y didn’t<br />
tell me right away either. <strong>The</strong>y wanted to prepare so that they would know<br />
what to say. I think some <strong>of</strong> my family members didn’t know about this big<br />
situation yet as well.<br />
I was playing in my room <strong>and</strong> then heard footsteps. As my parents walked into<br />
my room with serious faces while looking at each other, I stopped. <strong>The</strong>y sat<br />
next to me, <strong>and</strong> I dropped my toys, looking at them with a blank face. I asked,<br />
“What happened?”<br />
<strong>The</strong>y just looked at me.<br />
“Rayssa, your mom <strong>and</strong> I decided we’re going to move.”<br />
I looked at them with questioning because <strong>of</strong> that decision. I didn’t underst<strong>and</strong><br />
why we were moving. <strong>The</strong>y told me it was because they wanted to work there,<br />
where companies had better conditions. Mom <strong>and</strong> Dad hugged me <strong>and</strong> left. I<br />
was upset <strong>and</strong> didn’t want to leave my friends <strong>and</strong> my family. I was excited, yet<br />
at the same time I was mad. I would go to a new place, new people, <strong>and</strong> new<br />
culture. I was angry because I had never lived anywhere that wasn’t Brazil.<br />
My parents later asked if I was excited to move. I yelled, “No!” with tears in<br />
my eyes. I didn’t want to leave.<br />
Mom <strong>and</strong> Dad looked at me <strong>and</strong> said, “We’re not going to live there forever; we<br />
will come back.” <strong>The</strong>n they explained to me that there were more opportunities<br />
in the U.S. <strong>and</strong> shared some other things to make me feel better. <strong>The</strong>y said<br />
things that helped me underst<strong>and</strong> what would happen. <strong>The</strong>y calmed me down.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y said, “It’s going to be okay, <strong>and</strong> we are going to get through this together.”<br />
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“<strong>Courage</strong> is doing<br />
what makes you<br />
happy, <strong>and</strong> facing<br />
things you’re<br />
scared to do to get<br />
there. I did this<br />
for my family.”<br />
To me, courage means to do something you’re scared <strong>of</strong>, something that you<br />
don’t want to do. <strong>Courage</strong> is doing what makes you happy, <strong>and</strong> facing things<br />
you’re scared to do to get there. I did this for my family. I was relieved then.<br />
At school, though, I was talking to my best friend about moving. We were upset<br />
because we were always together. I spent more days with my family. I was<br />
always at my gr<strong>and</strong>ma’s house. I knew how much I’d miss them.<br />
<strong>The</strong> day <strong>of</strong> moving was not that far away. As I packed things up, I realized I<br />
was not going to see my family for a long time. <strong>The</strong> day before, I spent the<br />
whole time with my family. It was very nice, <strong>and</strong> I was excited but still scared.<br />
I was going to move with my dad first; then, my mom would go with my sister;<br />
finally, my brother would move. I didn’t know about all that; my parents told<br />
me everything the day <strong>of</strong> moving. I was shocked.<br />
On moving day, my parents were “busy.” <strong>The</strong>y were solving a lot <strong>of</strong> things. I<br />
spent the last day with my gr<strong>and</strong>ma. Before going home to take a shower <strong>and</strong><br />
finish doing some things, I gave her a big hug. I still remember. She was crying,<br />
<strong>and</strong>—believe me—I was too. <strong>The</strong>n I went home <strong>and</strong> played a lot with my dog.<br />
She was a big part <strong>of</strong> my life. If I felt scared, I would go next to her, like she<br />
was protecting me.<br />
It was time to go. My parents were putting the things in the car, <strong>and</strong> my mom<br />
was crying. My gr<strong>and</strong>pa came but my gr<strong>and</strong>ma didn’t, because she didn’t like<br />
saying goodbye. I wanted to say goodbye to her so badly. I gave my mom a kiss,<br />
hugged her, <strong>and</strong> then hugged my gr<strong>and</strong>pa. I didn’t know if it would be a<br />
bittersweet ending for me. I was scared <strong>of</strong> a lot <strong>of</strong> things. <strong>The</strong> only questions I<br />
had in my head were, Am I going to see them again soon? <strong>and</strong>, What if they forget<br />
about me?<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
135
I came to America during winter, <strong>and</strong> I was very excited when I saw the snow.<br />
It was my first time seeing this weather! My dad always tried to make me feel<br />
better because I was without my mom, so he would always buy me toys <strong>and</strong><br />
things for me to do. Five days before my birthday, my mom <strong>and</strong> sister came.<br />
I was so joyful. I hugged them tight.<br />
It was hard for me to adapt to a whole new place, but I kept pushing on.<br />
On my first few days <strong>of</strong> school I was very excited, but anxious. At school, I was<br />
always trying to do anything to learn English. When my classmates had a<br />
spelling test, I would ask my teacher to let me do one too, even though I didn’t<br />
know a lot <strong>of</strong> words. I think I had a lot <strong>of</strong> courage when moving <strong>and</strong> for trying<br />
to take risks during my first years <strong>of</strong> school. I do not regret having courage,<br />
especially on my move <strong>and</strong> first days <strong>of</strong> school. If I hadn’t moved to the U.S.<br />
<strong>and</strong> learned English, then I probably wouldn’t be fluent today!<br />
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Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
137
Shiri Wang<br />
Jeanine Stansfield, Teacher<br />
Warren-Prescott K-8 School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
What is courage? That’s the question I thought when I first ever considered<br />
writing about myself in this book <strong>of</strong> sixth graders with courageous stories.<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> can be defined in many ways; everyone might have a different<br />
definition <strong>of</strong> the word.<br />
It was early into fourth grade. Quietly eating my lunch, a boy strutted up to me<br />
<strong>and</strong> whisper-shouted in my ear, “I’m surprised to see you eating regular food.<br />
Don’t you eat cat or dog?” It wasn’t a question. It was an <strong>of</strong>fensive <strong>and</strong> racist<br />
sentence that sent me crying. <strong>The</strong> whole lunchroom fell silent as a lunch<br />
monitor went to me, consoling me. Everyone was staring at me with tears<br />
rolling down my red face. He later apologized. He probably didn’t mean it.<br />
<strong>The</strong> same kid <strong>and</strong> his friend would always find ways to make me feel<br />
humiliated. He was always mocking my velcro shoes, saying, “What are those?!”<br />
I would just roll my eyes <strong>and</strong> retaliate, my voice dripping with annoyance,<br />
“<strong>The</strong>y’re shoes.”<br />
In mid-winter, that boy <strong>and</strong> I were working on a project, <strong>and</strong> he always made<br />
me do all the work. <strong>The</strong>n he declared to me, with such confidence, “You’re<br />
fat.” He announced it like it was okay, so nonchalantly, even though I was the<br />
one helping him keep his grade up. I was fighting my mouth from sl<strong>and</strong>ering<br />
him <strong>and</strong> biting my lip to stop both the tears <strong>and</strong> insults. Saying nothing, I<br />
turned away from him <strong>and</strong> sniffed, not wanting him to see he got to me.<br />
Around the end <strong>of</strong> the year, the teasing had slowed down. Though they kept<br />
persisting, “Shiri, you’re so rude!” whenever I told them to back <strong>of</strong>f. Even<br />
though I knew they were joking, I couldn’t help but feel upset with myself.<br />
Post-school year, I promised myself that I would be kind <strong>and</strong> st<strong>and</strong> up for<br />
everyone, including myself.<br />
Even this year, after leaving that school before the start <strong>of</strong> fifth grade, I still<br />
faced judgment. I was st<strong>and</strong>ing next to a desk in which I rested my supplies.<br />
One boy was going around holding a small globe in one h<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> asking<br />
students in my class to point out the countries they were from. When he came<br />
to me, he asked me where I was from. I first pointed to China, where my father<br />
was from, then drifted my index to Europe <strong>and</strong> started pointing out countries<br />
in which my mom’s side were from. He looked taken back <strong>and</strong> questioned,<br />
“Wait, you’re from Europe?”<br />
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“I showed courage<br />
by never letting<br />
them get to me<br />
<strong>and</strong> always staying<br />
powerful <strong>and</strong> never<br />
changing myself.”<br />
I fought the tears tugging on my eyes <strong>and</strong> retorted, “Just because I look Asian,<br />
does that mean I can’t be from Europe too?” I wrinkled my nose in disgust. I<br />
was furious! How could he have the dignity to ask me that? I continued my<br />
work, his words still in my mind.<br />
I showed courage by never letting them get to me <strong>and</strong> always staying powerful<br />
<strong>and</strong> never changing myself.<br />
Bringing us back to our earlier question: What is courage? To me, courage is<br />
withst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>and</strong> being strong in the face <strong>of</strong> adversity. So whenever I feel like<br />
my eyes are too small, my thighs are too thick, or I don’t fit in, I remember that<br />
everyone sometimes feels like they don’t belong <strong>and</strong> that so many people have<br />
more significant troubles. Everyone is courageous.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
139
Aniylah Barkon S<strong>and</strong>ers<br />
Erin Hannon-Foley, Teacher<br />
Roosevelt K-8 School, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
Have you ever lived at your gr<strong>and</strong>parents’ house? Well I have, <strong>and</strong> I have the<br />
best gr<strong>and</strong>ma <strong>and</strong> gr<strong>and</strong>pa ever. <strong>The</strong>y are both lovely. Sadly, my gr<strong>and</strong>pa died<br />
in June, but he will never be forgotten. I really love <strong>and</strong> miss him every day.<br />
When it was summer, he always set up a big pool for his gr<strong>and</strong>kids, <strong>and</strong> he<br />
made sure that we had everything we wanted. That’s why my gr<strong>and</strong>ma cared<br />
for him <strong>and</strong> loved us, because he always cared about me <strong>and</strong> my brother before<br />
himself. Thanks to my gr<strong>and</strong>ma we have a good life, <strong>and</strong> we all miss him, <strong>and</strong><br />
we will carry his name—Roger Dean Middleton.<br />
I used to call my gr<strong>and</strong>parents’ house ours because it was like we had two sets<br />
<strong>of</strong> parents, <strong>and</strong> we had an outst<strong>and</strong>ing life there. My mom used to sleep in the<br />
basement, <strong>and</strong> my gr<strong>and</strong>parents decorated our rooms <strong>and</strong> bought us new bunk<br />
beds. We lived next to our school. We went to Mary E. Baker Elementary<br />
School. However, my mother wanted to get her own place.<br />
<strong>The</strong> problem my mom was facing was she did not have enough money to afford<br />
our own place. She was working at a bank <strong>and</strong> trying to save money. My<br />
mother wants to be a <strong>Boston</strong> Police Officer, <strong>and</strong> she runs every day to be ready<br />
for training. My mother wants this job because it will allow us to buy a nice<br />
house <strong>and</strong> afford all the extra things that we want. My mom will continue to<br />
work hard <strong>and</strong> hopefully reach her goals so we can live a better life.<br />
One day, my mother saved up all her money to buy a house in Hyde Park. Even<br />
though she had to buy food, my gr<strong>and</strong>ma helped her. It is hard to save up when<br />
you have two kids, <strong>and</strong> they are only eight <strong>and</strong> ten, <strong>and</strong> they want stuff too.<br />
When I was living with my gr<strong>and</strong>parents, I was nine years old, <strong>and</strong> I didn’t<br />
know we were going to move. It took a lot <strong>of</strong> courage to tell my gr<strong>and</strong>ma, <strong>and</strong><br />
to move all alone by ourselves.<br />
My mom said, “Guess what? I have good news. We are getting our own house,<br />
or should I say, we already have it.”<br />
My gr<strong>and</strong>ma replied, “Wow, really? Let’s go shopping for some new supplies!<br />
Pink… blue… rainbow… or whatever you would like. “<br />
My mom said, “Yes, kids, what would you guys like? Any colors <strong>and</strong> beds you<br />
want. We can go to IKEA for some stuff.”<br />
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“<strong>The</strong> lesson she<br />
learned was never<br />
to be afraid, because<br />
there’s a lot <strong>of</strong><br />
beautiful things<br />
in this world<br />
that you can do<br />
on your own.”<br />
I said, “I would love that! I would like a white bed. It goes with the color <strong>of</strong> our<br />
house, a little bit red <strong>and</strong> black.”<br />
My mom felt happy to leave but also sad to live far from her mom. It did take<br />
a lot <strong>of</strong> courage to live on her own <strong>and</strong> have two kids by her side, but it’s really<br />
fun because we have a lot <strong>of</strong> fun. She had the courage to live her best life, <strong>and</strong><br />
she had the mindset to figure this out, <strong>and</strong> that’s why she’s the best mom.<br />
We got a house in Hyde Park when I was ten years old, but now we have a<br />
bigger house in Dorchester. It is huge <strong>and</strong> red with three rooms. It was a lot for<br />
us, <strong>and</strong> now we have a good life, but I still wish we could move back to Brockton.<br />
My definition <strong>of</strong> courage is being yourself. Do not be a follower because one<br />
day you might have 1,000 dollars <strong>and</strong> see how everyone spends on things that<br />
they don’t need, <strong>and</strong> if you follow them, you’re going to regret it.<br />
My family showed courage by moving out but not having the money. <strong>The</strong><br />
lesson my mom learned was never be afraid to live with somebody or to move<br />
out for what is best for you when you need your own space. <strong>The</strong> lesson she<br />
learned was never to be afraid, because there’s a lot <strong>of</strong> beautiful things in this<br />
world that you can do on your own.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
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INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
143
<strong>Courage</strong> Around the Globe<br />
<strong>The</strong> Max Warburg <strong>Courage</strong> Curriculum began working with international<br />
partners in 2007 in response to a growing interest in implementing an<br />
accessible, proven curriculum. To date, the program has been taught in 16<br />
countries, including El Salvador, Pakistan, India, Lebanon, Thail<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong><br />
China. This list continues to grow, as our organization forms partnerships<br />
with schools <strong>and</strong> learning communities across the globe to engage students<br />
in the reading <strong>and</strong> writing process, while empowering them to discover,<br />
recognize, <strong>and</strong> celebrate the courage in their lives.<br />
<strong>The</strong> essays featured in this section were written by students participating in<br />
our international programs. <strong>The</strong>y represent the universal nature <strong>of</strong> courage,<br />
<strong>and</strong> support our conviction that all people have the capacity to be courageous.<br />
This year, we are honored to continue our partnerships with <strong>The</strong> Cambridge<br />
Cambodia School, Mawr Volunteers in Yemen, the Personal Development<br />
Institute <strong>of</strong> Mongolia, <strong>The</strong> American School <strong>of</strong> Barcelona, <strong>and</strong> Hisar Schools<br />
in Turkey. We are grateful to each <strong>of</strong> these partners for their compassionate<br />
work with teachers <strong>and</strong> students in their respective countries <strong>and</strong> for sharing<br />
in the vision <strong>of</strong> <strong>The</strong> Max Warburg <strong>Courage</strong> Curriculum.<br />
Recognizing that the stories <strong>of</strong> courage from children across the globe enrich<br />
the educational experience for all students, we seek to share our materials <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong>fer educational opportunities for children outside <strong>of</strong> <strong>Boston</strong>. For more<br />
information about <strong>The</strong> Max Warburg <strong>Courage</strong> Curriculum <strong>and</strong> our<br />
programs, please visit www.maxcourage.org.<br />
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Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
145
Abdulrahem Faiz Al-Tamimi<br />
Omar Karamah, Tariq Hadi, <strong>and</strong> Khaled Omair, Teachers<br />
Faisal, Hadramout, Yemen<br />
My story began at the age <strong>of</strong> six, when I entered kindergarten <strong>and</strong> my teacher<br />
asked me what I wanted to become when I grew up. My dream began after I<br />
told her I wanted to become a pilot. From that time, the dream began to grow<br />
with me, until I reached the eighth grade. My suffering began with my father,<br />
who stood in the way <strong>of</strong> achieving my dreams <strong>and</strong> asked me to stop going to<br />
school. When I asked him about the reason, his answer was, “You will repeat<br />
my mistake. <strong>The</strong>se are my certificates, <strong>and</strong> I did not benefit from them. Now,<br />
as you see, I work in a carpentry shop. So you have to work with me from now<br />
on. You have reached the age <strong>of</strong> work <strong>and</strong> can read <strong>and</strong> write. Do not argue<br />
with me about this.”<br />
I was greatly affected. But I did not despair. In my mind, there was a dream<br />
that I had to fulfill. <strong>The</strong> dream that had been growing up with me <strong>and</strong> did not<br />
leave me for a moment. I made a promise to myself that I would continue my<br />
path <strong>and</strong> fulfill my dream that I nourished with my soul <strong>and</strong> breathed into<br />
with my breath. I told my mother to speak to my father <strong>and</strong> try to persuade<br />
him to change his decision, but my father completely refused.<br />
<strong>The</strong>n a critical day came when God inspired me with courage, <strong>and</strong> I was able<br />
to convince my father to complete my education with my insistence to<br />
continue. I explained that education is necessary, is a way to st<strong>and</strong> against<br />
ignorance <strong>and</strong> help our generations <strong>and</strong> our country, God willing. My father<br />
was impressed, so he gave me his permission <strong>and</strong> support to the end <strong>of</strong> my way<br />
in education.<br />
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“<strong>The</strong>n a critical<br />
day came when God<br />
inspired me with<br />
courage, <strong>and</strong> I was<br />
able to convince my<br />
father to complete<br />
my education<br />
with my insistence<br />
to continue.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
147
Hafith Mohammed<br />
Noaman Abdullah, Teacher<br />
Al-Rasheed, Sana’a, Yemen<br />
Yemen is going through a difficult time. We have been living in a war for<br />
eight years. Despite that, education continues, <strong>and</strong> we go to school every day<br />
without fear. We resist all the difficulties <strong>and</strong> obstacles that we face in order to<br />
learn, in order to reach high levels <strong>of</strong> education, as I believe learning is a real<br />
resistance to war <strong>and</strong> suffering. I know that my country will not get out <strong>of</strong> its<br />
crises, poverty, <strong>and</strong> ignorance without education. Education will raise the<br />
level <strong>of</strong> our country economically <strong>and</strong> socially. Anyone who participates in<br />
building an educated <strong>and</strong> conscious generation knows what is in the best<br />
interest <strong>of</strong> the country.<br />
Like any other Yemeni, I suffered a lot from the war. It was difficult to start<br />
my first year <strong>of</strong> elementary school, studying in the countryside in our village.<br />
To this day, I am still suffering from it, especially the siege. Despite that, I am<br />
a student excelling in my studies. Nothing has stopped me. I even decided to<br />
change my school years ago when I felt that it had a low level <strong>of</strong> education<br />
that did not suit me. So I agreed with my father to transfer me to a school<br />
that is a higher level in terms <strong>of</strong> education. <strong>The</strong>n, thank God, I moved to the<br />
school that I dreamed <strong>of</strong> studying in. It is in a village that is far from our<br />
village, <strong>and</strong> yet I used to go to it on foot.<br />
After I completed my seventh grade, we moved to live in the city, where I had<br />
to look for a job to help my family with house expenses <strong>and</strong> buying study<br />
supplies. I started studying <strong>and</strong> working at the same time, as well as helping<br />
my mother with housework. Frankly, I was prevented from playing like the<br />
rest <strong>of</strong> the students as a result <strong>of</strong> my preoccupation. But I am confident that<br />
one day I will settle down, make up for what I missed, <strong>and</strong> enjoy life like the<br />
rest <strong>of</strong> the children.<br />
I always dream <strong>of</strong> graduating from high school to join university. My ambition<br />
is to study at the Faculty <strong>of</strong> Medicine or join the army to become a pilot <strong>and</strong><br />
serve my country. I’m looking forward to the near future, when I become a<br />
source <strong>of</strong> pride for my family, my school principal, <strong>and</strong> my teachers.<br />
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“We resist all the<br />
difficulties <strong>and</strong><br />
obstacles that we<br />
face in order to<br />
learn, in order to<br />
reach high levels<br />
<strong>of</strong> education, as I<br />
believe learning is<br />
a real resistance to<br />
war <strong>and</strong> suffering.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
149
Saeed Al-Khamsi<br />
Aish Mohammed Deeb, Teacher<br />
Ibn Zaidan, Hajjah, Yemen<br />
I was displaced with my family at night, when bombs were dropping heavily as<br />
a result <strong>of</strong> the ongoing war in Yemen. We settled down in one <strong>of</strong> the districts in<br />
the north <strong>of</strong> Yemen. My father worked digging artesian wells. Unfortunately,<br />
he choked one day on the exhaust <strong>of</strong> generators, <strong>and</strong> he died. Since I am the<br />
eldest in the family, I started thinking about how I would provide my family<br />
with basic needs. Because <strong>of</strong> the war, I had to search for a safe place, then I<br />
stopped going to school. My next step was to look for a job to support my<br />
family. When I did not find a job, I decided to start collecting scrap <strong>and</strong> selling<br />
it. Indeed, I used to get some money from this work to cover our needs. <strong>The</strong><br />
work used to cause me to be absent from my family for days, as I would go far<br />
to search for scrap. I used to face troubles <strong>and</strong> dangers, especially in finding a<br />
place to sleep. I used to sleep in the streets with stray dogs. Whenever I had<br />
collected some money, I went back to my family <strong>and</strong> bought necessary items<br />
for them. For me, life was so difficult. A kind <strong>of</strong> sour irony pushed me<br />
sometimes to burst out laughing when I thought <strong>of</strong> the contrast between the<br />
meaning <strong>of</strong> my name, Saeed, which means joy, <strong>and</strong> my miserable life.<br />
After some time, I was able to save part <strong>of</strong> the money, <strong>and</strong> I bought a small<br />
water cooler. I started selling water <strong>and</strong> juices in the morning, <strong>and</strong> I continued<br />
to collect <strong>and</strong> sell scrap in the evening. After that, I started to grow my business<br />
by selling chocolate, gum, <strong>and</strong> biscuits. My family’s financial conditions began<br />
to improve. One day, I discussed our situation with my mother. I told her that<br />
I was thinking <strong>of</strong> building a small shop on the road that would protect my<br />
chocolate from the sun. My mother agreed, so I started looking for a place. I<br />
remembered a place where I once slept. I found the owner <strong>and</strong> negotiated the<br />
rent. <strong>The</strong>n I went to a wholesaler to provide me with the goods in advance with<br />
a guarantee from one <strong>of</strong> the respected men in the society. I arranged my small<br />
store well to make it attractive, <strong>and</strong> finally, I started my small project in sales.<br />
I was able to pay back the price <strong>of</strong> the goods within one month <strong>and</strong> got new<br />
goods. <strong>The</strong> wholesaler was amazed by my speed to pay, <strong>and</strong> I gained his<br />
confidence. To exp<strong>and</strong> my business, I bought a sheep for my mother to fatten<br />
<strong>and</strong> sell on Eid al-Adha, when there is a high dem<strong>and</strong> for sheep at good prices.<br />
I also bought a motorbike to help me with transportation. I finally returned to<br />
school. Although I became a small trader responsible for myself <strong>and</strong> my family,<br />
I never stopped learning. I went back to school <strong>and</strong> arranged my time between<br />
trade <strong>and</strong> school. In the end, our life settled well.<br />
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“Although I became<br />
a small trader<br />
responsible for<br />
myself <strong>and</strong> my<br />
family, I never<br />
stopped learning.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
151
Abdulaziz Bin Shaiban<br />
Adnan Awadh <strong>and</strong> Yasser Abd, Teachers<br />
Faisal, Hadramout, Yemen<br />
Every child has the right to overcome the feeling <strong>of</strong> fear, to arm himself with<br />
faith <strong>and</strong> courage, to strengthen his personality, <strong>and</strong> to help those who need<br />
help. This is my story about courage.<br />
Once upon a time, under a l<strong>of</strong>ty mountain <strong>and</strong> in one <strong>of</strong> the villages <strong>of</strong> the city<br />
<strong>of</strong> Tarim, the sounds <strong>of</strong> mosques were mixed with the twittering <strong>of</strong> birds <strong>and</strong><br />
the sound <strong>of</strong> water. In this beautiful nature, with a simple life, my brothers <strong>and</strong><br />
I grew up in our happy family. My father taught us about good manners, love,<br />
<strong>and</strong> helping others.<br />
With the beginning <strong>of</strong> a new day <strong>and</strong> sunrise, as usual, my brothers <strong>and</strong> I had<br />
fun <strong>and</strong> played in front <strong>of</strong> our humble house, despite the harshness <strong>of</strong> life <strong>and</strong><br />
the high prices. We used to play the simplest games, such as running, football,<br />
<strong>and</strong> racing with bicycles. Our laughter did not leave our innocent <strong>and</strong> beautiful<br />
faces. In the middle <strong>of</strong> that day, with the sun <strong>and</strong> its unbearable heat, the<br />
mosques called for prayers, announcing the time for the noon prayer.<br />
When I returned from the mosque, I saw a man, his wife, <strong>and</strong> his children<br />
st<strong>and</strong>ing in front <strong>of</strong> their house trying to open the door, but surprisingly, the<br />
keys were lost. <strong>The</strong> man tried <strong>and</strong> tried to break the door, but all his attempts<br />
failed. <strong>The</strong> little children started crying, <strong>and</strong> their voices became louder with<br />
the intensity <strong>of</strong> the heat that day. <strong>The</strong> mother tried to calm them down, but<br />
she couldn’t. <strong>The</strong>n, she was exhausted.<br />
People gathered from everywhere <strong>and</strong> began to express their opinions <strong>and</strong><br />
experience. With the simplicity <strong>of</strong> the village <strong>and</strong> its simple mud houses, the<br />
people decided that one <strong>of</strong> us could climb the wall <strong>of</strong> the house. <strong>The</strong>y chose me.<br />
At that time, I had a phobia <strong>of</strong> heights, so the decision was difficult for me.<br />
People started giving me direction <strong>and</strong> guidance. I was encouraged <strong>and</strong> decided<br />
to climb the wall. I felt sorry for the mother <strong>and</strong> the tired children. After several<br />
attempts, I climbed the wall, <strong>and</strong> the voices began to rise with encouragement<br />
from those present. I succeeded <strong>and</strong> opened the door.<br />
<strong>The</strong> family was very happy. <strong>The</strong> joy overwhelmed the children, <strong>and</strong> they began<br />
to run into their home. People raised their voices with thanks. <strong>The</strong> owner <strong>of</strong> the<br />
house came forward <strong>and</strong> thanked me. It was embarrassing when he tried to<br />
give me some money as a reward. I refused the money. I helped them because<br />
I felt it was a duty to help others. <strong>The</strong> man thanked me again <strong>and</strong> again.<br />
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“Every child has the<br />
right to overcome<br />
the feeling <strong>of</strong> fear,<br />
to arm himself with<br />
faith <strong>and</strong> courage,<br />
to strengthen<br />
his personality,<br />
<strong>and</strong> to help those<br />
who need help.”<br />
From that day, people <strong>of</strong> the village began to call me a brave boy. I grew up<br />
in the eyes <strong>of</strong> people <strong>and</strong> children. My advice to every child is to overcome<br />
the feeling <strong>of</strong> fear <strong>and</strong> arm themselves with faith <strong>and</strong> courage to strengthen<br />
their personality. Do not get used to fearing things, <strong>and</strong> always help those<br />
who need help.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
153
Fatima Al-Zahra<br />
Boshra Hamed <strong>and</strong> Samira Ali, Teachers<br />
Al-Afak, Sana’a, Yemen<br />
I study at Afak Sana’a School, <strong>and</strong> I love my school very much. This is my<br />
story. I used to go to the house where my maternal gr<strong>and</strong>mother lived, because<br />
I liked to sit <strong>and</strong> talk to her, <strong>and</strong> she loved me <strong>and</strong> joined me in sitting with my<br />
cousin. We spent the most beautiful time with my gr<strong>and</strong>mother <strong>and</strong> enjoyed<br />
what we got from her. She used to give us nuts <strong>and</strong> tell us many beautiful<br />
stories. I waited for these moments, counting the days until my father would<br />
say that we were going to my gr<strong>and</strong>mother, as she lived in my aunt’s house<br />
that is far away. She was kind to us, loved us a lot, feared for us, <strong>and</strong><br />
encouraged me <strong>and</strong> my cousin. She always asked us to pay attention to our<br />
studies. When I got good marks on the tests, she gave me gifts. She told us that<br />
in her time, studying for a girl was difficult, <strong>and</strong> it was shameful for a girl to<br />
learn or go out to school. She always told me that she dreamed <strong>of</strong> the day I<br />
would finish my studies to become a doctor or an engineer.<br />
One day, my gr<strong>and</strong>mother became very ill. I was worried about her, <strong>and</strong> the<br />
disease became severe. I felt afraid. I could not bear the loss <strong>of</strong> my<br />
gr<strong>and</strong>mother <strong>and</strong> separation from her. In those days, I lived the most difficult<br />
moments in my life. However, I did not want anyone to know about it. Just<br />
thinking about my gr<strong>and</strong>mother’s separation made me lose my mind <strong>and</strong><br />
terrified me. Days after, I felt inside me that something would happen, <strong>and</strong><br />
they informed me that she died. I felt the loss <strong>of</strong> everything beautiful in my<br />
life. But I held on. I looked at my cousin, who was in a bad condition. I took<br />
her to a room <strong>and</strong> encouraged her, despite my great sadness. I explained to<br />
her that my gr<strong>and</strong>mother is now in heaven, in a better place than the world<br />
we live in, <strong>and</strong> that this is the fate <strong>of</strong> all <strong>of</strong> us.<br />
Many things changed in my life after the death <strong>of</strong> my gr<strong>and</strong>mother. To<br />
overcome my shock, I tried to pay attention to my studies. While being with<br />
my aunt, we remembered all the beautiful moments with my gr<strong>and</strong>mother,<br />
<strong>and</strong> prayed for her mercy. I was able to help my cousin overcome her sadness.<br />
We helped each other. For her sake, I started following my gr<strong>and</strong>mother’s<br />
advice in choosing good friends, diligently studying, <strong>and</strong> caring about<br />
education. I made a promise to myself that I would fulfill my gr<strong>and</strong>mother’s<br />
dream <strong>of</strong> excelling in my education.<br />
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“I felt the loss<br />
<strong>of</strong> everything<br />
beautiful in my life.<br />
But I held on.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
155
Chantha Pea<br />
Phalla Ol, Teacher<br />
<strong>The</strong> Cambridge Cambodia School, Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia<br />
Nature has brought every human being their own courage. Each person has<br />
their own willpower, <strong>and</strong> everyone wishes to achieve their dreams because<br />
they want to live a life <strong>of</strong> happiness with dignity, wealth, <strong>and</strong> honor.<br />
To achieve our goals, we must have courage to be strong <strong>and</strong> ready to<br />
struggle, overcoming every obstacle no matter how dangerous it is. To build<br />
up courage, we must be very patient <strong>and</strong> willing to never give up on anything<br />
in life. <strong>Courage</strong> comes from our inner ideals that inspire each person to push<br />
for sacrifice <strong>and</strong> self-care in order to achieve their goals. <strong>The</strong>re is always<br />
courage needed to achieve when studying <strong>and</strong> working, <strong>and</strong> also there is the<br />
courage necessary in larger society.<br />
For me, I was able to find my courage as a young person. At first, I was a shy<br />
girl who was very quiet <strong>and</strong> didn’t dare to do anything because I was afraid <strong>of</strong><br />
gossip <strong>and</strong> what other people thought. I felt hopeless <strong>and</strong> I started to wonder<br />
why I couldn’t get any success. Why couldn’t I do anything better? I asked<br />
myself this again <strong>and</strong> again. <strong>The</strong>n I realized it was because I didn’t have any<br />
courage within me, <strong>and</strong> I didn’t dare to do anything by myself. That’s why<br />
I was a failure. After that realization, I stood up <strong>and</strong> fought for my goals<br />
because I want to achieve a dream that I have wished for for a long time.<br />
I want to be a doctor.<br />
When I think <strong>of</strong> courage, I <strong>of</strong>ten think <strong>of</strong> our Cambodian hero, Mr. Khleang<br />
Moeung. His Excellency, Mr. Moeung, was a man who struggled with lots <strong>of</strong><br />
obstacles, <strong>and</strong> even though he knew that he would die while fighting the war<br />
with Thail<strong>and</strong>, he still focused on doing anything he could, even sacrificing<br />
his life in order to save our country. He was really brave, <strong>and</strong> even though he<br />
knew he would be dead, he went to collect the ghost spirit soldiers to win the<br />
war. I really admire him from the bottom <strong>of</strong> my heart.<br />
In conclusion, I would like to remind everyone that we must never lose our<br />
hope. We must be brave, especially all the students who need courage to<br />
make our dreams come true. We want our parents to be happy because they<br />
see us st<strong>and</strong> up <strong>and</strong> be strong. When they see us like this, they will be very<br />
happy, so I would like to recommend this to everyone. Please don’t give up,<br />
no matter how hard it is. Stay strong. Be strong!<br />
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“please don’t give<br />
up, no matter how<br />
hard it is. Stay<br />
strong. Be strong!”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
157
Makara Run<br />
Phalla Ol, Teacher<br />
<strong>The</strong> Cambridge Cambodia School, Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> comes from a passionate, sharp mind, <strong>and</strong> from struggling. <strong>Courage</strong><br />
always stays with us. <strong>Courage</strong> helps us achieve every goal <strong>and</strong> endeavor we<br />
wish for, but there are two kinds <strong>of</strong> courage: being courageous in positive<br />
ways <strong>and</strong> being courageous in negative ways. A lady I know who tried to<br />
protect a kid from a drug addict is courageous in a positive way. I also have<br />
seen an example <strong>of</strong> negative courage when a man I know became violent<br />
with his anger. For me, I think we can build up our positive courage within<br />
ourselves because it always stays inside us. This is what I strive for.<br />
To explain my description <strong>of</strong> positive courage more clearly, I would like to<br />
mention a book I read in our school library that is about the Khleang<br />
Moeung statue. Mr. Moeung was a courageous Cambodian hero. He was<br />
very sharp <strong>and</strong> brave, full <strong>of</strong> good will <strong>and</strong> hard work to save our country<br />
from the Thai King’s army in the generation <strong>of</strong> Cambodian King Chan<br />
Reachea. Brave Mr. Moeung helped Cambodia fight for freedom <strong>and</strong><br />
independence for our country. Every Cambodian still remembers, even<br />
though he died a long time ago. <strong>The</strong>re is a famous statue <strong>of</strong> him for his<br />
bravery. <strong>The</strong> courage <strong>of</strong> what he did was so inspiring for us all. He is our hero<br />
<strong>and</strong> shows all the traits <strong>of</strong> being courageous in a positive way.<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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“<strong>Courage</strong> comes<br />
from a passionate,<br />
sharp mind, <strong>and</strong><br />
from struggling.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
159
Gansuvd Gankhuyag<br />
G. Nasanbayar, Teacher<br />
Secondary School <strong>of</strong> Baatsagaan Soum, Bayankhongor Province, Mongolia<br />
My story <strong>of</strong> courage began with my two closest friends, who were introverted<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong>ten the target <strong>of</strong> bullying from our classmates. Despite their quiet nature,<br />
they opened up to me <strong>and</strong> trusted me with their thoughts <strong>and</strong> feelings. I was<br />
the only one who truly understood <strong>and</strong> cared for them.<br />
However, I soon realized that I was not always the best friend to them. One<br />
day, I hurt them with my words, <strong>and</strong> I struggled with the guilt <strong>and</strong> shame that<br />
came with it. I realized that it was easy to talk <strong>and</strong> defend my friends, but when<br />
it came to actually st<strong>and</strong>ing up for them, I faltered.<br />
This experience taught me that bravery is not just about having confidence <strong>and</strong><br />
st<strong>and</strong>ing up for oneself, but also about st<strong>and</strong>ing up for others <strong>and</strong> protecting<br />
those we care about. I learned that defending my friends meant more than just<br />
talking. It meant being there for them even in their darkest moments.<br />
I made amends with my friends <strong>and</strong> apologized for my behavior. <strong>The</strong>y forgave<br />
me, <strong>and</strong> I made a promise to always be there for them <strong>and</strong> to protect them from<br />
the cruel words <strong>and</strong> actions <strong>of</strong> others. I have become their voice <strong>and</strong> advocate,<br />
<strong>and</strong> I am proud to call them my friends.<br />
In conclusion, my story <strong>of</strong> courage is about st<strong>and</strong>ing up for those we care about<br />
<strong>and</strong> having the courage to defend <strong>and</strong> protect them, even in the face <strong>of</strong><br />
adversity. It is about being a true friend <strong>and</strong> never giving up on those who<br />
matter most to us. I hope that my story inspires others to be brave <strong>and</strong> to always<br />
st<strong>and</strong> up for what is right.<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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“I have become<br />
their voice <strong>and</strong><br />
advocate, <strong>and</strong> I<br />
am proud to call<br />
them my friends.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
161
Undarga Purevdorj<br />
D. Munkhjin, Teacher<br />
Mongolian State Conservatory School, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia<br />
Having courage was a constant challenge for me as I grew up. I was a timid,<br />
shy girl. I always felt uneasy among other kids <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong>ten had social anxiety.<br />
I was especially fearful <strong>of</strong> approaching <strong>and</strong> talking to older kids in school.<br />
Luckily, I was a girl who liked to read books. One <strong>of</strong> the stories I read was<br />
about the woman who refused to free her seat for the white people in the<br />
bus. Her story <strong>of</strong> courage left a legacy for the fight against racial injustice:<br />
st<strong>and</strong>ing against something that suppresses human freedom <strong>and</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ing for<br />
something that is right for people, even if it threatens your own freedom<br />
<strong>and</strong> security. This story affected me deeply. This was a true story <strong>of</strong> courage<br />
<strong>and</strong> an example for me. She left the footsteps <strong>of</strong> courage that changed<br />
history <strong>and</strong> left a strong legacy.<br />
When it comes to courage, I also like to think about my gr<strong>and</strong>mother. She<br />
lived alone in the countryside far away from us. She was battling cancer as<br />
well. Each time we came to visit her, she greeted us with a huge smile on her<br />
face <strong>and</strong> acted as if nothing happened to her. She showed courage to us<br />
through her warmth <strong>and</strong> hospitality. She woke up early in the morning to<br />
make the yurt warm. I would hear her footsteps… as if she were making sure<br />
to let people know she was alive. <strong>The</strong> sound <strong>of</strong> these footsteps was to me the<br />
sound <strong>of</strong> footsteps <strong>of</strong> courage, a courage to live, love, fight the cancer, <strong>and</strong> let<br />
the world know she is there for everyone. Embracing with love.<br />
As the woman I mentioned above created the footsteps <strong>of</strong> courage for justice<br />
<strong>and</strong> freedom for the next generation, my gr<strong>and</strong>mother left her family <strong>and</strong><br />
children <strong>and</strong> the gr<strong>and</strong>children a legacy via her footsteps <strong>of</strong> courage <strong>and</strong><br />
love for them.<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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“<strong>The</strong> sound <strong>of</strong> these<br />
footsteps was<br />
to me the sound<br />
<strong>of</strong> footsteps <strong>of</strong><br />
courage, a courage<br />
to live, love, fight<br />
the cancer, <strong>and</strong><br />
let the world<br />
know she is there<br />
for everyone.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
163
Amina Nergui<br />
G. Davaajav, Teacher<br />
Kids Wider World Development Center, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> is a pretty big idea, <strong>and</strong> everyone has their own definition <strong>of</strong> it. For<br />
me, I think it’s all about having faith in your heart <strong>and</strong> letting that guide you<br />
when you need to be brave.<br />
So, let me tell you a story about my own experience with courage. I’m a student<br />
at a musical college, <strong>and</strong> I chose to play the piano, the king <strong>of</strong> all instruments.<br />
But, let me tell you, it’s been tough. Every time I make a mistake, my teachers<br />
yell at me <strong>and</strong> tell me that I don’t belong here <strong>and</strong> that I’ll never be good<br />
enough. I’ve even considered quitting because everyone else is dropping out,<br />
<strong>and</strong> I start to think that maybe I’m not cut out for this.<br />
But then, one night, my gr<strong>and</strong>pa told me that he really wants to hear me play<br />
one day, <strong>and</strong> he believes in me. That’s when I made the decision to stick with it<br />
<strong>and</strong> do my best, not just for myself, but for my gr<strong>and</strong>pa too. It’s still hard, but I<br />
remind myself <strong>of</strong> all the people who believe in me, <strong>and</strong> that gives me the<br />
courage to keep going.<br />
So, that’s my story about courage. It’s not just about doing brave things in big,<br />
dramatic moments. It’s about st<strong>and</strong>ing up for what you believe in, even when<br />
it’s hard. And that’s something we all have the courage to do, every day.<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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“It’s still hard, but<br />
I remind myself<br />
<strong>of</strong> all the people<br />
who believe in me,<br />
<strong>and</strong> that gives<br />
me the courage<br />
to keep going.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
165
Misheel Ankhbaatar<br />
D. Munkhjin, Teacher<br />
Mongolian State Conservatory School, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia<br />
Being courageous doesn’t always have to be an act <strong>of</strong> extreme heroism or<br />
fighting for something enormous. Sometimes, it is just addressing your needs<br />
<strong>and</strong> telling adults about what you think. It takes courage. For me, it was such<br />
a challenge to address my needs with my mother. It took a lot <strong>of</strong> courage<br />
for me to do so.<br />
My mom enrolled me in many after-school classes. I was enrolled in an arts<br />
class. <strong>The</strong>n I was in piano class <strong>and</strong> other academic courses. I felt tired <strong>and</strong><br />
exhausted from going to all these classes, plus my everyday school,<br />
homework, <strong>and</strong> so on. I had no courage to tell my mother that all this was too<br />
much for me. <strong>The</strong>n, I got muscle pain. Many children are afraid to tell their<br />
parents the truth <strong>and</strong> lack courage to approach adults with their issues.<br />
Finally, I approached my mother <strong>and</strong> talked to her. I asked her to help me <strong>and</strong><br />
underst<strong>and</strong> me. So we had an open <strong>and</strong> honest discussion, <strong>and</strong> my mother<br />
agreed. I quit some <strong>of</strong> the after-school classes to ease my burdens. I felt happier<br />
<strong>and</strong> less burdened. I get some time to play <strong>and</strong> enjoy time with friends. Now,<br />
I am glad that I had the courage to tell my mother about the physical <strong>and</strong><br />
mental challenges I was facing <strong>and</strong> have her resolve this issue for me.<br />
To st<strong>and</strong> up for yourself <strong>and</strong> tell your needs to adults takes courage. It is<br />
worth doing. Keeping things inside <strong>and</strong> silently suffering alone is not a good<br />
thing. I am glad I stood up for myself <strong>and</strong> had my problems solved. It was a<br />
good lesson <strong>of</strong> courage for me.<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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“Being courageous<br />
doesn’t always<br />
have to be an<br />
act <strong>of</strong> extreme<br />
heroism or fighting<br />
for something<br />
enormous.<br />
Sometimes, it is just<br />
addressing your<br />
needs <strong>and</strong> telling<br />
adults about what<br />
you think.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
167
Ganbolor Boldbaatar<br />
N. Bolortuya, Teacher<br />
“Setgemj” Complex Secondary School, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia<br />
My life has not been scary since I was a child. My bravery may not seem so big<br />
to you. I am 14 years old now, an ordinary student. Since childhood, I was<br />
sociable <strong>and</strong> self-confident, but because <strong>of</strong> one incident, it seemed like I had<br />
never been so confident. Imitating my father, my eye looks very strange, <strong>and</strong><br />
because <strong>of</strong> this, my classmates make fun <strong>of</strong> me. I visited the hospital many<br />
times, but I was very depressed when I realized that it would take time <strong>and</strong><br />
money for my parents to treat my eyes.<br />
By that time, I was becoming very vulnerable. I became more <strong>and</strong> more<br />
insecure <strong>and</strong> blamed myself for everything. <strong>The</strong>re were many times when I<br />
stopped even posting pictures on my Facebook account, became distant from<br />
my friends, <strong>and</strong> even felt like dying. My parents were very strict people, so they<br />
kept me alone <strong>and</strong> did not let me meet my friends after school.<br />
I was thrilled to start a new chapter in my life when we moved to another<br />
district. I was excited to meet new friends <strong>and</strong> be part <strong>of</strong> a different<br />
environment. When I stepped into my eagerly awaited new classroom, I was<br />
pleasantly surprised by the warm welcome from my classmates. <strong>The</strong>y were<br />
accepting <strong>and</strong> did not make fun <strong>of</strong> me for who I am.<br />
One day, on my way home from school, I encountered my brother’s friend,<br />
who <strong>of</strong>fered to give me a ride. During our conversation, she shared some<br />
valuable advice with me. She told me, “It’s not easy when people make fun <strong>of</strong><br />
you, but remember, their words today will not determine your worth. It’s what<br />
you believe about yourself that makes you valuable <strong>and</strong> brave.”<br />
Her words <strong>of</strong>fered me comfort <strong>and</strong> helped me to see that I was not alone.<br />
I learned the importance <strong>of</strong> self-love <strong>and</strong> confidence <strong>and</strong> felt grateful for her<br />
kindness <strong>and</strong> support. This experience also showed me the acceptance <strong>and</strong><br />
friendship that I had found in my new classmates. I am grateful for this<br />
opportunity to grow <strong>and</strong> develop a positive self-image. <strong>The</strong> words <strong>of</strong> my<br />
brother’s friend were a turning point for me, as they gave me the strength to<br />
become more confident <strong>and</strong> courageous. I no longer felt like a weak <strong>and</strong><br />
humiliated individual, but instead, I developed a belief in myself <strong>and</strong> my<br />
abilities. I am now striving towards a better future <strong>and</strong> working towards<br />
getting the treatment I need for my eyes.<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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“I am now living with<br />
a newfound sense<br />
<strong>of</strong> determination<br />
<strong>and</strong> self-worth, <strong>and</strong><br />
I am excited to see<br />
where my journey<br />
will take me next.”<br />
Participating in Max’s program <strong>and</strong> reading about the bravery <strong>of</strong> other<br />
children has also been a source <strong>of</strong> inspiration for me. <strong>The</strong>se experiences have<br />
helped me to become stronger <strong>and</strong> more resilient, <strong>and</strong> I am grateful for the<br />
support <strong>and</strong> encouragement I have received along the way.<br />
I am now living with a newfound sense <strong>of</strong> determination <strong>and</strong> self-worth, <strong>and</strong> I<br />
am excited to see where my journey will take me next. I am grateful for the<br />
support <strong>of</strong> my brother’s friend, Max’s program, <strong>and</strong> all the other children who<br />
have shared their stories <strong>of</strong> bravery. <strong>The</strong>se experiences have helped me to<br />
become a more confident <strong>and</strong> courageous person.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
169
Sodbileg Ulzii-Orshikh<br />
N. Ariunbulgan, Teacher<br />
Secondary School <strong>of</strong> Tuv, Tuv Province, Mongolia<br />
<strong>The</strong> story <strong>of</strong> my courage revolves around facing my own fears <strong>and</strong> supporting<br />
others in overcoming theirs. Growing up, I was shy, introverted, <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong>ten the<br />
target <strong>of</strong> bullying <strong>and</strong> teasing. I lacked confidence <strong>and</strong> felt overwhelmed by<br />
pressure, which led to depression. However, a school psychologist gave a talk<br />
that changed my life <strong>and</strong> helped me regain my self-assurance. <strong>The</strong> children<br />
who once bullied me became good friends with me, <strong>and</strong> we all learned to<br />
underst<strong>and</strong> each other. We all face challenges, but it takes courage to find<br />
ways to overcome them.<br />
Discover your own worth, work hard towards your aspirations, <strong>and</strong> don’t give<br />
up. As children, we may not know where to turn for help with our problems,<br />
but we must not let that stop us from achieving our dreams. To the next<br />
generation, I implore you to be kind <strong>and</strong> not discriminate or bully others.<br />
Help each other reach your full potential.<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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“To the next<br />
generation, I<br />
implore you to<br />
be kind <strong>and</strong> not<br />
discriminate or<br />
bully others.<br />
Help each other<br />
reach your full<br />
potential.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
171
Quincy Petersen<br />
Dawn Austin, Teacher<br />
American School <strong>of</strong> Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain<br />
<strong>Courage</strong> is an action. It is st<strong>and</strong>ing up for what you believe or going out <strong>of</strong><br />
your comfort zone. All acts can be big or small, <strong>and</strong> although they are all<br />
different, every moment <strong>of</strong> courage is important. <strong>The</strong>re is a misconception<br />
that having courage has to be a big, enormous thing. But in reality, it can be<br />
anything, because no action can be measured by its impact. I don’t know<br />
your story, but today you will get to learn a bit more about mine.<br />
I was diagnosed with cancer when I was four. It lasted for three years, <strong>and</strong><br />
although it was such a long time ago, I still remember everything. <strong>The</strong><br />
suffocating walls <strong>of</strong> the hospital <strong>and</strong> the sickeningly sweet smell <strong>of</strong> the<br />
medicines. Although I am 12 now <strong>and</strong> am as healthy as any seventh grader,<br />
I am still afraid. Afraid <strong>of</strong> those walls, the smells, <strong>and</strong> the sad looks that<br />
people gave me.<br />
I met friends who helped me along the way. And now that I look back on<br />
everything, I couldn’t have done it without them. <strong>The</strong>y taught me everything<br />
from how to get through the long hours waiting before surgeries, to how to<br />
have enough discipline not to squirt the disgusting medicines at the ceiling<br />
every time I had to take them (which I actually did one time—<strong>and</strong> let me tell<br />
you, the doctors were less than thrilled). So, although this retelling seems like<br />
a personal courage story, it is actually not. Although I was courageous as I<br />
made it through that time, I would not have had that courage if not for the<br />
help <strong>of</strong> my friends <strong>and</strong> family. <strong>The</strong>y helped me face my battles head on, <strong>and</strong><br />
I know it was hard on them too.<br />
First <strong>of</strong> all, there was my mentor, Stephanie. She was also going through<br />
treatment at that time. She showed me the ropes <strong>and</strong> taught me how to cope<br />
with them. Not only did she teach me, but she also inspired me throughout<br />
all the time that I knew her. Although she died from cancer, the impact she<br />
left on my life I will never forget. Second, my mother. I make fun <strong>of</strong> her<br />
overprotectiveness, but I know how hard that time was for her, <strong>and</strong> she kept a<br />
good face on for everyone. Third, my gr<strong>and</strong>ma. She was the cheery one who<br />
brought cake pops <strong>and</strong> card games, <strong>and</strong> kept everyone happy, busy, <strong>and</strong> well<br />
fed. Finally, my uncle. At the time, my family was living abroad in Malaysia,<br />
so when I had to come to get my treatment in San Francisco, he let us live<br />
with him for nearly a year, until we could get our own house.<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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“<strong>The</strong>se people are<br />
my inspirations in<br />
life, because not<br />
only did they show<br />
the courage <strong>of</strong><br />
their own, but they<br />
helped me find my<br />
path to courage<br />
along the way.”<br />
During my treatment, there was not much I could do. I really liked jewelry<br />
<strong>and</strong> beading, <strong>and</strong> it did not require a lot <strong>of</strong> physical activity, so that is what<br />
took up most <strong>of</strong> my time. <strong>The</strong>n, I had an idea. I started a company. (Just like<br />
any normal six-year-old would do, right?) I did not want others to be as afraid<br />
as I had been. So I made bracelets <strong>and</strong> necklaces. All <strong>of</strong> the pr<strong>of</strong>its I donated<br />
to cancer research. In the end, I had nearly raised six thous<strong>and</strong> dollars, <strong>and</strong><br />
I wasn’t afraid any more. My family helped me through it all <strong>and</strong> sat with me<br />
through those long hours. Although I had conquered my fear, I never would<br />
have if it weren’t for my friends <strong>and</strong> family.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se people are my inspirations in life, because not only did they show<br />
the courage <strong>of</strong> their own, but they helped me find my path to courage<br />
along the way.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
173
Ayşegül Birdeste<br />
Elliott Ruso, Teacher<br />
Hisar Okulları / Ïstiklal Halil Arık Ortaokulu, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey<br />
Two years ago, when I was in fifth grade, my teacher presented my class with<br />
an optional project. Six <strong>of</strong> us decided to take it, <strong>and</strong> our teacher assigned us<br />
work. However, my mind was completely blank. I had no idea where to start.<br />
It was my first time taking on such a project, <strong>and</strong> I had no idea what it was or<br />
how to do it. Just thinking about the project riddled me with fear.<br />
A week passed, <strong>and</strong> it was time to present my project to the class. With me,<br />
I had folders, writings, <strong>and</strong> related things I had memorized that could slip my<br />
mind any second. Sweat was dripping down the top <strong>of</strong> my head, reaching my<br />
cheeks <strong>and</strong> neck. With trembling h<strong>and</strong>s, I got up to st<strong>and</strong> in front <strong>of</strong> the<br />
blackboard. When I looked at my peers, I could see they were all watching me<br />
intently. <strong>The</strong>y were watching me in such a way that I thought they might laugh<br />
at me or attack me for every word that came out <strong>of</strong> my mouth.<br />
It took me about fifteen minutes to present my project. When I was finished,<br />
my classmates gave me a reaction I wasn’t quite expecting. <strong>The</strong>y were all<br />
clapping, loudly. I was still really excited, but now my excitement had more to<br />
do with happiness than it did with fear. I swiftly took my seat, <strong>and</strong> then asked<br />
myself why I had let myself get so nervous over the project. What was I even<br />
afraid <strong>of</strong>? Why? What could my classmates have said? How would their words<br />
affect me? <strong>The</strong>se questions spun around in my mind until I got home. When<br />
I put my head on my pillow, I felt how brave I was. I realized nothing about<br />
the project could induce fear in me anymore. Most importantly, I learned that<br />
nothing others said about me could affect me. I started behaving without<br />
getting anxious about what others would think <strong>of</strong> me. I realized my courage<br />
was always hidden somewhere beneath. I just didn’t know it. It was courage<br />
that helped me present my project <strong>and</strong> courage that helped me get over my<br />
fears. Now, two years later, I can happily say that I’m braver than I used to be.<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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“I realized my courage<br />
was always hidden<br />
somewhere beneath.<br />
I just didn’t know it.”<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
175
Ecrin Nur Taşköprü<br />
Zeynep İşeri, Teacher<br />
Hisar Okulları / Pazarcik Cumhuriyet Ortaokulu, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey<br />
I didn’t know what courage meant until I was ten years old. Before that age,<br />
I could only define it with the definition from the Turkish dictionary, which<br />
was, “being able to show bravery in a situation.” But I knew that the meaning<br />
<strong>of</strong> courage couldn’t be this short. <strong>Courage</strong> should have been a force that<br />
pushes limits. I didn’t believe I was advanced enough to know the real<br />
meaning <strong>of</strong> courage <strong>and</strong> just left it as it was in my mind. Up until that day…<br />
“Look at how beautiful that fish is!” said my little brother. Just when he was<br />
about to jump in the water to go after the fish, he stopped to think for a second<br />
<strong>and</strong> then turned to me. “Are you sure you’re not going to go into the sea,<br />
sister?” His face grew still.<br />
We were staring at each other, <strong>and</strong> I felt the need to say something <strong>and</strong> break<br />
the silence. “No, I can’t.” He didn’t want to push this topic any further. He<br />
turned his back <strong>and</strong> left me alone.<br />
<strong>The</strong> truth was, I was scared <strong>of</strong> going into the sea because just seven years<br />
before, we had lost my older brother, who was a diver. During a search-<strong>and</strong>rescue<br />
operation, my brother got lost as he dove deep into the water. A part <strong>of</strong><br />
me was scared <strong>of</strong> remembering those painful memories, <strong>and</strong> part <strong>of</strong> me was<br />
scared that something similar would happen to me.<br />
An old man passing by me asked, “Why aren’t you swimming? It is very<br />
calming, you know.” Yes, it was calming, but it was also upsetting for me as<br />
well. He told me to try just this once, but I explained that I couldn’t. “Fine,”<br />
he said. Just when he was about to leave, he said something else. “Years ago,<br />
I lost my wife in the deep blues <strong>of</strong> this sea. But I persevered, <strong>and</strong> I didn’t let it<br />
scare me. Maybe it was a stupid thing to think, but I always felt like there was<br />
a chance I could find her if I went into the water.” While he was speaking,<br />
I realized that there were tears on both our faces. <strong>The</strong> old man made one last<br />
important remark before leaving. “Don’t lose hope, because hope is what<br />
brings you courage.”<br />
At that moment, I finally realized I couldn’t lose hope. Maybe I wouldn’t be<br />
able to find my brother, but just maybe I could be closer to him by being in the<br />
water. This thought gave me peace. Also, if I believed in myself, I knew I<br />
would be safe in the water. I would just reward myself with courage. I was now<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Courage</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Children</strong>: <strong>Boston</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Beyond</strong><br />
176
“I couldn’t forget<br />
my brother, but I<br />
could remember<br />
him without<br />
feeling agony. He<br />
wouldn’t be the<br />
cause <strong>of</strong> my sorrow,<br />
but the root <strong>of</strong><br />
my courage.”<br />
able to define “courage.” <strong>Courage</strong> is sometimes hope that can heal your scars,<br />
<strong>and</strong> sometimes the happiness behind that hope. Basically, courage is the one<br />
thing that keeps people alive. I finally felt brave enough <strong>and</strong> jumped into the<br />
water, <strong>and</strong> this truly helped me mask my painful memories with joy. I couldn’t<br />
forget my brother, but I could remember him without feeling agony. He<br />
wouldn’t be the cause <strong>of</strong> my sorrow, but the root <strong>of</strong> my courage.<br />
Volume <strong>XXXII</strong><br />
177
<strong>The</strong> Max Warburg <strong>Courage</strong> Curriculum is a yearlong<br />
language arts program dedicated to strengthening the<br />
social-emotional learning <strong>and</strong> literacy skills <strong>of</strong> students.<br />
Since the organization’s inception in 1991, the <strong>Courage</strong><br />
Curriculum <strong>and</strong> <strong>Courage</strong> in My Life National Essay<br />
Contest have enhanced the academic performance,<br />
critical thinking skills, <strong>and</strong> essential knowledge <strong>of</strong> more<br />
than 200,000 sixth grade students in the <strong>Boston</strong> Public<br />
Schools <strong>and</strong> in local parochial, charter, pilot, <strong>and</strong> private<br />
schools, as well as in schools in 28 states across the<br />
country <strong>and</strong> in 16 countries worldwide.<br />
THE COURAGE OF CHILDREN: BOSTON AND BEYOND<br />
This book shares the stories <strong>of</strong> 80 brave children from the city <strong>of</strong> <strong>Boston</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
surrounding communities, <strong>and</strong> from schools across the country <strong>and</strong> around the<br />
globe. <strong>The</strong> first story is about Max Warburg, a sixth grader whose steadfast<br />
determination <strong>and</strong> heartfelt hope in the face <strong>of</strong> his battle with leukemia is the<br />
inspiration behind <strong>The</strong> Max Warburg <strong>Courage</strong> Curriculum. <strong>The</strong> essays that<br />
follow are written by current middle school students who have discovered,<br />
recognized, <strong>and</strong> come to celebrate the courage in their lives.<br />
Northeastern University is proud to join with <strong>The</strong><br />
Max Warburg <strong>Courage</strong> Curriculum in a partnership to<br />
strengthen the social-emotional learning <strong>and</strong> literacy<br />
skills <strong>of</strong> sixth grade students in <strong>Boston</strong> <strong>and</strong> beyond.<br />
Visit our website<br />
to learn more:<br />
<strong>The</strong> Max Warburg <strong>Courage</strong> Curriculum<br />
at Northeastern University<br />
263 Huntington Avenue, Box 366<br />
<strong>Boston</strong>, Massachusetts 02115<br />
617.373.7399 www.maxcourage.org
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