The Courage of Children: Boston and Beyond XXXIII
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LANAYIA BROWN<br />
TAENARI PHILLIPS-THOMPSON, TEACHER<br />
Menino YMCA Afterschool, <strong>Boston</strong>, MA<br />
<strong>The</strong> time I experienced courage in my life was in fifth grade, when I was<br />
influenced by my friends to be bad every day. It took courage to change<br />
my actions.<br />
<strong>The</strong> things I wanted to do last year were hit teachers, cuss, <strong>and</strong> be a bully.<br />
I got suspended for three days for trying to be a hard kid. I loved <strong>and</strong> lived<br />
for the drama. I used to hit teachers because it gave me a rush, a certain<br />
type <strong>of</strong> feeling that I wanted more <strong>and</strong> more.<br />
“IT TOOK COURAGE TO<br />
CHANGE MY ACTIONS.”<br />
Until finally, I noticed why I shouldn’t hit teachers. You don’t know what<br />
they go through in their everyday lives. You don’t know which day could be<br />
a bad day. Like someone said to me before, “It’s not what I say that defines<br />
me, but what I do.”<br />
THE COURAGE OF CHILDREN: BOSTON AND BEYOND<br />
VOLUME <strong>XXXIII</strong><br />
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