The Courage of Children: Boston and Beyond XXXIII

AAMNA SHAH
SARA COYLE, TEACHER
Beverly Hills Academy, Beverly Hills, MI
Courage, to me, is standing up for yourself and being confident in front of
others, even if someone is belittling you for the way you look, and making
you insecure about yourself, and making you feel like you’re not beautiful for
who you are.
One day, I was doing my hair into a different style and putting on some new
clothes I got the day before (a black t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants). I thought
I looked good. Then I was at school, and people were staring at me and
whispering to their friends. One person came up to me and said, “Wow, with
that hairstyle, your forehead looks big.”
That person’s friends started laughing at me, then I heard them saying to each
other, “Do you see what that person is wearing? That person looks so emo.”
I covered my shirt and did not think I looked good anymore.
“AFTER THAT DAY,
NOW, I’M MORE
COURAGEOUS AND
CONFIDENT, AND I
DON’T LET ANYONE
PUT ME DOWN.”
They said, “We’re sorry for what we said to you. We promise we won’t do it
again.” I was happy that they apologized; it made me feel better about myself
and how I am.
After that day, now, I’m more courageous and confident, and I don’t let anyone
put me down. I also stand up for myself and say what I want to say.
I went back home and went into my room, and I thought, I can’t just sit here and
do nothing, but what should I do? I know, I can be courageous!
Then it was the middle of the day on Monday, and we had just finished math
class. I saw those people who were making fun of me last Friday, and I said to
myself, Okay, you got this. All you have to do is talk to them about what they did to you.
I went up to them and said, “Hey, I want to talk about what happened yesterday.”
They responded, “No, we’re good. Just leave us alone.”
I started walking away, but then my confidence came to me. I turned around
and said, “No, I’m not going anywhere without talking to you.”
They were surprised I said that, because I don’t always stand up for myself.
They said, “Fine, we can talk.”
I said, “I didn’t like the way you guys were making fun of my hairstyle and
clothes; it really hurt me a lot, and I was insecure after that and thought I
looked disgusting. So can you please not say those negative things about me
or anyone else?”
THE COURAGE OF CHILDREN: BOSTON AND BEYOND
VOLUME XXXIII
50 51