Webster’s Dictionary can tell us that courage is “a mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.” But I don’t believe that’s true, because courage isn’t when you recognize a fear, when you overcome one, or even just being brave. Courage is when you open your mind to a new thing.

For example, one time I was on a boat with many people. We were going to find the best place to go snorkeling. When we arrived at the spot the captain said that he was going to open the doors on the sides of the boat and that we were finally in Kealakekua Bay. Everyone was getting in the water with their snorkels, everyone but me. I was scared to go in the water. The way that I imagined it, when we got in the water and our snorkels would fill up with water and it would fall off when I was deep underwater. So, naturally I didn’t want to go in. Then after what felt like hours (3-5 minutes) I finally thought, “what if I didn’t do it that way?” What if instead I snorkeled a different way then I imagined? This opened up a new thought. So, I dove into the water with my mom and started to snorkel. I saw lots of beautiful fish that I knew I wouldn’t have seen if I hadn’t had courage.

Courage may be scary at times, or most of the time. For most people that doesn’t mean that it should keep them from doing fun things, or necessary things in our everyday lives. Ziplining from a high place, if you have a fear of heights, is an example of a fun thing. To get to your apartment (if you live in one) you may have to go up an elevator with a lot of people in it when you’re claustrophobic. This is why we need courage and why I need courage in my l life.