Courage by Melody

Courage by Melody - August 2013 Scholarship Essay

Courage. Out of all the lessons I learned in school, there was one that really changed my life. One day, out of the blue, in the middle of a lesson on Chinese history, my teacher stopped to take a minute talk about bravery, and the courage to stand up for what we believe. He told us how, if nothing else, we had to remember to have courage to go after our dreams. That bullies will only effect you as much as you let them. That barriers are only there to stop the people who aren’t dedicated –not you. That even while education is important, happiness is more so. Those few minutes made me want to be a teacher, in spite of the lack of appreciation and minimal financial gains. He inspired me to get a masters degree. He motivated me to not just do one thing I don't enjoy because I would make more money, but instead to do everything I love, and make it work for the sake of my happiness. Because of him, I went on to learn that the hardest part of courage is that someone may think you are a fool, but that that shouldn't matter to you. All academics and other lessons aside...A couple minutes, and I decided to believe in myself. And from then on, my life changed.