GMC News
Word of the Week: Courage
Georgia Military College Prep School
Word of the Week: Courage
Week of March 6 – 12, 2016
Definition: A quality or spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear.
Quotable Quotes:
“If you could get up the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed.” – David Viscott
“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.” – Mark Twain
“Courage is the greatest of all virtues, because if you haven't courage, you may not have an opportunity to use any of the others.” – Samuel Johnson
“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.” – Anais Nin
“Courage is found in unlikely places.” – J. R. R. Tolkien
“We must have courage to bet on our ideas, to take the calculated risk, and to act. Everyday living requires courage if life is to be effective and bring happiness.” – Maxwell Maltz
Let’s Get to the Point:
When do you remember that first real experience of courage? Starting your first day of school? Asking someone out on that first date? Interviewing for that first job? Starting a new job? I do not think you can count on all your appendages how many times we have all had to use courage. There are days it takes courage just to get out of bed and start the day. We may not have ever been successful in life if not for us calling upon courage to see us through certain situations.
Putting Words into Action:
There are literally thousands of examples of courage pages in history. Male and female, different races, different religions, different beliefs, the backgrounds are as varied as the stories. People who did amazing things on the battlefields or in the world of medicine or science all have shown courage in their tasks. Soldiers are rewarded with the Medal of Honor for showing courage under fire. Actors win Oscars for their courage to portray a controversial character. Explorers who are willing to risk their lives in the name of science and discovery show courage in every step they take
Think About It:
It takes courage to stand up and speak for those who have no voice. How much courage does it take to step out of your comfort zone and help those who are not like you? Show some courage and do something that may make you feel uncomfortable even though you know it will make you feel amazing in the end.
Reflection
Courage is a word that should not be used lightly. Courage is defined as the ability to do something that frightens one. It also says that courage is strength in the face of pain or grief. When I hear these definitions, it reminds me of superheroes. The problem is that superheroes do not exist but regular heroes do. The real heroes do not wear capes. The real heroes have already signed a contract with Uncle Sam and are fighting for their country every day. That is why it is a great thing that I attend Georgia Military College Prep School because I get to see real heroes every day.
Now real courage is taking on a challenge even though all the odds are stacked against you. There are plenty of examples of this like playing a football game against a number one ranked team, fighting when you know you are outnumbered, or taking a test you studied for all night but you still do not understand the material.
The most basic example can be found in the Bible in 1 Samuel, Chapter Seventeen. Here one can find the story of David and Goliath. In this story, Goliath had the whole Israelite army afraid of him. Soldiers who had been in the army for years were shaking in their boots. David, just a teenager, came to the area where Goliath ruled and challenged him. Goliath was a nine foot tall, fully armored, well trained giant warrior. David only had a slingshot and 3 stones. When the fight started, Goliath mocked David and then charged at him. David slung his first stone at Goliath and it hit him in the forehead. Goliath fell to the ground and at this moment David rushed to grab Goliath’s sword and cut his head off. He was praised by the Israelites. If this is not the most perfect definition of courage, I do not know what is. As John Wayne once said “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”
C/1SG Devin Hill is a courageous leader at Georgia Military College Prep School
