The Courage of Children: Boston and Beyond XXXI

John Maric-Sam
Ryan Kaplan and Jason Cornaglia, Teachers
Normandin Middle School, New Bedford, MA
When I was a young boy, I overcame my fear of talking to others. At the
beginning of kindergarten, I was scared to talk to others because I went to
a different school for preschool. I felt scared because I didn’t know anyone
there, or if they wanted me there.
After some time in the middle of the year, my teacher told us that later in the
week we would be doing a project and that we needed partners. It was a three
person group project, and I wanted to work alone. Since my teacher knew I
didn’t want to talk to others, she did not assign me partners.
“When I was a young
boy, I overcame my
fear of talking
to others.”
During the middle of the project, I was stuck on a question that was too hard
for me because I was still little. I wanted to ask my teacher, but I was too afraid
to talk. At the same time, I knew I needed to ask. I raised my hand, but put
it down right away. I was worried people’s eyes would be on me and I would
be too scared to go on. My teacher was doing paperwork and wasn’t paying
attention to me. But after some time, she took a look and saw my hand raised.
I was very nervous when I went up to her. I told her the problem I was stuck
on. She was surprised at how good my English was. After I told her, she helped
me. She told me that I had shown courage to talk to somebody.
She asked me if I could help and join two students called Alex and Javier. I
told her I would, and I helped them because I was ahead of them. I decided to
be their friend. I finally felt confident enough to make new friends and talk.
That was the first time I had ever made a friend. I made many more friends
throughout my years in that school.
The Courage of Children: Boston and Beyond
Volume XXXI
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