The Courage of Children: Boston and Beyond XXXI

Jigmedsuren Enkhjin
Selenge Enkhbold, Teacher
Sant Soum Secondary School,
Sant Soum, Selenge Province, Mongolia
In this essay, I will tell you a little story that happened to me when I was seven
years old. I remember this story very clearly, even though it happened when
I was a little child.
I was selected to perform a solo dance for the School Art Competition. I
like to sing and dance, but I hadn’t participated in any dance competitions
before. I was worried and felt anxious. Maybe for some people it is a joy, but
for me it was a huge burden to be in competition. I had to learn new dance
movements in five days.
“...We have to be brave
because everything
depends on courage.”
On the day of the art competition, the soum club was full of children who
dressed up, put on makeup, and did special hairdos. It’s a lot of fun for them
to run around like that, and the music teachers scolded them for being
disruptive. The children were running around me. My mom helped me put
on my dance clothes and makeup. My mom kept telling me that I must put
a smile on my face and keep that smile until the end of my performance.
She said, “Well, darling, good luck!” The moderator announced, “Enkhjin
Jigmedsuren, a second grade student of Sant Soum Secondary School, is
ready to perform on stage!” My legs didn’t really want to go on stage, but I
had to overcome my fears and take a bold step. When my class teacher said,
“Come out, girl,” I didn’t want to, but I straightened my head and walked
forward. When I put on my green silk robe and stood in front of a crowd of
children waiting for the dance music to begin, all the fear, anxiety, worry,
and panic were gone. I didn’t need to remember the movements, I just felt
like my body was moving, and I felt like I was alone. Remembering my mom’s
sweet advice, I smiled from the beginning to end and finished my dance.
Not everyone applauded, only a handful appreciated me. For me it was a
victory over fear. For me it was a story of courage. This little story instilled in
me the idea that we don’t have the ability to do everything, but we have to be
brave because everything depends on courage. As for me, I’m still nervous
before I go on stage, but I always say to myself, be brave, and my legs move
forward, and my eyes shine in the bright light of the stage.
The Courage of Children: Boston and Beyond
Volume XXXI
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