The Courage of Children: Boston and Beyond XXXI

Azjargal Bayarbaatar
Odkhuu Khurelbaatar, Teacher
Od Complex School, Darkhan Province, Mongolia
Courage is not about being confident all the time. It is about winning over
your weaknesses. Two years ago I was a person with no self-confidence.
I did not value my own self-worth. I always valued others’ opinions more
than my own.
I would always do things to please others. It was never about me, it
was always about others. I wanted to be liked by others, I wanted to be
recognized by others. Other people’s opinions mattered. I did all these
things because I was just afraid to be alone. I needed to make friends by
pleasing them. That’s why I would say and do things that would earn me
friendship. I had the need to not feel alone, but to feel like I belonged.
“Being honest with
yourself is courage.”
Finally, I realized that I didn’t know my own self-value, worth, and
strength. I thought that the only way to feel worthy was by being with
and surrounded by people. Understanding the difference between
“being alone” and “feeling lonely” was an important step towards my
development as a human being. These are two totally different things.
It’s okay to be alone, to feel the worth inside you. It took me courage to
change my state of mind and to feel my own self-worth. It was a lesson
of courage for me to be able to tell people my own opinion regardless
if I agree or disagree with them without any fear of losing friendships
or being left alone. It was my true lesson of courage. Being honest with
yourself is courage.
For me courage is to recognize your weakness, face your challenges, and
know your own self-worth and value. Finding, recognizing, and valuing
your own true self is a path to true courage.
The Courage of Children: Boston and Beyond
Volume XXXI
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