The Courage of Children: Boston and Beyond XXXI

Cian Quigley
Scott Larivee, Teacher
Mary Lyon K-8 School, Brighton, MA
Have you ever had a courageous moment in your life? What was it? Yes, I did
have a courageous moment in my life. My courageous moment was starting
to play hockey. Roy T. Bennett once said, “Believe in yourself. You are braver
than you think, more talented than you know, and capable of more than
you imagine.” That means to believe in yourself, to be courageous, and you
have more talent than you think you do. To me, courage means to believe in
yourself and be brave even if you think you can’t do it.
My courageous moment started when I wanted to play hockey in 2020. I was
scared and nervous. I thought I was going to get hurt. I really did want to
play, and all my friends were playing, but in my head I was saying what if you
are bad, or get hurt? I was nervous because I thought I was going to get made
fun of or be known for being bad at hockey. I made up my mind that I was
going to play.
When I told my mom and friend I wanted to sign up I was like AAGH, “I
want to sign-up,” AAGH. My friends said, “Let’s go.” They told me there were
tryouts in four weeks. One week later I started to get my stuff that I needed to
play hockey. I was really nervous. In three weeks I would have a hockey tryout.
I was so nervous I thought I was going to get made fun of.
“I learned that I
can be really good
at stuff if I try
and I’m brave.”
My dream is to be in the NHL, and that’s why I wanted to play hockey. I was
really excited for next year because I got to go with my friends. I learned that
I can be really good at stuff if I try and I’m brave. I hope I can get even better,
but I have to go to a lot of games and practice to get better. Now it is 2022,
and I’m with all of my friends and I go to all the games and practice. I’m
getting really fast, but I need some work on getting better with my stick. My
recommendation is to be brave and to try it even if you are scared.
Week after week came and then it was the day of tryouts. I was so scared and
nervous, I put my stuff on, but not my skates, and I was ready. Twenty minutes
later my mom drove me to the tryout. When I got there I got my skates on
and was ready to go on the ice. I got on the ice and started to play. I thought
I was doing really well for the first time ever playing. After the tryouts my
coach came over to me and said I did really well. I was pretty happy about that.
Quietly he told me I have to go down to Mites. I was pretty sad that I couldn’t
make it to the older team with all my friends, but my coach said I could go
right up with all my friends next year, which I was pretty happy about.
I played hockey that year, and I was the best on my team. I had a lot of goals,
and we did really well. We lost one tournament, but won the Matt Davis
Tournament. We took pictures with the trophy, and we all got medals. My
team and I were so happy that we won. The hockey season was over, and I had
to wait until next year. I was so happy to go up with the older kids and all my
friends next year. I was very scared and nervous, but I overcame my fear and
started to play hockey.
The Courage of Children: Boston and Beyond
Volume XXXI
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