Caroline's post

As many of my classmates know, my brother and I do not always get along. In fact, our relationship is much like the one in the poem. We have our moments of fun and peacefulness, but three out of five times that just turns into something not so positive. Sure, as the older sister, I have picked on him a few times (constantly), but he just does the same things back at me. I don’t know about him, but I don’t remember the majority of the things he does to me and I am sorry, for the most part, for my actions.

Lydia's Post

This is supposed to be from last week:

Recently, I did something courageous. I signed up for a 3 week long sailing program in the Caribbean Islands for this summer. The scary thing about this trip is that it is open only to people coming out of grades 9-12. This may not sound very courageous, but for me, the prospect of possibly being the youngest member of the group is truly frightening. However, I am glad I decided to take a chance and sign up for  something that I think will be one of the most memorable trips of my life.

Gabe's Post

My sisters Eva and Helena and I have always had an interesting relationship. When I was little, they would constantly harass me, whether it would be not letting me use the Playstation or putting fake spiders on my pillow. While I still haven't completely forgiven them for this, I still love them very much. They have helped me so much in life so I really can't get mad at them.

Hannah's Post

Harrison and I have a very interesting relationship. Sometimes we can't deal with eachother and then other times we laugh until our stomachs hurt. Harrison has been there for me and I like to think that I have been there for him. I know that next year is going to be really strange without coming home to a loud, annoying, chaotic little brother, but I think that my absence might bring us closer. I honestly can say that Harrison is one of my best friends even though we may not bring out the best in eachother. But we are a team and that will never change.

Sarahs Post =]

My sister, Amber and I, have a very close relationship. Sure we have our fights and differences, but those little things pull us tighter than ever. On the other hand, my brother, CJ and I, don't have the closest relationship ever. We bicker a lot about fairly immature things, and I just don't feel all too close with him. This year I've been working on getting to know my brother better, and I think it's starting to work. He's starting to come and talk to me about girl problems, school issues and asks me for advice- this makes me feel very accomplished. I'm proud of the relationship I have with my brother and sister, Phishfood and Chum, and I hope it grows stronger and stronger as the years go on.

Shad's Post

One time that I had to show courage was not to long ago when I stood up in front of Pine Point School and gave my 9th Grade Speech. I may not have shown it but I was ready to sit back down before I even got up. I pulled through and delivered a wonderful speech and helped myself with my own courage.

Zack's Post

I'm not trying to be a devil's advocate or rain on anybody's parade but a lot of what people already talked about, standing up for people, public speaking, admitting mistakes, getting out of bed everyday, I just do it because it has to be done, I more afraid of the consequences there are if I don't or because I'm hungry when I get up in the morning and if I don't walk as far as the kitchen I will never eat anything. More often in my life courage is less about standing up to a fear as much as just being too stupid to know it's there. I love climbing and I love to cheat death when I climb, but as often as not when I come to a place that's at the edge of my ability and there's a pretty good chance of getting hurt I back down. The gutsy moves come when there is no risk, when I'm invincible. I will either be overconfident in my ability or just choose to ignore the risk. Prime example, a few minutes ago I repelled out of my bedroom window on a complete whim. I was fine, but I was stupid. I didn't tell anybody what I was doing and even when I was taking safety precautions, I really had no idea if my bedpost could take the shock of a fall or if a figure-eight not was really the best to make an anchor with. I didn't have a secondary safety line so if my grip slipped I'd fall all the way, and to top it all off I hadn't repelled with a figure eight device before. The reason I did it was because I was convinced in my own ability and that I probably wouldn't suffer more than a sprained ankle in a fall (wrong! I definitely would have broken something looking at it from below). So I guess if doing something this stupid was courageous to do it was because I had to not even let fear enter the picture. Subconsciously I knew what I was doing, but I was just so gung-ho that it never occurred to me to be scared. And now that I've done it once, I think I'll go try again.

Timmy's Post

To me, courage is being able to look ahead and not be afraid. It is being able to brave the new day, to stand tall, and take whatever comes your way. Living life takes courage because you have to take things as they come, and, if not be ready for them, handle all problems to the best of your ability.

Julie's Post

I have to admit I haven't been very courageous throughout my life and I agree with Anna and Scarlet, life takes courage. For me, the most courageous everyday challenge of life is living life to its fullest. I have learned that every moment, every smile, and every word with someone is special. It takes courage to live life the way you want it to be lived, but it is the only way we can become stronger. It takes courage to live in the moment and live day by day, without thinking about all the bad things that might be coming soon. It takes courage to live in the present, learn from the past but forget the future.

Julie

Parker's Post

A couple years ago Gabe, my friend Alex, and I opened for a band at Alex's parent's party. It was nerve-wracking, up there on stage. We were not half as good as we are now, and it took courage to get up there and play, no matter what people thought. We ended up getting a huge applause, and many "good jobs" as we made our way through the crowd. Last night we actually did the same thing, opening for the same band at the same party. We played much better, but most of all we had a lot of fun.

Kyle's Post

For me to have courage I have to know what it is right? What is courage to me? Courage is speaking in front of 300 people, it's defending someone you care for, it's meeting new people, it's parting with old friends. All of these things contain a small essence of courage and all of these are things that regular people like myself do everyday.

Tristan's Post!

I don't need courage to rappel off of cliffs. I don't need courage to have myself thrown off of a giant pile of sand with only a glider to save me. I don't need courage to ride a mountain bike through a part of the trail known only as "The Grand Canmyon" (It's supposed to be spelled 'Canmyon'.) I need courage to get up twice a week and purposefully embarrass myself to get people to come to the rock climbing club. I need courage to eat a banana on stage while dancing to Soulja Boy in front of seventy girls expecting something ghetto. The point being, that I like to try to make people laugh (it doesn't always work...). One occupational hazard of trying to do this, is that I will often get the "awkward silence" rather than the "roaring applause". Fortunately, I have friends that I find everything that they do funny, and they (hopefully) find everything that I do funny (Parker, I'm looking at YOU).

Anna's Post

Life requires courage. As Scarlet so rightly said, it takes strength to make your way out of bed each morning. Like food or water or the air that fills our lungs, courage is essential for a fulfilled life. I run the risk of rejection as I give my heart to the people I care for. It takes courage to love. I use my courage to imagine, letting my mind glide along the gilded passageways of the unknown without the fear of falling. I use courage to be honest with myself, facing the cold hard truths that life throws like bullets. In many ways, happiness requires bravery. I have to courage to smile.

Wendell's Post

One thing that I have done that is courageous is admitting to mistakes. Giving someone the truth about what you did, mostly not appropriate but sometimes good, is a courageous act. I have had many chances to admit to mistakes. Mainly at home I have done this, but school too. For example, in English class, we call forgetting to do our homework a mistake, and I have done this on occasion.

Ceilie's Post

I'm not courageous, in fact I'm the opposite. I'm scared. I have a long list of things I'm afraid of. I let people's harsh words get to me. I keep things bottled up because I'm too scared of feeling weak when my friends try to comfort me. I've done things for the thrill of it, but it didn't take a pep talk to convince me to do it. When being introduced to new people I put up a guard because I fear their opinions on who I really am. I'm not brave or courageous or fearless, but there's a large part of me that wishes that someday I can be. 

Hannah's Post

This topic has been by far the most difficult to think about. I have been courageous by standing before the class and giving a presentation, even though I hate public speaking and by going outside my comfort zone and going to a nursing home for the eighth grade assessment project. But for me, the most courageous thing I have done occured this year over the last few months. Over these last few months I have learned to voice my opinion no matter how difficult and intimidating it may be. I have realized that if you don't communicate and speak your mind, things may not go the way you planned. I have realized that communitcation is key wheather it's with your friends, family or teachers and that I have learned a good lesson.

Scarlet's Post

I have been thinking about this topic all week long. What have I voluntarily done that was courageous? I couldn't think of something. Yes, I've ridden a roller coaster but only because I had to. Yes, I've ridden an airplane but with my father next to me. And sometimes I stick up for people but not as often as I should. Then a thought came to my mind. Isn't living everyday courageous? Getting up in the morning requires a relative amount of strength. Going throughout your day and not being afraid of a car hitting you on your way home, of having your heart broken, or of you future. I do these things everyday. No, I am not fighting a war overseas or standing up for what I believe in. But I am living life fearlessly and that takes courage all on it's own.

Sarahs Post=]

Riding a roller coaster may look like fun, but staring up at the towering tracks for the first time is horrifying. Last year, Caroline asked me if I liked roller coasters, and I, of course, lied and said yes. The next thing I knew I was standing with her and Parker at Six Flags. I had made a promise to her that I'd ride every roller coaster with her, but to tell you the truth, I definitely knew I wasn't going to. I knew that Parker too was afraid of roller coasters, and that it wouldn't be so bad watching Caroline twirl from unimaginable heights if Parker was their laughing too. Caroline does take promises very seriously though, and dragged me onto Batman- a very large roller coaster. I was terrified out of my mind, but I kept telling myself I can do this. Within ten minutes, Caroline, Parker and I were swirling in the hot, sticky air and I was having the time of my life. My braveness lead to a wonderful outcome in this instance, and I'm glad that Caroline made me keep to my promise.

Gabe's Post

The one time i can really remember being courageous was when i used to have to fly to Illinois by myself. Even though flying solo isn't as big of a deal for me now, 5 years ago it was pretty frightening. Even still, i mustered up the strength to get on the plane without my parents and travel.