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Essay About Courage: Top 5 Examples and 6 Prompts 

Courage covers a range of topics and meanings. Here are examples and prompts to help you write your essay about courage.

Many believe bravery and courage mean the same thing and even use them interchangeably. However, though both describe heroic acts, they are not the same. Where bravery is the lack of fear, courage is taking action despite it. 

Some argue that courage takes more strength because it means sharing your story even though you may be ridiculed, rejected, and misunderstood. It takes courage to admit when you’re hurt or feel lost, vulnerable, and need help. 

If you’re having problems channeling and describing what courage is, here are examples that will assist you in connecting with this subject:

1. My Opinion About Courage by Gary Collins

2. moral courage by fernando wood, 3. courage by benjamin patrick, 4. the importance of courage by saloni, 5. essay on courage by manasi shewale, 1. what does courage mean to you, 2. your most courageous act, 3. a courageous hero, 4. things you are most afraid of, 5. what creates doubt, 6. a time when you failed to show courage and regretted it.

“And even then, she had no grudge against the world. She doesn’t think the world owes her. She never takes money or even grains that she hasn’t earned.”

In this essay, Collins shares his experience with courage through someone named Sunita. Sunita told Collins about her life and what made her who she is. Such as at a very young age, she fought to support herself because no one would have done that for her, and many other tales. 

Her stories made Collins realize how lucky he is and how he should be grateful for the many opportunities that come his way without the need to suffer as she did. He also includes that Sunita lives on to inspire others with her courage.

Check out these essays about beliefs .

“Moral courage is standing up for values such as honesty, fairness, compassion, respect, and responsibility but just having these values are not enough we have to try to put them into practice, and we have to commit to moral principles as well…”

Moral courage is doing what’s right and following what your conscience dictates. Wood has three significant elements of moral courage: principle, endurance, and danger.

He explains moral courage through Geoge Norris, Nelson Mandela, and Malala Youssafzai. These people took risks even if their lives were in danger to follow their conscience and do the right things. Wood instills that moral courage is essential in making a critical move, especially when choosing the greater good.

“Courage is the only thing that gets us through the hard times, and the tempting opportunities. Courage is vital to the evolution of the human population. It is also an essential quality to becoming a successful person.”

Patrick discusses how courage helps a person succeed in life. He mentions that we all have courage, but some use it differently than others.

He gives an example of a girl who plays hockey, where the other members are all boys. They looked down on her because of her gender. But instead of giving up, she took it as a challenge and courageously showed them she could play at their level. She became friends with most of the team, but there was one boy who kept on bullying her. The boy misused his courage, but the girl used her courage to fight him off.

“Courage is mental and moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. It is the firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty.”

Saloni’s essay shows two kinds of courage: physical and moral. People who depend on physical strength show physical courage. They can protect and help others. If a person is weak, they are not physically courageous. 

On the other hand, one’s honesty connects to their moral courage. They are the ones with convictions and don’t support evil works. Even if you are a weak person, you can still be morally courageous. Unfortunately, this courage is rare nowadays because people are afraid of being attacked mentally and emotionally. To be morally courageous means to be a fighter to go against wrong-doings.

“It is very difficult to keep up your morals and therefore, gather up the necessary courage to fight against the wrong situations. Therefore, in today’s date, it is even rarer to find a person with the proper morals required to live a satisfactory life.”

Shewale shares little acts of courage in our everyday lives – such as a girl who loves to dance but is afraid of the stage or a person who’s readying themselves for a job interview. Courage is not only shown in grand scenes but in small acts that help us survive our daily lives.

The author further discusses events where courage helps in more controversial fields, such as injustices to farmers and students’ bullying. 

If you want to upgrade your writing style, check out these top essay writing tips to level up your essay.

6 Prompts on Essay About Courage

After reading relevant examples in essays about courage, it’s now your turn to try your hand at creating one. Below are prompts that can guide you in your essay writing:

There is no one definition of courage. It differs from each individual, and its meaning is affected by our experiences and knowledge. In this prompt, share the word “courage” and discuss what courage means to you. When do you feel courageous, and why? Then, describe personal experiences of being courageous or stories of courageous people who inspire you.

Think about a time when you were courageous. Create an essay based on this event and describe in detail what happened. Convey your thoughts and feelings, and show why you were courageous. 

Essay About Courage: A Courageous Hero

Write an essay about a hero in your life. This could be a celebrity you admire, a relative or friend, or a teacher in school. Describe why this person is courageous, why you look up to them, and how they inspire you. Make sure to include fine details of their personality and how they act. This will make for an exciting and compelling essay.

The first step to being courageous is acknowledging you are afraid. Then, to get your fears out of the way, you need to identify what and why they exist. This prompt lets you connect with your readers who have the same worries. 

For example, you can share that you’re afraid of rejection, being alone, etc. Then, discuss why and what you plan to do to overcome them. You can also write about how you plan to be courageous while still afraid.

Our greatest challenge to succeeding in something is doubting ourselves. When we doubt ourselves, we start to think of all the things that can go wrong. So we show our courage by being afraid of these negative consequences but still trying and hoping for a good result. 

Share an experience when you still tried, even when you’re unsure. It doesn’t need to have the best ending. You only have to prove that it’s better to try and fail than fail without trying at all. 

There will always be times when we desperately want to be more courageous but fail to do so due to various factors. Write about that experience, share your feelings, and what you’ll do if you have the chance to repeat that situation. 

Do you want to write about another topic aside from courage? Check out this list of best writing topics for students !

conclusion for courage essay

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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Global Peace Careers

5 Inspiring Essays on Courage

Courage is a value held in high regard. There are countless quotes and explanations of what “courage” is. Some believe it’s the same as being fearless, while others say that courage is doing the right thing even if you’re afraid. Brene Brown says that “You can choose courage, or you can choose comfort, but you can’t choose both.” Courage is about stepping outside of what’s familiar and comfortable. Here are five essays exploring what courage looks like:

“The Gift and Power of Emotional Courage” (2017) – Susan David

While technically not an essay, the transcript from this 2017 TEDTalk (and the speech itself) is a powerful exploration of emotional courage. Dr. Susan David, who lost her father when she was 15, describes how she dealt with grief. Societies often encourage people to suppress these types of emotions. She talks about a “radical acceptance” of every emotion, even the hard ones, and how this acceptance is necessary for true happiness. This acceptance isn’t easy. It takes courage. She has an especially poignant way of describing courage: she calls it “fear walking.”

Dr. Susan David is a world-leading management thinker and Harvard Medical School psychologist. She’s also an author and contributor to publications like The Harvard Business Review, New York Times, and more. David lectures around the world for clients like the United Nations, Google, and the World Economic Forum.

“Profile in Courage” (2004) – Dana Calvo

The photo of a single protester facing off a line of tanks is one of history’s most iconic images. In this essay from Smithsonian Magazine, readers learn the story behind it. In 1989, students from over three dozen universities gathered in Tiananmen Square to protest government corruption, joblessness, and attacks on free speech. The government declared martial law, sending tens of thousands of troops to the area. Violence erupted. Several hundred protesters were killed, thousands wounded. The story of the photograph, taken by 33-year old Jeff Widener of the Associated Press, is a story of courage.

Dana Calvo is a former national and foreign journalist. She now works in television.

“This Is A Crisis of Civil-Military Relations” (2020) – Eliot A. Cohen

In this piece, author Eliot Cohen examines what’s going on with military leadership in the age of the Trump administration. While these people are willing to “take a bullet” for America and take on responsibility for the “gravest decisions anyone can make,” they must now show a different kind of courage. Under President Trump’s leadership, the military brass must stand up and risk getting fired. While this essay describes a specific situation between two incredibly powerful branches of American society, it taps into the essence of courage. Courage comes with risks. It often requires people to risk something they didn’t anticipate losing.

Eliot A. Cohen is the dean of The John Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. He served as the Counselor of the Department of State from 2007-2009. A contributing writer at The Atlantic, he’s also the author of The Big Stick: The Limits of Soft Power and the Necessity of Military Force.

“How To Find and Practice Courage” (2020) – Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

This essay opens with a story of a CEO who went against shareholder advice to do what he believed was right, even as he feared the consequences. What gave him courage? Had it always been there under the surface? If you’re interested in brain science and the psychology behind courage, this is a great piece. At the end, it offers techniques on how to “practice courage,” such as going out of your comfort zone and taking care of your body when it’s afraid.

Manfred F.R. Kets de Vries is a psychoanalyst, management scholar, and executive coach. At INSEAD in France, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore , he is the Distinguished Clinical Professor of Leadership Development and Organizational Change. He wrote Down the Rabbit Hole of Leadership: Leadership Pathology in Everyday Life (2018).

“The Six Attributes of Courage” – Melanie Greenberg

What is courage? It’s something most people recognize when they see it, but there are different kinds of courage. In this essay, Dr. Greenberg briefly describes six defining characteristics of courage. She uses quotes from people like Nelson Mandela, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and others. Attributes include following your heart and letting go of what’s familiar and comfortable. The piece concludes with a courage-building exercise.

Dr. Melanie Greenberg is a psychologist, speaker, author, and coach. Her book The Stress-Proof Brain is an Amazon bestseller. She travels the world giving talks to non-profits, businesses, and professional organizations. Active on Twitter, she has been featured in media like CNN, Forbes, BBC Radio, and more.

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Essay on Courage – What is Courage Essay and Importance of Courage Essay in English

June 16, 2021 by Manasi Shewale Leave a Comment

Table of Contents

What is Courage?

If we go to see for the actual or literal meaning of courage, it refers to “an act of bravery or to do a challenging task without being afraid”. Now, when we speak of doing a challenging or a difficult task that does not mean to go and act rashly or do some unlawful thing.

A courageous act can be a small act also which is done when a person overcomes his fear and then goes and performs the act. It can be anything, for example, a small girl who loves dancing but is afraid of the stage where she must perform. When she overcomes her fear and becomes brave enough to perform her dance, it is called a courageous act.

Why is Courage Important?

To be courageous or to have that much confidence to overcome our fear is courage. We fight our fear in our daily lives as well. For example, when a person goes for an interview, he or she will feel some kind of nervousness or anxiety or insecurity about his/ her skills.

These feelings and the emotional state of mind can affect one’s behavior and therefore, have a bad effect on his/ her interview. Therefore, it can be said that being courageous enough to make use of the given opportunity is a very essential factor in today’s world of competition.

We all know the hardships faced by every working person in our country. The hardships regarding studies, career, a person having a very good (but stressful) job, etc. all require some or the other courageous input to achieve the goal.

Even the first day of our college needs us to gather up some courage and make some good self-introduction and make some friends. The first impression is the best (or the last) impression. This is the most famous saying and therefore, we need to have enough courage to stand up for ourselves and make an impression.

Now, as there are some above mentioned situations where we need courage for our own benefit, similarly, there are other situations where we need to be brave, not for our benefit but for the entire society or our environment, etc.

For example, it takes courage for a person to fight against the injustice faced by him or his fellow companion. The best example of this can be of the farmers. Today’s situation of the farmers’ financial condition and the ongoing summer season is going to take a heavy toll on the farmer to earn the daily bread.

To fight against this condition, they need many things but courage will be the most basic thing required by all to at least stand up against the situation and demand for their rights.

There are many other unjust events happening in our daily lives, for example, eve teasing, a very bad aspect of today’s modern world. A girl has to face such rude and humiliating behavior everyday and neither the girl says anything against it nor does the people around her come to her aid to support if she is courageous enough to oppose to such public humiliation.

This is the real problem that is along with courage, one needs proper support and guidance to fight such events and bring out a change for the betterment of the society.

All these were examples of how a person needs courage and proper morals to fight for the injustice faced by himself and others. It is very difficult to keep up your morals and therefore, gather up the necessary courage to fight against the wrong situations.

Therefore, in todays date, it is even rarer to find a person with the proper morals required to live a satisfactory life.

Another aspect of having courage comes with adventurous activities. This type of courage is required to go on carrying physical adventurous activities. Many people of scared of adventures and therefore, they do not know how exhilarating it feels after completing the adventurous tasks or activity.

For example, a person wants to go scuba diving or sky diving but is afraid of the water or the height and the speed or maybe the pressure or anything which he finds will hurt him physically. Now, a person needs courage to overcome this fear and therefore, go ahead and live that adventure.

No third person is involved in pushing away one’s fear in case of such physical activities. The person should be brave enough and should have that mind set, that yes, he needs to jump of the cliff (adventure only) and then only will he be able to live the adventure and enjoy it to the fullest.

There are similar sensitive topics where courage is the need. We have the required strength to fight against the black holes but we do not have enough courage or we do not have the trigger that is needed to fight these social demons as well as our personal fears.

Courage is not a feeling neither is it an emotion, it is a trigger which when triggered with enough force can make wonders and bring in a change in his life as well as in the society to live the better and face the bitter aspects of life.

These are different aspects of life which may include some adventures, some social stressful situations, personal issues, etc. which require courage at both, physical as well as the moral level to overcome the fear and be brave enough to live our lives satisfactorily.

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About Manasi Shewale

Manasi Shewale loves to read novels and review them inturn. She is an avid reader of various topics of scientific interest in Chemistry and Biology.

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Essay on Personal Courage

Students are often asked to write an essay on Personal Courage in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Personal Courage

What is personal courage.

Personal courage is being brave in the face of fear. It’s about doing the right thing, even when it’s hard. Imagine standing up to a bully or speaking in front of a class. It takes guts to face challenges and not run away.

Types of Courage

There are many kinds of courage. Physical courage is about risking your safety. Moral courage means standing up for your beliefs. Emotional courage involves sharing your feelings, even if you might get hurt.

Why It Matters

Courage is important because it helps us grow. When we are brave, we can make new friends, learn new things, and become stronger inside. It’s like a muscle that gets better the more you use it.

Examples in Everyday Life

You show courage when you try new foods, ask a question in class, or help someone who is in trouble. It’s not just for superheroes; it’s for everyone, every day.

Building Personal Courage

You can become braver by practicing. Start with small things, like riding a bike without training wheels. Each brave act makes the next one easier. Remember, it’s okay to be scared; what matters is that you don’t let fear stop you.

250 Words Essay on Personal Courage

Personal courage is the strength to face fear, pain, or challenges. It’s like being a superhero in real life, but instead of fighting bad guys, you’re battling your own fears. It’s not about being fearless, but about choosing to move forward even when you’re scared.

Types of Personal Courage

There are two main types: physical and moral. Physical courage means you can stand up to physical pain or danger, like defending a friend in trouble. Moral courage is standing up for what’s right, like speaking the truth even when it’s not easy.

Why is it Important?

Courage is key to growing up. It helps us try new things, like making a new friend or learning to swim. It also helps us stand up for ourselves and others. With courage, we can face bullies or admit when we’ve made a mistake.

How to Build Courage

Building courage takes practice. It’s like a muscle that gets stronger the more you use it. You can start with small challenges, like asking a question in class. Each time you face a fear and overcome it, you become a little braver.

In conclusion, personal courage is a special power we all have inside us. It helps us face tough times and do the right thing. Remember, being courageous doesn’t mean you aren’t afraid; it means you’re brave enough to go on despite the fear.

500 Words Essay on Personal Courage

Personal courage is about being brave and facing your fears. It’s not just for superheroes or soldiers; it’s for everyone. Imagine standing in front of a crowd to give a speech or trying something new like riding a bike for the first time. That feeling in your stomach, like butterflies fluttering, is fear. Being courageous means you go ahead and do it, even though you’re scared.

Courage comes in many forms. Sometimes it’s doing something big, like moving to a new city. Other times, it’s small, like asking a question in class. Physical courage is when you might get hurt, like falling off a bike. Moral courage is when you stand up for what’s right, like telling the truth even if it gets you in trouble.

Why Is It Important?

Being brave helps us grow. When you try new things, you learn and become stronger. It’s like a muscle; the more you use it, the stronger it gets. Courage also helps us to be good friends and family members. When we stand up for others, we show that we care and are willing to protect them.

Stories of Courage

Think about your favorite stories. Many of them have brave characters, like Harry Potter fighting a dragon. These stories inspire us. They show us that even when things are hard, we can be brave and do what’s right.

You can become more courageous. Start with small steps. If you’re afraid of talking to new people, start by just saying “hi” to someone. Keep practicing, and soon, you’ll be having full conversations. Remember, it’s okay to be scared. Everyone is scared sometimes. The key is to not let fear stop you.

Personal Courage in Everyday Life

You don’t have to fight dragons to be brave. Personal courage is also about standing up to bullies, trying a food you’ve never eaten before, or admitting when you’ve made a mistake. It’s about being honest with yourself and others.

Encouraging Others

When you see someone else being brave, cheer them on. Tell them they did a good job. It can make a big difference. And when someone encourages you, it feels good and helps you keep being brave.

Personal courage is a special kind of bravery that everyone has inside them. It’s about facing your fears, big or small, and doing the right thing even when it’s hard. By being brave, we learn, grow, and can help others. Remember, it’s okay to start small, and with each brave step, you’ll become more courageous. So, next time you’re feeling a little scared, take a deep breath, and remember that you have the power to be brave.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

  • Essay on How I Spent My Holiday
  • Essay on Personal Challenges
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Essays on Courage

Courage is an important trait, as it helps people to get through difficult times and cope with any challenges – you can explore this and more in your courage essay. Each day as we wake, we have courage in the face of the unknown. Many authors of courage essays think that courage and fear are mutually exclusive, but it is the other way around – there can be no courage without fear, as courage means acting regardless of fear, overcoming it. Some essays on courage note that what opposes courage is cowardice – a trait that people should strive to cast away, as it affects self-esteem and can stop people’s progress in life, leaving them unfulfilled. Peruse our courage essay samples if you want your essay to be more informational. We handpicked samples of essays for you to read – please find them below!

The Novel "Profiles of Courage" The novel "Profiles of Courage" is made up of a number of brief volume biographies that describe various acts of daring and courage performed by various US senators. In theory, these lawmakers contributed significantly to the development of democracy and government in contemporary American society. They...

Words: 1214

Masada, which in Hebrew translates as "fortress," is a location of magnificence and royal splendor and is unique in the eyes of Jews who still regard it as delightfully the last trench defended by a small number of Jewish Zealots against the Roman assault in 73 AD. The group that...

Words: 1840

During the interview, search for fairness, loyalty, modesty, bravery, dedication, devotion, zeal, positivity, trust, intelligence, resolve, empathy, and compassion in the leader.Throughout his technical and leadership roles, the interviewed leader displayed the above attributes. Furthermore, the leader demonstrated confidence, intellect, and maturity in his leadership positions. Notably, the leaders instilled...

Words: 1200

An Antihero: Faust in Johann Wolfgang von Goethe s Faust An antihero is a protagonist character in a given story that lacks the characteristics synonymous with a traditional hero, such as morals, bravery, and idealism. The antihero can often be depicted as doing the right thing, although this is often driven...

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi: A Brave and Valiant Mongoose Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is a short story in The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling. It's the story of a young Indian grey mongoose who is brave and valiant. The story has been anthologized and published in various versions as a short book. We will look at its...

The Cheyenne people are the westernmost tribes of the Algonquin band. They used to live far to the east of where they now live. They remained in set settlements and engaged in practices such as land farming, but they later relocated to the west and southwest, leaving some of their...

Words: 1483

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Moral Bravery and Whistleblowing Moral bravery is the desire to do the right thing regardless of the repercussions that might follow. Whistleblowers must choose between remaining anonymous to secure their careers, which are critical to their livelihoods, and disclosing the illegality they find in their workplaces. In the case of WorldCom,...

Mother Courage and Her Children is irrefutably one of the most huge play in the 20th century and has been played in many components of the world attracting big crowds, it is currently the biggest antiwar play of all time. It was written by a German dramatist, and due to...

Words: 1097

The provided study of the theme of bravery is based and focused on a single narrative with a strong thematic emphasis and intrigues. The tale is a very lively and handy source of many outstanding thematic lessons of considerable worth and taste. It is one of Kate Chopin's finest works...

Courage in Literature Courage is the desire or option to face agony, intimidation, discomfort, the threat of confusion. Its synonyms are courage and bravery. It may be either actual or spiritual. Physical courage is defined as bravery in the face of suffering, death, or adversity. On the other hand, moral bravery...

Words: 1219

In Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird, he highlights several examples of bravery and heroism in the small Alabama town that is mocked for its social tensions and suffering. Throughout the two years that they spent in Alabama, the novel focuses on Finch's family. Scout, Jem, Atticus, and Tom...

Words: 1585

Nikos Kazantzakis was born in a tumultuous environment in which Create was battling for its independence. He defines his father as a fierce individual who instilled in his son a sense of human integrity, bravery, and love/or pride in becoming a Cretan person. His mother, on the other hand, was...

Words: 1621

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Essay on Courage

Barbara Miller

Writing a courage essay is an engaging task allowing students to express their viewpoint on bravery and showcase their writing and analytical skills. This subject seems too broad, which may be a stumbling point for inexperienced students. Actually, there are many courage aspects to tell about in your essay. If you have been assigned to create a courage essay, read the article to find a guide and ideas.

Table of Contents

What is Courage Essay?

A courage essay is a type of academic assignment in which a student describes what courage means to them. Writers can tell about heroic personalities from books and movies or real life as well as heroic acts. It’s great to write about your own moments of bravery. An essay on courage celebrates acts of bravery and overcoming fears and doubts. This written assignment may take different types, like descriptive, analytical, argumentative, and expository; and style, like clearing, defining, and illustrating courage.

An essay on courage, like any other essay type, consists of an introduction, body, and conclusion. The introductory part presents your theme and gives background info and a thesis statement. Your essay may include three body paragraphs providing core arguments and evidence. You should start each paragraph with a topic sentence and ensure they relate to your thesis. In the conclusion, you tie the main points together and prove the importance of your essay and argument.

Best Courage Essay Ideas for You

Courage is quite a subjective concept that is not easy to define. People define it in their own way based on experiences and values. So what to tell about in your courage essay to engage readers and self-express? Here’s a list of useful essay ideas to describe bravery.

The Meaning of Courage

Since courage is a multi-faceted concept, you are free to write what courage means to you. An essay writer can tell when they felt courageous and why. It’d be great to describe remarkable and simple deeds done by you or someone else. You can use stories of courage from fiction or movies to diversify your view on bravery.

What Makes People Doubt

Many things make us doubt, and courage helps us overcome fear and start doing something. A courage essay may tell about how you try and hope for good results regardless of fears and doubts. It may be your own experience or someone else’s story of doubts to try. You know that it’s better to try and fail than regret the whole life about the lack of courage.

Courage to Be Yourself

Another great idea for an essay on courage is to tell about the bravery of being who you are. You can speak of your experience of overcoming insecurities and standing out of the crowd. It’s also possible to tell a story of real people or fictional characters who remain true to themselves despite any challenges.

How to Build Courage

You can create an essay giving tips for developing courage. There are different factors influencing how our courage is manifested, like environment, genetics, personality, etc.

The Time When You Failed to Show Courage

We cannot always be brave, and there are cases when one wants to be more courageous but fails. Do not be ashamed of these experiences and feelings to show how you evolved.

Courage Thesis Statement

As you know, an integral part of a courage essay is an introduction that contains a thesis statement. Your thesis statement asks a question about an issue of courage you explore. It is a sentence that includes the main idea. A strong thesis statement is concise and coherent. For example, courage is vital for everyone, but how to not be afraid of courageous acts?

Courage and Heroism Essay

Students can generate courage and heroism essays based on well-known movies and fictional characters. It’s useful for those who aren’t familiar with real heroes and heroic acts. Your courage and heroism essay should tell what inspires you in a courageous person and their deeds. You can even describe in your essay several heroic personalities from real life and fiction.

If you need help with writing your courage essay, contact our writers.

What are the 5 types of courage?

There are five courage types: physical, emotional, intellectual, social, and moral. You can describe one of these types in your courage essay.

What can I write about courage?

Courage is a subjective concept, so you can write about different courage aspects, your perception of bravery, interesting courage examples from life and fiction, fears, and doubts.

Why is courage important in life?

Courage helps us be ourselves, achieve goals, and not be afraid of failing.

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Essay on Courage | Meaning, Types, & Purpose of Courage in Life

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Courage is often described as a virtue representing one’s ability to perform actions despite external threats, social sanctions or internal fears, and is considered to be a defining quality of a hero.

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So, the simple answer to this question is that courage is doing something despite fear, but courage is actually much more than that. Courage is the ability to do what you feel is right in spite of external pressure or personal fears; It’s not about being completely unafraid, or not fearing anything.

Essay on Courage | Meaning, Value & Necessity having Courage in Life Essay for Students

Courage is calling out sexism when you see it, even if it might make you unpopular. It’s saying no when someone makes a pass at you, even though they may turn violent. Courage is standing up for yourself and others when a group of people are making racist jokes about minorities, even though those people may be stronger than you.

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Courage is lacking the will to run away from your responsibilities, the will to stand up for yourself and others if you can see that they are wronged, or even just refraining from saying something stupid because there’s a chance people will laugh at you.

Types of Courage

There are three main types of courage: physical, moral and existential. Physical courage is the type that most people think of when they hear the word ‘courage’: The bravery to face any kind of physical pain or difficulty, especially in dangerous circumstances. Moral courage is the ability to do what’s right even when it means standing up for yourself or other people in the face of opposition. Existential courage is the ability to come to terms with existential problems, big or small, that may arise in life.

Importance of Courage in Life

Courage is a refusal to allow external pressure or personal fears to prevent you from doing what you know is right. It’s not about being completely unafraid, or not fearing anything; it’s the ability to do what you feel is right in spite of external pressure or personal fears. So, courage is not about never feeling afraid or always being heroic and overcoming your fears; it’s about acknowledging that fear exists but choosing to do what you think is right anyway.

Courage isn’t just important in life because it’s necessary for doing good things that need to be done, but also because it has positive effects on your mental health. Many of the people who are brave enough to call out sexism, racism, bigotry, homophobia, etc.

How to develop Courage?

”Courage is the first of human qualities because it’s the quality which guarantees all others.’ ‘- Winston Churchill.

So, gathering courage isn’t an easy task but if you want to be courageous you have to start by cultivating your bravery, self-confidence and self-esteem. You can begin this process by gradually working towards facing your fears. You can start with small things that you’re a bit afraid of and work your way up to bigger obstacles over time. Once you face a fear, it becomes less scary, so this process will help you feel more empowered and build confidence.

What Courage teaches us?

‘Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyways.’ – John Wayne

So, if you’re a student courage can teach you a lot of great things. Courage teaches students the importance of seeing things through to the end no matter what obstacles may come their way. Many times life will hand us some pretty big setbacks and it’s important to have the courage to push through them anyway. If you’re a student who’s facing several struggles, don’t let these roadblocks stop you from working towards your goals.

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Thus, in this article i have tried to elaborate the importance of courage in life. In a nutshell, i can say that when our minds are capable of overcoming fear and doing what we know is right in spite of opposition, when we have the strength to stand up for ourselves and others despite what might happen, then we’re truly living courageously.

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English Summary

Short Essay on Courage in English for Students

C ourage is the ability to face any dangerous or painful situation. Courage can be physical or moral. Physical courage is when one can face any physical pain. Moral courage is to do the right things in every situation. We have many examples of courageous people like freedom fighters and soldiers.

Courage comes from many things. Some people have courage in them and some people learn it. Confidence plays an important role. One can face a difficult situation when one is confident about one’s skills.

conclusion for courage essay

Knowledge is also important because it helps to know how to deal with some situations. Some people train themselves with time to fight their fears. They do not run away and try to face those things which make them afraid. Moral courage comes from a strong will. A person always does the right thing if he knows that goodness is always rewarded.

Courage is good quality and it helps a person in many ways. It increases one’s confidence and he can do things easily. Courage helps a person to experience many situations. This helps him to know about different places, people, things. It also helps a person to live a true live. He does the right thing and so he lives happily. Such people are always admired by everyone and he becomes an example for others. This makes the entire society good.

Courage is a quality which we all should learn. It is a quality which helps us to stand against any wrongdoings. We should remember that even our small contribution can change society.

What is the importance of courage?

Courage helps to develop your personality. It helps to face the situations by being bold and wise. One should have both physical and moral courage.

What are the different kinds of courage?

These are different kinds of courage

  • Physical Courage
  • Moral Courage
  • Spiritual Courage
  • Emotional Courage
  • Social Courage
  • Intellectual Courage

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100, 150, 200, 250 & 300 Words Paragraph & Essay About Courage

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Table of Contents

A Paragraph about Courage in 100 Word

Courage is a remarkable quality found in brave individuals. It is the ability to face fear, challenges, and hardships with determination. Courageous people do not let their fears stop them from taking risks and standing up for what is right. They show bravery by speaking up against injustice, helping others in need, and trying new things, even when they are scared. Courage can be seen in everyday acts of kindness, like standing up to a bully or trying something new, like riding a bike for the first time. It takes courage to face challenges and overcome them. Having courage is like having superpowers that make us stronger and more confident.

A Paragraph about Courage in 150 Word

Courage is a quality that shows strength and bravery in difficult or challenging situations. It takes a lot of courage to face our fears and overcome them. For example, imagine a person who is afraid of heights. They might feel scared and nervous when going up a tall building or riding a roller coaster. However, if they are able to push past their fears and take a step forward, that shows great courage. Courage can also be seen in everyday acts of kindness and standing up for what is right. For instance, if a student sees someone being bullied and decides to speak up and defend them, they are showing immense courage. Courage is not about being fearless, but rather about facing our fears and not letting them control us. It is a quality that inspires others and makes the world a better place.

A Paragraph about Courage in 200 Word

Courage is a powerful virtue that allows people to face their fears and overcome challenges. It is not just about being brave, but also about pushing ourselves to do what is right, even when it is difficult. When we think of courage, we might imagine a superhero saving the day or a firefighter rescuing someone from a burning building. But courage can also be seen in everyday acts of bravery. It takes courage to stand up for a friend who is being bullied or to try something new even if we are afraid of failing. Courage comes from deep within, and it helps us grow and learn. It is not something that can easily be seen, but its effects can be felt by those around us. Having courage allows us to face challenges head-on, to persist when things get tough, and to believe in ourselves. So, let us be courageous and face our fears, for it is through this bravery that we can achieve great things in life.

A Paragraph about Courage in 250 Word

Courage is a remarkable quality that resides within each and every one of us. It is the ability to face our fears, stand up for what we believe in, and take action, even when we are scared. Courage is like a superhero power that helps us overcome challenges and obstacles in our lives. People who have courage are not afraid to try new things or take risks. They believe in themselves and their abilities, which gives them the strength to face difficult situations with confidence.

Courage can be seen in everyday life. It takes courage to stand up to a bully, to speak out when something is not right, or to take a leap of faith and try something new. Courageous people are not afraid of failure, because they know that even if they do fail, they have learned valuable lessons along the way.

Courage is also about being kind and compassionate to others. It takes courage to be a good friend, to help someone in need, or to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. By showing kindness and compassion, we inspire others to be courageous too.

In conclusion, courage is a special quality that makes us strong and resilient. It helps us face our fears, take risks, and be kind to others. Having courage allows us to become better versions of ourselves and make a positive impact in the world. So let’s embrace our courage and face the challenges that come our way with bravery and determination.

A Paragraph about Courage in 300 Word

Courage is a remarkable quality that can be found in many different people. It is the ability to face fears and overcome challenges, even when it is difficult or scary. Courage can come in many forms, and it is not limited to just superheroes or soldiers. In fact, everyday people demonstrate courage in their everyday lives.

Imagine a little girl who is afraid of riding a bicycle for the first time. She knows it will be challenging, and she might fall. However, she gathers her courage, takes a deep breath, and gets on the bike. She pedals slowly at first, but as she gains confidence, her speed increases. With each push of the pedal, she overcomes her fear and discovers the joy of riding a bicycle. This girl demonstrates courage by facing her fears and not letting them hold her back.

Another example of courage can be seen in a student who is nervous about speaking in front of the entire class. He knows that all eyes will be on him and that he might stumble over his words. Despite his fear, he stands tall in front of his classmates and begins his presentation. He speaks with a strong voice and a confident tone, captivating his audience. This student shows courage by pushing past his fears and speaking up.

Courage is not about being fearless or never feeling afraid. It is about acknowledging one’s fears and still choosing to move forward. It is about taking risks, even when it is uncomfortable or uncertain. With courage, we can face challenges, overcome obstacles, and grow as individuals. So let us remember that courage is not just for superheroes, but for each and every one of us.

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  • How to conclude an essay | Interactive example

How to Conclude an Essay | Interactive Example

Published on January 24, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 23, 2023.

The conclusion is the final paragraph of your essay . A strong conclusion aims to:

  • Tie together the essay’s main points
  • Show why your argument matters
  • Leave the reader with a strong impression

Your conclusion should give a sense of closure and completion to your argument, but also show what new questions or possibilities it has opened up.

This conclusion is taken from our annotated essay example , which discusses the history of the Braille system. Hover over each part to see why it’s effective.

Braille paved the way for dramatic cultural changes in the way blind people were treated and the opportunities available to them. Louis Braille’s innovation was to reimagine existing reading systems from a blind perspective, and the success of this invention required sighted teachers to adapt to their students’ reality instead of the other way around. In this sense, Braille helped drive broader social changes in the status of blindness. New accessibility tools provide practical advantages to those who need them, but they can also change the perspectives and attitudes of those who do not.

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Table of contents

Step 1: return to your thesis, step 2: review your main points, step 3: show why it matters, what shouldn’t go in the conclusion, more examples of essay conclusions, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about writing an essay conclusion.

To begin your conclusion, signal that the essay is coming to an end by returning to your overall argument.

Don’t just repeat your thesis statement —instead, try to rephrase your argument in a way that shows how it has been developed since the introduction.

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Next, remind the reader of the main points that you used to support your argument.

Avoid simply summarizing each paragraph or repeating each point in order; try to bring your points together in a way that makes the connections between them clear. The conclusion is your final chance to show how all the paragraphs of your essay add up to a coherent whole.

To wrap up your conclusion, zoom out to a broader view of the topic and consider the implications of your argument. For example:

  • Does it contribute a new understanding of your topic?
  • Does it raise new questions for future study?
  • Does it lead to practical suggestions or predictions?
  • Can it be applied to different contexts?
  • Can it be connected to a broader debate or theme?

Whatever your essay is about, the conclusion should aim to emphasize the significance of your argument, whether that’s within your academic subject or in the wider world.

Try to end with a strong, decisive sentence, leaving the reader with a lingering sense of interest in your topic.

The easiest way to improve your conclusion is to eliminate these common mistakes.

Don’t include new evidence

Any evidence or analysis that is essential to supporting your thesis statement should appear in the main body of the essay.

The conclusion might include minor pieces of new information—for example, a sentence or two discussing broader implications, or a quotation that nicely summarizes your central point. But it shouldn’t introduce any major new sources or ideas that need further explanation to understand.

Don’t use “concluding phrases”

Avoid using obvious stock phrases to tell the reader what you’re doing:

  • “In conclusion…”
  • “To sum up…”

These phrases aren’t forbidden, but they can make your writing sound weak. By returning to your main argument, it will quickly become clear that you are concluding the essay—you shouldn’t have to spell it out.

Don’t undermine your argument

Avoid using apologetic phrases that sound uncertain or confused:

  • “This is just one approach among many.”
  • “There are good arguments on both sides of this issue.”
  • “There is no clear answer to this problem.”

Even if your essay has explored different points of view, your own position should be clear. There may be many possible approaches to the topic, but you want to leave the reader convinced that yours is the best one!

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  • Literary analysis

This conclusion is taken from an argumentative essay about the internet’s impact on education. It acknowledges the opposing arguments while taking a clear, decisive position.

The internet has had a major positive impact on the world of education; occasional pitfalls aside, its value is evident in numerous applications. The future of teaching lies in the possibilities the internet opens up for communication, research, and interactivity. As the popularity of distance learning shows, students value the flexibility and accessibility offered by digital education, and educators should fully embrace these advantages. The internet’s dangers, real and imaginary, have been documented exhaustively by skeptics, but the internet is here to stay; it is time to focus seriously on its potential for good.

This conclusion is taken from a short expository essay that explains the invention of the printing press and its effects on European society. It focuses on giving a clear, concise overview of what was covered in the essay.

The invention of the printing press was important not only in terms of its immediate cultural and economic effects, but also in terms of its major impact on politics and religion across Europe. In the century following the invention of the printing press, the relatively stationary intellectual atmosphere of the Middle Ages gave way to the social upheavals of the Reformation and the Renaissance. A single technological innovation had contributed to the total reshaping of the continent.

This conclusion is taken from a literary analysis essay about Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein . It summarizes what the essay’s analysis achieved and emphasizes its originality.

By tracing the depiction of Frankenstein through the novel’s three volumes, I have demonstrated how the narrative structure shifts our perception of the character. While the Frankenstein of the first volume is depicted as having innocent intentions, the second and third volumes—first in the creature’s accusatory voice, and then in his own voice—increasingly undermine him, causing him to appear alternately ridiculous and vindictive. Far from the one-dimensional villain he is often taken to be, the character of Frankenstein is compelling because of the dynamic narrative frame in which he is placed. In this frame, Frankenstein’s narrative self-presentation responds to the images of him we see from others’ perspectives. This conclusion sheds new light on the novel, foregrounding Shelley’s unique layering of narrative perspectives and its importance for the depiction of character.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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Your essay’s conclusion should contain:

  • A rephrased version of your overall thesis
  • A brief review of the key points you made in the main body
  • An indication of why your argument matters

The conclusion may also reflect on the broader implications of your argument, showing how your ideas could applied to other contexts or debates.

For a stronger conclusion paragraph, avoid including:

  • Important evidence or analysis that wasn’t mentioned in the main body
  • Generic concluding phrases (e.g. “In conclusion…”)
  • Weak statements that undermine your argument (e.g. “There are good points on both sides of this issue.”)

Your conclusion should leave the reader with a strong, decisive impression of your work.

The conclusion paragraph of an essay is usually shorter than the introduction . As a rule, it shouldn’t take up more than 10–15% of the text.

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Bravery — On Brave Girl: Celebrating Courage and Resilience

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On Brave Girl: Celebrating Courage and Resilience

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Published: Sep 16, 2023

Words: 822 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

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The brave girl's journey, the power of resilience, empathy and compassion, lessons from the brave girl, 1. courage is not the absence of fear:, 2. resilience can be cultivated:, 3. empathy and compassion create positive change:, 4. advocacy is a path to change:.

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conclusion for courage essay

Should college essays touch on race? Some feel the affirmative action ruling leaves them no choice

CHICAGO — When she started writing her college essay, Hillary Amofa told the story she thought admissions offices wanted to hear. About being the daughter of immigrants from Ghana and growing up in a small apartment in Chicago. About hardship and struggle.

Then she deleted it all.

“I would just find myself kind of trauma-dumping,” said the 18-year-old senior at Lincoln Park High School in Chicago. “And I’m just like, this doesn’t really say anything about me as a person.”

When the Supreme Court ended affirmative action in higher education, it left the college essay as one of few places where race can play a role in admissions decisions. For many students of color, instantly more was riding on the already high-stakes writing assignment. Some say they felt pressure to exploit their hardships as they competed for a spot on campus.

Amofa was just starting to think about her essay when the court issued its decision, and it left her with a wave of questions. Could she still write about her race? Could she be penalized for it? She wanted to tell colleges about her heritage but she didn’t want to be defined by it.

In English class, Amofa and her classmates read sample essays that all seemed to focus on some trauma or hardship. It left her with the impression she had to write about her life’s hardest moments to show how far she’d come. But she and some of her classmates wondered if their lives had been hard enough to catch the attention of admissions offices.

“For a lot of students, there’s a feeling of, like, having to go through something so horrible to feel worthy of going to school, which is kind of sad,” said Amofa, the daughter of a hospital technician and an Uber driver.

This year’s senior class is the first in decades to navigate college admissions without affirmative action . The Supreme Court upheld the practice in decisions going back to the 1970s, but this court’s conservative supermajority found it is unconstitutional for colleges to give students extra weight because of their race alone.

Still, the decision left room for race to play an indirect role: Chief Justice John Roberts wrote universities can still consider how an applicant’s life was shaped by their race, “so long as that discussion is concretely tied to a quality of character or unique ability.”

“A benefit to a student who overcame racial discrimination, for example, must be tied to that student’s courage and determination,” he wrote.

Scores of colleges responded with new essay prompts asking about students’ backgrounds. Brown University asked applicants how “an aspect of your growing up has inspired or challenged you.” Rice University asked students how their perspectives were shaped by their “background, experiences, upbringing, and/or racial identity.”

WONDERING IF SCHOOLS 'EXPECT A SOB STORY'

When Darrian Merritt started writing his essay, he knew the stakes were higher than ever because of the court’s decision. His first instinct was to write about events that led to him going to live with his grandmother as a child.

Those were painful memories, but he thought they might play well at schools like Yale, Stanford and Vanderbilt.

“I feel like the admissions committee might expect a sob story or a tragic story,” said Merritt, a senior in Cleveland. “And if you don’t provide that, then maybe they’re not going to feel like you went through enough to deserve having a spot at the university. I wrestled with that a lot.”

He wrote drafts focusing on his childhood, but it never amounted to more than a collection of memories. Eventually he abandoned the idea and aimed for an essay that would stand out for its positivity.

Merritt wrote about a summer camp where he started to feel more comfortable in his own skin. He described embracing his personality and defying his tendency to please others. The essay had humor — it centered on a water gun fight where he had victory in sight but, in a comedic twist, slipped and fell. But the essay also reflects on his feelings of not being “Black enough” and getting made fun of for listening to “white people music.”

“I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to write this for me, and we’re just going to see how it goes,’” he said. “It just felt real, and it felt like an honest story.”

The essay describes a breakthrough as he learned “to take ownership of myself and my future by sharing my true personality with the people I encounter. ... I realized that the first chapter of my own story had just been written.”

A RULING PROMPTS PIVOTS ON ESSAY TOPICS

Like many students, Max Decker of Portland, Oregon, had drafted a college essay on one topic, only to change direction after the Supreme Court ruling in June.

Decker initially wrote about his love for video games. In a childhood surrounded by constant change, navigating his parents’ divorce, the games he took from place to place on his Nintendo DS were a source of comfort.

But the essay he submitted to colleges focused on the community he found through Word is Bond, a leadership group for young Black men in Portland.

As the only biracial, Jewish kid with divorced parents in a predominantly white, Christian community, Decker wrote he constantly felt like the odd one out. On a trip with Word is Bond to Capitol Hill, he and friends who looked just like him shook hands with lawmakers. The experience, he wrote, changed how he saw himself.

“It’s because I’m different that I provide something precious to the world, not the other way around,” he wrote.

As a first-generation college student, Decker thought about the subtle ways his peers seemed to know more about navigating the admissions process . They made sure to get into advanced classes at the start of high school, and they knew how to secure glowing letters of recommendation.

If writing about race would give him a slight edge and show admissions officers a fuller picture of his achievements, he wanted to take that small advantage.

His first memory about race, Decker said, was when he went to get a haircut in elementary school and the barber made rude comments about his curly hair. Until recently, the insecurity that moment created led him to keep his hair buzzed short.

Through Word is Bond, Decker said he found a space to explore his identity as a Black man. It was one of the first times he was surrounded by Black peers and saw Black role models. It filled him with a sense of pride in his identity. No more buzzcut.

The pressure to write about race involved a tradeoff with other important things in his life, Decker said. That included his passion for journalism, like the piece he wrote on efforts to revive a once-thriving Black neighborhood in Portland. In the end, he squeezed in 100 characters about his journalism under the application’s activities section.

“My final essay, it felt true to myself. But the difference between that and my other essay was the fact that it wasn’t the truth that I necessarily wanted to share,” said Decker, whose top college choice is Tulane, in New Orleans, because of the region’s diversity. “It felt like I just had to limit the truth I was sharing to what I feel like the world is expecting of me.”

SPELLING OUT THE IMPACT OF RACE

Before the Supreme Court ruling, it seemed a given to Imani Laird that colleges would consider the ways that race had touched her life. But now, she felt like she had to spell it out.

As she started her essay, she reflected on how she had faced bias or felt overlooked as a Black student in predominantly white spaces.

There was the year in math class when the teacher kept calling her by the name of another Black student. There were the comments that she’d have an easier time getting into college because she was Black .

“I didn’t have it easier because of my race,” said Laird, a senior at Newton South High School in the Boston suburbs who was accepted at Wellesley and Howard University, and is waiting to hear from several Ivy League colleges. “I had stuff I had to overcome.”

In her final essays, she wrote about her grandfather, who served in the military but was denied access to GI Bill benefits because of his race.

She described how discrimination fueled her ambition to excel and pursue a career in public policy.

“So, I never settled for mediocrity,” she wrote. “Regardless of the subject, my goal in class was not just to participate but to excel. Beyond academics, I wanted to excel while remembering what started this motivation in the first place.”

WILL SCHOOLS LOSE RACIAL DIVERSITY?

Amofa used to think affirmative action was only a factor at schools like Harvard and Yale. After the court’s ruling, she was surprised to find that race was taken into account even at some public universities she was applying to.

Now, without affirmative action, she wondered if mostly white schools will become even whiter.

It’s been on her mind as she chooses between Indiana University and the University of Dayton, both of which have relatively few Black students. When she was one of the only Black students in her grade school, she could fall back on her family and Ghanaian friends at church. At college, she worries about loneliness.

“That’s what I’m nervous about,” she said. “Going and just feeling so isolated, even though I’m constantly around people.”

The first drafts of her essay focused on growing up in a low-income family, sharing a bedroom with her brother and grandmother. But it didn’t tell colleges about who she is now, she said.

Her final essay tells how she came to embrace her natural hair . She wrote about going to a mostly white grade school where classmates made jokes about her afro. When her grandmother sent her back with braids or cornrows, they made fun of those too.

Over time, she ignored their insults and found beauty in the styles worn by women in her life. She now runs a business doing braids and other hairstyles in her neighborhood.

“I stopped seeing myself through the lens of the European traditional beauty standards and started seeing myself through the lens that I created,” Amofa wrote.

“Criticism will persist, but it loses its power when you know there’s a crown on your head!”

Ma reported from Portland, Oregon.

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org .

conclusion for courage essay

conclusion for courage essay

By the BOOK

Morgan Parker Says ‘Poetry Is Under Everything’ She Writes

Crafting the arguments in “You Get What You Pay For,” her first essay collection, “felt like pulling apart a long piece of taffy,” says the author of “Magical Negro.”

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What books are on your night stand?

The craft anthology “How We Do It,” edited by the great Jericho Brown, and Shayla Lawson’s astounding “How to Live Free in a Dangerous World.”

Describe your ideal reading experience (when, where, what, how).

Probably on the smoking patio of a wine bar at happy hour on a sunny day, with a pencil in my hand and Dorothy Ashby or Ambrose Akinmusire playing through noise-canceling headphones. Or just a quiet morning on my couch with coffee, so engrossed I forget to flip the record.

What’s the last book you read that made you laugh?

“Erasure,” by Percival Everett . I picked up a used copy at Shakespeare & Company recently — after seeing Cord Jefferson’s brilliant adaptation , “American Fiction” — and even on a reread, it made me laugh out loud from the first page.

The last book that made you cry?

Weird or obnoxious if I say my own? Before that, it was probably Y.A.

Do you count any books as guilty pleasures?

That category’s filled to the brim and beyond by reality TV.

How do you organize your books?

Loosely or not at all. This is much to the horror of my Virgo pals, and while I used to take pride in navigating my shelves on familiarity alone, it’s something I’ve vowed to work on. Still, I doubt I’ll ever be an alphabetical type, and clearly I find genre segregation constricting. I do group things thematically, or even interpersonally — music biographies, Black Panthers, Harlem Renaissance; Jessica Hopper is next to John Giorno, and Chase Berggrun’s “R E D” is next to “Dracula”; Julie Buntin’s “Marlena” is beside her husband Gabe Habash’s “Stephen Florida”; Alison C. Rollins is next to her partner Nate Marshall is next to his bestie José Olivarez. At some point Hilton Als’s “White Girls” ended up next to “Male Fantasies,” and I don’t think I’ll ever separate them.

Which genres do you avoid?

There’s an essay in “You Get What You Pay For” where I mention reading a self-help book (as recommended by my now-former psychiatrist). I’d never read one before and have not since.

How does your poetry relate to your essay writing?

The truth is that poetry is under everything. It’s the lyric and sensory backbone. It’s what drives the sound, pace and imagery. (Everyone knows the best prose writers write and read poetry.) But while a poem strives for precision of language, the essay strives for precision of thought, even argument. In a poem, you can build (or approximate) an argument by plopping two images next to each other. It persuades by pointing. Writing these essays felt like pulling apart a long piece of taffy — I found myself reiterating a lot of what I’ve already expressed in poems, so it almost became a project of stretching out each poetic line, breaking down each concept to its root. The process is about asking, pondering, searching — and letting language take part in the answering.

You have a knack for terrific book titles. How did you name your new collection?

Thank you! I love a good title, but I also acknowledge the high bar I have set for myself. With this one, I struggled a bit, I think because it took me a while to understand the book myself, let alone how to introduce it to the world. The essays encompass a lot of seemingly disparate themes and even tonal registers, so framing the overall collection was daunting. I’d been tossing around a couple of options, including “Cheaper Than Therapy,” which appears as an essay title, when Jay-Z made the choice for me. I was in Italy at a residency, grieving the recent loss of my aunt and watching the “Big Pimpin’” video over and over as I worked on an essay about it for the book. I’d left my heavily tabbed copy of “Decoded” at home in Los Angeles, but was scrolling a PDF for details about the video shoot when I came across the line: “If the price is life, then you better get what you paid for.”

You describe yourself as foolish for believing “words could be the pathway to empathy and writing an active resistance against hate.” Might publishing this book change your mind?

Honestly? It’s my only hope.

What’s the last book you recommended to a member of your family?

“Heavy,” by Kiese Laymon, to my mom; Blair LM Kelley’s “ Black Folk: The Roots of the Black Working Class,” to my dad; and “A Is for Activist,” to my 8-month-old cousin.

What do you plan to read next?

Phillip B. Williams’s “Ours” was just published, and I’ve been excited about it for literally years. Vinson Cunningham’s “Great Expectations” came out the same day as my book, so I plan to make that my tour read.

You’re organizing a literary dinner party. Which three writers, dead or alive, do you invite?

June Jordan, Zora Neale Hurston, James Baldwin — but I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t get just as much fun and fulfillment from a night with Angel Nafis, Danez Smith and Saeed Jones.

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Fear vs. Courage Essay

Introduction, fear vs. courage, works cited.

Inherently, man endeavors to avoid anything that is perceived as amoral; instead, he craves, and competes to get and amass what is thought to be good. Here, it is worth to note that what is true or bad is relative and depends on a given society.

Out of the realization of his manifest weakness, man has established institutions into which he has surrendered all his power to judge or determine his course of actions freely in order to promote harmonious living, which is suitable for his overall development.

These institutions include the family, state and religion among others. Giving up all of his power to judge and do as he wishes places him in a situation that makes him fear or lack the courage to disobey authorities-religious, political or otherwise.

Obedience is promoted in all societies while disobedience is condemned (Fromm 683). Societies have even devised wise sayings in praise of obedience such the famous Judeo-Christian adage ‘Obedience is better than sacrifice.’ Amongst the young ones, the most obedient are celebrated and held highly while the disobedient are subjected to unpleasant punishments at home and school with a view to discourage them from disobeying. They are thus, patterned socio-psychologically to embrace obedience, which shuns and fears disobedience.

Every aspect of human nature has its direct opposite. These life opposites are usually in a perpetual struggle with each other. This struggle brings about order in an individual’s life and the wider society. For instance, the opposite of fear is courage while the opposite of obedience is disobedience.

Even though man is born with an inherent power of choice, that power is limited in many ways. He can for instance choose to obey or disobey, love or hate.

However, the choice is usually dependent on various factors, some external and others internal to his inner being. In fact, based on this power of choice, the renowned political philosopher, Nicollo Machiavelli, suggested that political leaders should use excess power where necessary in order to have their way especially on matters that are a threat to security of their territories and their positions.

Fear and courage in relation to obedience and other life aspects is also inborn. For example, human beings tend to be fearful and suspicious of anything new or anybody different from them. This line of argument, in fact, perfectly explains the prevalent clash of cultures that characterize the global community.

As pointed out earlier, man always endeavors to avoid anything untoward, compete for, and pursue what is perceived as legitimate. The unpleasant consequences of disobedience have perpetually forced man to fear to do contrary to the will of all that are accepted as authentic authorities and more powerful than he is, in terms of religion is, politically or socially.

On the other hand, the goodies that ensue from being obedient form the basis of his courage to adhere to set rules and do the will of his authorities.

Nickson, an outspoken and fun-to- be with teenager in my neighborhood, has loving and caring but strict conservative parents. Through out the days I have known him, he has always had a somewhat rigid routine, which he follows without failure rest he faces the wrath of his no nonsense parents.

Likewise, he chooses his friends carefully and cannot even risk being seen in the company of some of his age mates in our place of residence. However, when he does anything significant of which he is used to doing since he is a bright boy he is mostly showered with various kinds of gifts.

Sometimes back, an internationally distinguished reggae musician was holding a concert in a local nightclub. Nickson, a zealous lover of reggae music, was under pressure to attend the concert. There was also pressure from close friends to join them that night. Most of his friends are well known by his parents even though, unlike him, they had of late managed to break up, to some extent, the strong grip of their parents up on their freedom of choice.

However, he knew exceedingly well that his parents would never approve his desire to attend let alone allow him to attend an overnight. He, just like his friends, had started to ascertain his maturity having jus concluded his high school education. It was pointless and equally wrong to mention such a thing to them.

He was therefore, left with the option of mustering enough courage to disobey his parents by sneaking out on the night, irrespective of the obvious punishment he would get, if they got knowledge of his actions.

The day came, and everything went as he had planned. In fact, this event became the turning point in his life in terms of asserting his freedom from unnecessary parental control given that he was just about to join the university. Nevertheless, his obedience and loyalty to his parents’ opinions on various issues continued to be an influential factor in most of his choices.

In this case, Nickson always feared doing anything that was contrary to his parents’ will whom he revered because it was understandably wrong to disobey his parents and secondly because of the severe punishment that would be meted out up on him in case of his wrongdoing.

The envied gifts, that usually followed most of his virtuous deeds at home and school, gave him more courage to obey his parents without ever questioning the logic of their somewhat unnecessarily suffocating rules and principles. The acceptance that ensued from his obedient deeds was irresistible. As Fromm would put it, Nickson’s obedience to his parents’ power and influence made him “…feel safe and protected” (686).

It made him see himself as part of his parents and gave him some form of strength. In short, the consequences of an individual’s choices and actions within the inner self, family, school, and the wider society potentially makes him vulnerable to obedience and difficult to do contrary to the will and whims of a respected authority.

At one point in life individuals, as well as, groups or the majority in the quest for the much-needed freedom gathers enough courage to disobey an authority irrespective of the possible unpleasant consequences. Fromm argues that, man can only achieve freedom from what he calls nonsense control of a minority power through disobedience (686).

However, he correctly cautions that not all disobedience can be regarded to as liberating and that not all obedience can be considered enslaving (Fromm 684). Doing so he argues would lead to the danger of ignoring the obvious dialectical relationships between obedience and disobedience.

For instance, when Nickson chooses to obey his parent’s dictates and wishes he would disobey his peer pressure and desire to attend the eagerly awaited Reggae concert. Likewise, by bowing down to his desires and peer pressure he would be disobeying his parents’ rules (Fromm 684). The struggle between a choice of obeying his parents or disobeying them brings about the order of events in his life.

When he eventually chooses to attend the concert behind his parents’ knowledge and obviously contrary to their principles, he in other words chose to be free from their power. This, eventually, gave him courage to say no to his parents in the future whenever he felt that his space was unnecessarily being constrained by the excesses of his parents’ power and opinions. In other words, it set him in to a path of freedom as he approached a new life in the campus and the outside world away from his usual home environment.

His choice was also largely informed by the need to conform to his age mates who were determined to make him assert his maturity to his parents just like them.

The desire to show that he was also not under an absolute control by his parents was strong and irresistible. He was even oblivious of the dangers that would befall him at the club during that night. He unconsciously bowed to the will of the majority in terms of his age mates, regardless of whether they were aware of the dangers they were subjecting themselves.

Conformity can be as enslaving as the fear to disobey powers that people have accepted in their minds as authentic and befitting respect and honor. It can equally deny people an opportunity to be free from unfounded beliefs, superstitions and stereotypes that can potentially impede identification and nurturing of their unique talents and abilities (Asch 730).

In virtually all societies, people choose to conform to the will and opinions of the majority because they would like to be accepted (Asch 726). Very few people have the ability to chose and are comfortable for being different or having a different opinion from the majority who are always ignorant, and out of unfounded cowardice, believed to be always right.

Surprisingly, acceptance by the majority who could be wrong is better and easily bearable than being alone and right with regard to a given issue (Fromm 686).

Being different in opinion and principles, is worse construed by some to be an indication of inadequacy in oneself, which can blindly mislead them into self-hate. Nickson found himself in such a situation and being a teenager, he was easily swayed by the choice of his majority age mates because of the equally wanted acceptance apart from the one enjoyed within the confines of his family.

He could not bear being alone anymore on matters related to entertainment and partying. Therefore, he decided to ignore his parents’ warnings about dangers of going out at night in their absence so that he could conform to his friends.

According to Asch (730), even though when asked, many people say they would prefer to be independent, influence of the principle of conformity is overwhelming and tends to make us prisoners of unfounded fears, beliefs, stereotypes, superstitions and myths (Zimbardo 743). This, in turn, limits people’s freedom, which is necessary for intellectual, spiritual and material development.

Even though fear is inborn, our fear to disobey is largely informed by factors such as the need to avoid taking responsibility for our actions and to conform to the despotism of the majority who are ignorantly believed to be right. This, in turn, denies us our freedom and independence from the ruin that results from majority misjudgments and convictions.

Asch, Solomon. Opinions and social pressure. New York, NY: Freeman, 1955.Print.

Fromm, Erich. On disobedience and other essays. New York, NY: Seabury Press, 1981.

Zimbardo, Philip. Stanford prison experiment: a simulation study of the psychology of imprisonment. Stanford: Philip G. Zimbardo, Inc, 1972. Print.

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Should college essays touch on race? Some feel the affirmative action ruling leaves them no choice

Hillary Amofa listens to others member of the Lincoln Park High School step team after school Friday, March 8, 2024, in Chicago. When she started writing her college essay, Amofa told the story she thought admissions offices wanted to hear. She wrote about being the daughter of immigrants from Ghana, about growing up in a small apartment in Chicago. She described hardship and struggle. Then she deleted it all. "I would just find myself kind of trauma-dumping," said the 18 year-old senior, "And I'm just like, this doesn't really say anything about me as a person." (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Hillary Amofa listens to others member of the Lincoln Park High School step team after school Friday, March 8, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

conclusion for courage essay

When the Supreme Court ended affirmative action, it left the college essay as one of few places where race can play a role in admissions decisions. (AP Video: Noreen Nasir)

Hillary Amofa listens to others member of the Lincoln Park High School step team after school Friday, March 8, 2024, in Chicago. When she started writing her college essay, Amofa told the story she thought admissions offices wanted to hear. She wrote about being the daughter of immigrants from Ghana, about growing up in a small apartment in Chicago. She described hardship and struggle. Then she deleted it all. "I would just find myself kind of trauma-dumping," said the 18 year-old senior, "And I'm just like, this doesn't really say anything about me as a person." (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Hillary Amofa listens to others member of the Lincoln Park High School step team after school Friday, March 8, 2024, in Chicago. When she started writing her college essay, Amofa told the story she thought admissions offices wanted to hear. She wrote about being the daughter of immigrants from Ghana, about growing up in a small apartment in Chicago. She described hardship and struggle. Then she deleted it all. “I would just find myself kind of trauma-dumping,” said the 18 year-old senior, “And I’m just like, this doesn’t really say anything about me as a person.” (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

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Hillary Amofa, laughs as she participates in a team building game with members of the Lincoln Park High School step team after school Friday, March 8, 2024, in Chicago. When she started writing her college essay, Amofa told the story she thought admissions offices wanted to hear. She wrote about being the daughter of immigrants from Ghana, about growing up in a small apartment in Chicago. She described hardship and struggle. Then she deleted it all. “I would just find myself kind of trauma-dumping,” said the 18 year-old senior, “And I’m just like, this doesn’t really say anything about me as a person.” (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Hillary Amofa stands for a portrait after practice with members of the Lincoln Park High School step team Friday, March 8, 2024, in Chicago. When she started writing her college essay, Amofa told the story she thought admissions offices wanted to hear. She wrote about being the daughter of immigrants from Ghana, about growing up in a small apartment in Chicago. She described hardship and struggle. Then she deleted it all. “I would just find myself kind of trauma-dumping,” said the 18 year-old senior, “And I’m just like, this doesn’t really say anything about me as a person.” (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Max Decker, a senior at Lincoln High School, sits for a portrait in the school library where he often worked on writing his college essays, in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

Hillary Amofa stands for a portrait after practice with members of the Lincoln Park High School step team Friday, March 8, 2024, in Chicago. When she started writing her college essay, Amofa told the story she thought admissions offices wanted to hear. She wrote about being the daughter of immigrants from Ghana, about growing up in a small apartment in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Hillary Amofa, second from left, practices with members of the Lincoln Park High School step team after school Friday, March 8, 2024, in Chicago. When she started writing her college essay, Amofa told the story she thought admissions offices wanted to hear. She wrote about being the daughter of immigrants from Ghana, about growing up in a small apartment in Chicago. She described hardship and struggle. Then she deleted it all. “I would just find myself kind of trauma-dumping,” said the 18 year-old senior, “And I’m just like, this doesn’t really say anything about me as a person.” (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Max Decker, a senior at Lincoln High School, stands for a portrait outside of the school in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

*Hillary Amofa, reflected right, practices in a mirror with members of the Lincoln Park High School step team after school Friday, March 8, 2024, in Chicago. When she started writing her college essay, Amofa told the story she thought admissions offices wanted to hear. She wrote about being the daughter of immigrants from Ghana, about growing up in a small apartment in Chicago. She described hardship and struggle. Then she deleted it all. “I would just find myself kind of trauma-dumping,” said the 18 year-old senior, “And I’m just like, this doesn’t really say anything about me as a person.” (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Max Decker, a senior at Lincoln High School, sits for a portrait outside of the school in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

Hillary Amofa, left, practices with members of the Lincoln Park High School step team after school Friday, March 8, 2024, in Chicago. When she started writing her college essay, Amofa told the story she thought admissions offices wanted to hear. She wrote about being the daughter of immigrants from Ghana, about growing up in a small apartment in Chicago. She described hardship and struggle. Then she deleted it all. “I would just find myself kind of trauma-dumping,” said the 18 year-old senior, “And I’m just like, this doesn’t really say anything about me as a person.” (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Hillary Amofa sits for a portrait after her step team practice at Lincoln Park High School Friday, March 8, 2024, in Chicago. When she started writing her college essay, Amofa told the story she thought admissions offices wanted to hear. She wrote about being the daughter of immigrants from Ghana, about growing up in a small apartment in Chicago. She described hardship and struggle. Then she deleted it all. “I would just find myself kind of trauma-dumping,” said the 18 year-old senior, “And I’m just like, this doesn’t really say anything about me as a person.” (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

FILE - Demonstrators protest outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, in this June 29, 2023 file photo, after the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in college admissions, saying race cannot be a factor. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

CHICAGO (AP) — When she started writing her college essay, Hillary Amofa told the story she thought admissions offices wanted to hear. About being the daughter of immigrants from Ghana and growing up in a small apartment in Chicago. About hardship and struggle.

Then she deleted it all.

“I would just find myself kind of trauma-dumping,” said the 18-year-old senior at Lincoln Park High School in Chicago. “And I’m just like, this doesn’t really say anything about me as a person.”

When the Supreme Court ended affirmative action in higher education, it left the college essay as one of few places where race can play a role in admissions decisions. For many students of color, instantly more was riding on the already high-stakes writing assignment. Some say they felt pressure to exploit their hardships as they competed for a spot on campus.

Amofa was just starting to think about her essay when the court issued its decision, and it left her with a wave of questions. Could she still write about her race? Could she be penalized for it? She wanted to tell colleges about her heritage but she didn’t want to be defined by it.

In English class, Amofa and her classmates read sample essays that all seemed to focus on some trauma or hardship. It left her with the impression she had to write about her life’s hardest moments to show how far she’d come. But she and some of her classmates wondered if their lives had been hard enough to catch the attention of admissions offices.

“For a lot of students, there’s a feeling of, like, having to go through something so horrible to feel worthy of going to school, which is kind of sad,” said Amofa, the daughter of a hospital technician and an Uber driver.

This year’s senior class is the first in decades to navigate college admissions without affirmative action . The Supreme Court upheld the practice in decisions going back to the 1970s, but this court’s conservative supermajority found it is unconstitutional for colleges to give students extra weight because of their race alone.

Still, the decision left room for race to play an indirect role: Chief Justice John Roberts wrote universities can still consider how an applicant’s life was shaped by their race, “so long as that discussion is concretely tied to a quality of character or unique ability.”

“A benefit to a student who overcame racial discrimination, for example, must be tied to that student’s courage and determination,” he wrote.

Scores of colleges responded with new essay prompts asking about students’ backgrounds. Brown University asked applicants how “an aspect of your growing up has inspired or challenged you.” Rice University asked students how their perspectives were shaped by their “background, experiences, upbringing, and/or racial identity.”

*Hillary Amofa, reflected right, practices in a mirror with members of the Lincoln Park High School step team after school Friday, March 8, 2024, in Chicago. When she started writing her college essay, Amofa told the story she thought admissions offices wanted to hear. She wrote about being the daughter of immigrants from Ghana, about growing up in a small apartment in Chicago. She described hardship and struggle. Then she deleted it all. "I would just find myself kind of trauma-dumping," said the 18 year-old senior, "And I'm just like, this doesn't really say anything about me as a person." (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Hillary Amofa, reflected right, practices in a mirror with members of the Lincoln Park High School step team after school, March 8, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

WONDERING IF SCHOOLS ‘EXPECT A SOB STORY’

When Darrian Merritt started writing his essay, he knew the stakes were higher than ever because of the court’s decision. His first instinct was to write about events that led to him going to live with his grandmother as a child.

Those were painful memories, but he thought they might play well at schools like Yale, Stanford and Vanderbilt.

“I feel like the admissions committee might expect a sob story or a tragic story,” said Merritt, a senior in Cleveland. “And if you don’t provide that, then maybe they’re not going to feel like you went through enough to deserve having a spot at the university. I wrestled with that a lot.”

He wrote drafts focusing on his childhood, but it never amounted to more than a collection of memories. Eventually he abandoned the idea and aimed for an essay that would stand out for its positivity.

Merritt wrote about a summer camp where he started to feel more comfortable in his own skin. He described embracing his personality and defying his tendency to please others. The essay had humor — it centered on a water gun fight where he had victory in sight but, in a comedic twist, slipped and fell. But the essay also reflects on his feelings of not being “Black enough” and getting made fun of for listening to “white people music.”

“I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to write this for me, and we’re just going to see how it goes,’” he said. “It just felt real, and it felt like an honest story.”

The essay describes a breakthrough as he learned “to take ownership of myself and my future by sharing my true personality with the people I encounter. ... I realized that the first chapter of my own story had just been written.”

Max Decker, a senior at Lincoln High School, sits for a portrait in the school library where he often worked on writing his college essays, in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

Max Decker, a senior at Lincoln High School, sits for a portrait in the school library where he often worked on writing his college essays, in Portland, Ore., March 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

A RULING PROMPTS PIVOTS ON ESSAY TOPICS

Like many students, Max Decker of Portland, Oregon, had drafted a college essay on one topic, only to change direction after the Supreme Court ruling in June.

Decker initially wrote about his love for video games. In a childhood surrounded by constant change, navigating his parents’ divorce, the games he took from place to place on his Nintendo DS were a source of comfort.

But the essay he submitted to colleges focused on the community he found through Word is Bond, a leadership group for young Black men in Portland.

As the only biracial, Jewish kid with divorced parents in a predominantly white, Christian community, Decker wrote he constantly felt like the odd one out. On a trip with Word is Bond to Capitol Hill, he and friends who looked just like him shook hands with lawmakers. The experience, he wrote, changed how he saw himself.

“It’s because I’m different that I provide something precious to the world, not the other way around,” he wrote.

As a first-generation college student, Decker thought about the subtle ways his peers seemed to know more about navigating the admissions process . They made sure to get into advanced classes at the start of high school, and they knew how to secure glowing letters of recommendation.

Max Decker reads his college essay on his experience with a leadership group for young Black men. (AP Video/Noreen Nasir)

If writing about race would give him a slight edge and show admissions officers a fuller picture of his achievements, he wanted to take that small advantage.

His first memory about race, Decker said, was when he went to get a haircut in elementary school and the barber made rude comments about his curly hair. Until recently, the insecurity that moment created led him to keep his hair buzzed short.

Through Word is Bond, Decker said he found a space to explore his identity as a Black man. It was one of the first times he was surrounded by Black peers and saw Black role models. It filled him with a sense of pride in his identity. No more buzzcut.

The pressure to write about race involved a tradeoff with other important things in his life, Decker said. That included his passion for journalism, like the piece he wrote on efforts to revive a once-thriving Black neighborhood in Portland. In the end, he squeezed in 100 characters about his journalism under the application’s activities section.

“My final essay, it felt true to myself. But the difference between that and my other essay was the fact that it wasn’t the truth that I necessarily wanted to share,” said Decker, whose top college choice is Tulane, in New Orleans, because of the region’s diversity. “It felt like I just had to limit the truth I was sharing to what I feel like the world is expecting of me.”

FILE - Demonstrators protest outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, in this June 29, 2023 file photo, after the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in college admissions, saying race cannot be a factor. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Demonstrators protest outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, in this June 29, 2023 file photo, after the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in college admissions, saying race cannot be a factor. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

SPELLING OUT THE IMPACT OF RACE

Before the Supreme Court ruling, it seemed a given to Imani Laird that colleges would consider the ways that race had touched her life. But now, she felt like she had to spell it out.

As she started her essay, she reflected on how she had faced bias or felt overlooked as a Black student in predominantly white spaces.

There was the year in math class when the teacher kept calling her by the name of another Black student. There were the comments that she’d have an easier time getting into college because she was Black .

“I didn’t have it easier because of my race,” said Laird, a senior at Newton South High School in the Boston suburbs who was accepted at Wellesley and Howard University, and is waiting to hear from several Ivy League colleges. “I had stuff I had to overcome.”

In her final essays, she wrote about her grandfather, who served in the military but was denied access to GI Bill benefits because of his race.

She described how discrimination fueled her ambition to excel and pursue a career in public policy.

“So, I never settled for mediocrity,” she wrote. “Regardless of the subject, my goal in class was not just to participate but to excel. Beyond academics, I wanted to excel while remembering what started this motivation in the first place.”

Hillary Amofa stands for a portrait after practice with members of the Lincoln Park High School step team Friday, March 8, 2024, in Chicago. When she started writing her college essay, Amofa told the story she thought admissions offices wanted to hear. She wrote about being the daughter of immigrants from Ghana, about growing up in a small apartment in Chicago. She described hardship and struggle. Then she deleted it all. "I would just find myself kind of trauma-dumping," said the 18 year-old senior, "And I'm just like, this doesn't really say anything about me as a person." (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Hillary Amofa stands for a portrait after practice with members of the Lincoln Park High School step team, March 8, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

WILL SCHOOLS LOSE RACIAL DIVERSITY?

Amofa used to think affirmative action was only a factor at schools like Harvard and Yale. After the court’s ruling, she was surprised to find that race was taken into account even at some public universities she was applying to.

Now, without affirmative action, she wondered if mostly white schools will become even whiter.

It’s been on her mind as she chooses between Indiana University and the University of Dayton, both of which have relatively few Black students. When she was one of the only Black students in her grade school, she could fall back on her family and Ghanaian friends at church. At college, she worries about loneliness.

“That’s what I’m nervous about,” she said. “Going and just feeling so isolated, even though I’m constantly around people.”

Hillary Amofa reads her college essay on embracing her natural hair. (AP Video/Noreen Nasir)

The first drafts of her essay focused on growing up in a low-income family, sharing a bedroom with her brother and grandmother. But it didn’t tell colleges about who she is now, she said.

Her final essay tells how she came to embrace her natural hair . She wrote about going to a mostly white grade school where classmates made jokes about her afro. When her grandmother sent her back with braids or cornrows, they made fun of those too.

Over time, she ignored their insults and found beauty in the styles worn by women in her life. She now runs a business doing braids and other hairstyles in her neighborhood.

“I stopped seeing myself through the lens of the European traditional beauty standards and started seeing myself through the lens that I created,” Amofa wrote.

“Criticism will persist, but it loses its power when you know there’s a crown on your head!”

Ma reported from Portland, Oregon.

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org .

COLLIN BINKLEY

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