Courage is to be brave and not to be fearful about a lot of things in life. I realized I had courage when I learned I could speak up when something wasn’t right, when I was able to stand up for something I believed in at the time, when I wasn’t so fearful for what was going to happen in those situations.

It was hard for me to talk to someone about my problems when I wasn’t okay. I didn’t know how others would react to my story if I tell them. I wouldn’t want them to think bad of me or give me sympathy because of my past.

Alateen has given me the courage to be able to help others, to look someone in their eyes and let them know everything will be okay in the end, to be brave and not be afraid for what lies ahead of me, to think about me before others.

By Katelin

Alateen Talk, Spring 2017