First Post: Courage

Courage:
Write about a moment in your life when you where courageous. Explain what that moments reveal about your identity/personality.
There was once a time when I was really scared of swimming. I was afraid I'd fall and drown into the depths if I didn't hold on to something. I eventually overcame my fear when I practiced alot at school with my high school swimming teacher. My teacher asked me countless times to be courageous and just swim across the lane, a two meter distance. At first he'd ask me to swim across a small distance. Then the distance became wider and wider and finally I'd swum across the whole lane by myself. My teacher had told me to be brave and not to worry because if I started falling he would catch me. It took me years just to listen to that small request, but I had finally overcame my fear and I felt great.
I don't think that one small moment when I was courageous can tell much about my identity/personality. However, from that one moment I learned something that proved to be useful throughout my life till now. I learned to take a chance, even though it may be risky and I might not be right. When I had started to swim across that lane, I had finally taken a chance that I was afraid of doing. Before I wouldn't even raise up my hand in class because I'd be afraid of my answer not being right. Many of the times when I wouldn't I would be right and be ashamed of myself for not taking the chance. When I started to believe in myself and be courageous, I found out that I had learned a good lesson. Taking my chance at that swimming pool was a right choice. Of course, not all the chances you take can have positive results. Sometimes I feel embarrassed that I had raised my hand to find out that I had the wrong answer. But taking chances is still a chance worth taking. I've learned that I've had better results when I it. This may not be true for all of you, but I don't think hiding and being in the safe zone all the time is right. Sometime or later you'll regret that moment when you didn't take the chance. You must be courageous and brave to get through life. I've learned to be a more courageous person, someone who takes chances even though they might not have made the right decision. I'm not altogether the most brave kid in the school, and I sometimes still don't raise my hand in class everytime I know the answer. However, I'm not so shy anymore, and I have finally been told to shush instead of speak more. I've changed. I've changed since that small moment in my life when I decided to cross that swimming lane.