3/18/2021

10th Hour
Expository Essay

Bravery In The Midst Fear

Images of bravery, heroism, and courage have captivated humans since the

dawn of time. It is in our nature that makes us admire these amazing feats, that, at first

glance, seems insane, but upon closer examination reveals a tale of grit and

determination. It is this human obsession that inspired many to define the characteristic

that explains it all --- bravery.

According to Webster's dictionary, bravery can simply be defined as, “the quality

or state of having or showing mental or moral strength to face danger.” In a heroic

aspect, it is someone who faces danger without a hint of fear. However, the common

man cannot face such challenges without fear. Does this mean they are not brave? Is

society divided into two groups: the brave and the “brave-not”? Of course not.

Many people hold this misconception about bravery. They believe that in order to

be brave they need to be without fear. But being brave and fearless are two different

things. Military soldiers are terrified of war, stuntmen are terrified of death,

businessmen are terrified of failure. But they continue to push on despite the fear. Yet,

here is another thought. Do people skydive because they are unafraid of death? Or is it

that they are willing to do it despite the fear.

Oftentimes, when people think about skydiving, they think about their fear of

height or death. These thoughts alone are enough for many to give up on skydiving. But

for others, they understand that “bravery is being terrified and doing it anyway,” (Laurell

K Hamilton). These people are willing to acknowledge the fear and do it anyway.
Indeed, to fear something is not necessarily bad. Fear is a human's natural instinct.

Much like animals, fear releases stress hormones and adrenaline. This ability allows us

to sense fear, allowing us to make quick life or death decisions. Fear is a key trait in the

survival of humans. However, that doesn't mean humans cannot advance past the fear,

to go past the limit, to see what they are really capable of.

Bravery isn’t just applied to someone doing something as absurd as skydiving or

sacrificing their lives. Bravery can also be applied to challenges that are seemingly

harmless such as public speaking or asking someone to prom. These people do not test

their fear of death but rather their fear of speaking in public, embarrassment, or failure.

Again, these thoughts prevent many from trying something new or learning a new skill.

This is a foreign concept for many in which they believe that they cannot be brave if

they fear failure. But in fact: Bravery cannot exist without fear.

Bravery, in a way, is often associated with heroes. A person who is willing to put

themselves in danger to help or protect another. Instances of documented bravery can

be seen through the heroes of the Space Race. The space race began in 1969 which

was a race between the Soviet Union and the United States to prove superiority in

military firepower, technology, and political system. Bravery was an often theme in an

attempt to put a man on the moon. JFK was brave when he declared, “We choose to go

to the Moon in this decade.” The thought of landing on the moon is unimaginable given

the period. To declare such a promise requires bravery. JFK inspired brave leaders such

as Neil Armstong and NASA to make this challenge become a reality. On July 20, 1969,

10:56 p.m. ET, Neil Armstrong put his left foot on the lunar surface and famously

declared, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
 Bravery is closely tied to selflessness. Selflessness is when you put yourself in

danger to help or protect another. Neil Armstrong demonstrated selflessness when he

stepped on the moon. He put himself in danger without a guarantee of survival to

advance mankind. The bravery of Armstong, engineers, scientists, and Americans has

allowed humanity to achieve the impossible.

Although bravery is associated with heroes of the past, we can see examples of

bravery can be seen in every community. Look no further than your local police station

or fire station. Policemen are brave when they enforce justice. Firemen are brave when

they save lives. Perhaps bravery can also be seen through self sacrifices. Much like

Neil Armtong, who sacrifices the future of mankind, mothers and teachers can also be

heroes. Mothers are brave when they sacrifice themselves for the future of their

children. Teachers are brave when they invest in the next generation. Practicing acts of

bravery can prepare a person to live a heroic life that unites the community to achieve

something greater than themselves

Above all, bravery is a gift to humanity. “Remember that bravery is not the lack of

fear but the ability to move forward despite the fear,” (Anonymous) is a simple yet

meaningful quote that perfectly describes the role of bravery in the world. Bravery has

no doubt contributed to every aspect of a person’s life, necessary for society to function

today. Without bravery, the world would be much different. Perhaps one lacking in

leaders, policemen, doctors, daredevils, or even athletes. Bravery inspires people to

become better than themself. Bravery inspires competition among humans that unites

the world together to break seemingly impossible barriers.

Bibliography

“Dictionary by Merriam-Webster: America's Most-Trusted Online

Dictionary.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster,

www.merriam-webster.com/.

History.com Editors. “1969 Moon Landing.” History.com, A&E Television

Networks, 23 Aug. 2018,

www.history.com/topics/space-exploration/moon-landing-1969.