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Alyssa McIlhany
Professor Enns
Foundations of Learning GSU1107
25th April 2017
Assignment 6-1: Building Resilience Essay: Final Draft

Courage is an attribute that is essential for long term success in the life of a college student.

Being willing to learn new things and move forward toward a vocational long-term

position is something that can often take a great amount of courage, especially during ones

college years. There are many fears and unknown aspects about future direction during the

college years of life, which is why courage is so important for overcoming those fears.

In 2 Timothy 1:7, Paul encourages the young pastor Timothy in his ministry by telling

him that God did not give his children a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of

self-discipline (Ryrie). It is important to identify what causes fear in order to speak truth over

that fear and truly live life the way God designed it to be lived.

Reasons for not moving forward:

Many of the greatest threats that keep a young person from moving forward without

reserve in a vocational direction are internal fears, lack of vision, and a lack of wisdom.

Internal fears can be incredibly crippling because they are within the battlefield of the

mind. The human mind is a powerful place. Not only is it important to identify specific internal

fears, one must also determine the validity of those fears in light of future planning. Koerner

wrote in her article called Accounts of Workplace Courage about a series of studies in which

some of the different obstacles that require courage to overcome them are listed as intentionality

of action, presence of personal fear, nobility of purpose, and known substantial personal risk

(Koerner 66).The first step in overcoming a fear is finding where it rooted inside of ones self.
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Sometimes the lack of vision or inability to see success for ones future can keep a young

person from ever trying to move forward or even making goals. Perhaps ones family legacy has

been full of failure and lacking in solid role models to look up to. This kind of personal history

can hinder ones ability to cast vision and act on personal goals.

Wisdom is knowing what is right and wrong in a situation, and acting on what is right. To

lack the ability to think wisely about different situations can be an overwhelming obstacle in

trying to set long-term goals. One may move forward without wisdom, but the road may be very

rough indeed. Smith said it well in his book:

True courage might actually mean backing away from something with a resolve to

quietly leave and move elsewhere. In other words, wisdom and courage are partners. If an

action is cavalier and perhaps even irresponsible, we do not call it courageous. True

courage is marked by prudence. (Smith 146)

Pillars of godly courage:

Some essential pillars to having true godly courage, especially in the educational realm,

are moral integrity and patience. Integrity is consistently doing what is right not matter the

company present. A life patterned in integrity will result in courageous steps. Integrity comes

with having to stand strong on convictions that other people might not understand or agree with

and this takes courage. The result of living with integrity is having the trust of everyone who

values what is right.

Another mark of true courage is that of patience. Patience is commonly understood as an

ability to control ones emotions and not be frustrated with someone or something. While this is

true, patience is also a choice that is essential for working toward and fulfilling long term goals

in life. The display of patience shows that someone understands when something is worth
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waiting for. Making a life decision in courage usually is accompanied by patience (Smith 145-

147). A college education definitely takes a great amount of patience.

There can be times in life when a person knows what the right choice to make is, but their

courage is lacking. Whether a decision is pursuing a large life decision or simply taking

responsibility for a personal failure, courage is needed. In Exodus 3, obeying in courage was not

Moses first response when God called him to go back to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. He was

looking at what God was calling him to do only in light of his own abilities, or rather inabilities,

and his fear overwhelmed him. When all that is looked at is ones self there will always be either

fear, or an unhealthy prideful confidence. Godly courage is found in positioning ones self under

Gods power and plan. When life is viewed as a gift that is secure in Gods hands, people can be

empowered to do unbelievably courageous things. When eternity with Christ is the end goal that

is kept in sight, all the decisions and actions of obedience in this life begin to look less

frightening and taking steps of courage becomes a natural part of everyday life.

Growing in confidence in the academic pursuit:

In the position of a college student, identifying Gods specific calling for a life is

something that can often take time and purposeful actions. Also, one of the biggest steps where

courage is needed is at the beginning of starting an academic pursuit. Making a plan and setting

goals for furthering ones education can be daunting tasks, but they are essential steps for success

in the long term.

For Christian college students applying themselves to their education, courage does not

mean there is an absence of fear, but it does mean that integrity and patience, accompanied by

vision and faithful planning, will be evident characteristics found in the decisions they make.
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Work Cited

Koerner, Melissa M. Courage as Identity Work: Accounts of Workplace Courage. Academy of

Management Journal. Feb2014, Vol. 57 Issue 1, p63-93. 31p. Web. 2010. Accessed 8

April. 2017.

Ryrie. NIV. New International Version. Ryrie Study Bible. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 1984.

Print.

Smith, Gordan T. Courage and Calling: Embracing Your God GivenPotential. InterVarsity Press.

Downers Grove, IL. 2011. Print.