Courage: the ability to do something that frightens one, or show strength in the face of pain or grief. That is the dictionary definition of the word courage, sounds easy enough, but to me it means to be unique, to do the things others won't do, and to not follow in the shadow of others. During my senior year, my best friend and I were co- captains on the Color Guard team; she ended up having to drop out of guard during the beginning of the marching season, and leaving the responsibility of leading the guard on my shoulders. I had to find the courage to lead the guard throughout the marching season. I wasn’t ready for that kind of responsibility but everyone was counting on me. If I hadn’t found the courage to lead then and there, the color guard would have been led by a less experienced member and that would not have been good. It takes courage to step up and take the reins when you don’t have to.