The definition of courage from any individual can vary in many ways, encompassing different approaches to overcoming fear; however, not everyone experiences the same difficulties. At Missouri State University, discoveries were brought to life through the differences of loud and quiet courage. One of the many people to walk the halls of the college is Jim Geallion, a U.S. Navy commander veteran and a 1962 graduate. Geallion became part of the Commander Naval Activities United Kingdom (COMNAVACTUK) for twenty years and overcame a massive amount of memories of courage. For background, the former U.S Command was established in 1965 and was decommissioned in 2007.
Out of all the twenty years he had served, the most courageous moment became more of a sight, “What courage means to me, what I saw out at the national cemetery,” Geallion said. “A pharmacist made second class kill on Irojimo, received a congressional medal of honor. What did he do? Rings were getting shot and getting wounded. When in the old corner up, he crawled out of his popshole and ran into Japanese bullets to save that man’s life.”
In terms of heroes, it became more known that the quiet courageous were the loudest in the room, “I have an uncle, one day his ammo belt broke and if he hadn’t bent over, he’d have 220 mm German cannon shells at his back and he said he never talked about it,” said Gaellion. “Most of the real heroes don’t talk about it.”
MSU contains a multitude of opportunities for students and newcomers to express themselves through religious ways, some of the clubs surfacing around campus being the Student Mobilization Organization and the Salt College Ministry. Reaching out and spreading their religion took courage to open up to the people they crowded themselves around. Sophomore Savannah Ipock became a part of a college ministry called “Salt Company” that has churches all across the country that go around and share the word of God with other students.
“So I have a lot of conversations about Jesus with people that might not want to hear it, so sometimes that takes a lot of courage,” Ipock said.
With courage, it can result in life lesson values. “Sometimes it goes really well and you end up making friends with people that you’ll know for the rest of your life, so I feel like it kind of shows that courage can be worth it, because sometimes it really works out,” Ipock said.
Amongst the other students, Junior, Isaac Will, faced the fear of reaching out and is also a part of the ministry. One thing that Will emphasized was the social aspect of college, being something he had to be courageous about in his life.
“ …Some of the social anxiety stuff, just reaching out to new people, saying hi, even though it’s difficult,” Will said.
Students can encounter peer pressure in many ways, and it can take a lot of bravery to say no. “I think peer pressure is a huge thing, especially in high school, but to overcome it takes a lot of courage and self-worth, knowing who you are,” Will said.
Also at MSU, senior Jared Lloyd gave his definition of courage and what it meant to him. “Someone who perseveres and gets through their challenges in life,” says Lloyd. Last year, he was injured during the season and became a redshirt athlete. Courage for an athlete meant refusing to give up, even when the pain and fear take over. When experiencing his injury, he overcame some challenges that he wouldn’t have had to face if he hadn’t been injured. “Sitting out of football for a year, I’m not used to that, so it’s kinda stepping out of my comfort zone,” said Lloyd. Courage for him wasn’t about getting back on the field after a rough time; it was about staying strong and believing in himself.
In terms of a new environment, many people become uneasy socializing with new people, but courage overcomes anxiety. For senior Mark Wynn, courage meant opening up and talking to new people. “In my class, we have to teach kids, and it’s helped me come out of my shell, like talking to new people and talking to the kids and teaching them in front of a group of people,” said Wynn.
Sometimes, simply talking to new people for the first time can be a great act of courage. Overcoming fears is another large display of courage. “When getting into study groups, and talking to new people and trying to make connections in college,” said Wynn.
