Courage

I believe courage to be not the absence of fear or doubt or despair but the strength to conquer and persevere. Allowing doubt to overwhelm can lead to destruction. In Deo’s case, he could have given up while on the run and wound up dead. Or he could have lost all hope while in New York. Or even worse, he could have given in to all his anger and sadness on his return home, and turned into a man out for revenge. But he didn’t do any of this. He did, of course have doubts, and in his case, many of them remained in his head and not expressed to others. He says clearly, “You know how many times I just thought I would give up” (239). I don’t believe anyone could read his story and argue that he wasn’t strong-willed. So why do certain people have such a capacity to persist, such drive? At first I thought part of the reason for Deo, was his independence and although it served its detrimental action of loneliness, I believed it to be a reason for survival, at least while on the run. Deo was grounded enough to not fall to the persuasion or fear of others. He didn’t allow others to get into his head and cause conflict. He was always conflicted as to why people could do such horrible things, but he never questioned his view values of right or wrong. He never questioned his purpose. He solely fought for his survival. “I really have been successful in finding my own peaceful corners. On my own” (188).
Another reason for his survival was his education and passion for learning. He left his mind open and “trained [it to be] flexible” (188). He kept questioning and never damaged himself by being set in stone about it all. Through his philosophy studies and general education, he found a way to engage his mind for growth, to find and foster curiosity, and to actively keep his mind from being trapped my hatred. With a dispositioned sense of compassion, war in Burundi and the sights of violence and hate created more compassion. He took the energy source, digested it with whatever he had, and regenerated energy back into life. Even in all his trials and tribulations, he found space to be humble, engaged, and “always leave room for uncertainty”
I will never know what it’s like to be Deo. I will never know how it feels to be him, to know what he knows and see what he’s seen. But I do know I can learn from him. I am truly inspired. Like Kidder says “These were truisms, things everyone should learn in college.” I can only hope to have Deo’s optimism, call to action, and intelligence.