I recently attended a storyteller’s workshop with about thirty-five people of all ages. As I took my seat, I noticed a quiet young woman already sitting nearby. I introduced myself and got a shy response and quick glance as I sat beside her. Gently, she told me her name. When I introduced her to the woman on my other side, she gave a small nod and smile, but stayed quiet through the first session.

Then something beautiful happened.

During the first break, the woman next to me mentioned her English sheepdog—and in an instant, everything changed. The shy girl lit up. She leaned in. She shared funny stories about her own dog and the love she has for it. Her voice grew stronger, her presence more confident. It was as if a door had quietly opened, and she stepped through it.

Later, when we were asked to pair up and share what we write, I asked her what kind of stories she created. Her eyes sparkled. “Dystopian fiction,” she said then passionately described the five novels she’d written, most of them over 350 pages. She writes during lunch instead of joining the usual social bustle. It’s her passion. It grounds her.

Then came the surprise -- she was only 15 years old.

I imagined the courage it must have taken for her to enter a room full of adults and, as she said, “who have so much more life experience than me.” I recognized that she has already developed a commitment to her craft by showing up.

And she didn’t come alone. I learned her mom had brought her and spent more than six hours in the lobby. Her aunt had given her a beautiful, embossed journal for her favorite writing ideas, and a close friend had gifted her another journal for her works in progress. She had a small tribe that believed in her.

When the session shifted to a discussion about editing and rewriting, she shared a story that made me pause. After completing her fifth draft of a book, she thought of a new direction for one of her characters. She knew it would mean deleting or reworking sections she’d spent hours writing. But instead of clinging to what she had, she followed the new idea. “I just knew it would make the story better,” she said.

Many adults hesitate to scrap their work once they feel the pride of authorship. They fear the extra effort or resist the change to their masterpiece. But she dove in, embracing the creative process with boldness and trust.

During one session, we were asked to respond to the writing prompt: “What is the bravest thing you’ve done recently?” While others took time to gather their thoughts, I looked at her and quietly said, “I think you’re brave – for taking on this learning today. I’m sure it would have been easier to write in private.” She smiled and said she wanted to learn more.

By the end of the day, she was making others laugh, sharing more openly, and offering encouragement to others in the room. I realized that her courage came from more than just showing up. It came from knowing her why. “I have stories inside me that I just need to write,” she told me.

Courage Isn't Always Loud

This workshop reminded me: courage isn’t always loud, and it isn’t reserved for grand gestures. It’s in the quiet decisions we make to show up, speak up, or try again. It’s in being willing to connect, to create, and to revise. Comfort might keep us safe, but it rarely helps us grow.

This 15-year-old writer didn’t wait until she felt “ready.” She followed her passion. She practiced. She learned. And when the moment came to stretch herself—she did.

Whether you're 15 or 83, courage fuels learning. It’s what keeps you going after a fifth draft. It’s what invites change when something better is possible. It’s what nudges you past the fear of being different, behind, or imperfect.

Courage in Learning

Think about your own learning journey. Where are you choosing comfort over courage?

You don’t need a perfect plan—just a willingness to act. Growth begins in that brave moment when you stop waiting and start trying. Choose courage. That’s where learning lives.

And if you lead others, remember courageous learning is often messy—your role is to create the space where it's safe to try, stumble, and grow.

Want to take the next step? Download our Comfort to Courage – Learning Confidence activity for practical ways to build brave learning habits.