I want to start off by saying that I never do this. I never voice my opinion on controversial topics. I avoid the opinion section at my school’s newspaper as much as possible. I’m not sure why I have such a fear; it’s just something that is completely out of my comfort zone. A feeling I’m sure Caitlyn Jenner knows a lot about. I’m not here to tell you my beliefs and my religious background to make way for the understanding of Caitlyn Jenner. But if you would like to know I am Catholic, attend church every Sunday with my mom when I can, and I pray constantly. But what I am here to express are my thoughts on the term “courage” and the way that I feel Caitlyn Jenner has filled the shoes of that word quite well.

The Arthur Ashe Courage Award is a sports-oriented award and is presented to people who “transcend sports,” or in other words, rise above sports. Many think Jenner deserved it, many think she didn’t, many believe in the decisions she has made and others don’t. I’m not here to sway you in a certain direction; I’m here to justify the meaning of courage that Jenner exemplifies extremely well.

Jenner has accumulated the feeling of being “stuck” in a body that wasn’t hers for over 60 years. I couldn’t imagine standing in front of the mirror every morning and looking back at something that I didn’t like. Sure I have bad hair days here and there and sometimes I don’t like the outfit I’m wearing, but that’s maybe once a week. She had to deal with these feelings and emotions for over 60 years, not just for a week. Jenner is a great example of courage because she chose to reveal to the world her true colors. She chose to tell the world her secret when it’s something a lot of people disagree with. She chose to tell the world what she had been feeling even when she know the brutal attacks, nasty comments, and judgement of others were just waiting for her. That’s courage. To do something you believe in, even when everyone disagrees with it. She chose to do this even when she knew what was on the other side. To reveal herself as something the world doesn’t agree with, that’s courage.

Courage doesn’t discriminate. It comes in a variety of forms, shapes, colors, and genders. She believed in herself and her feelings, despite the criticism that prevailed. That my friends, is courage. And I’m not saying that Lauren Hill (the college basketball player that passed away from cancer) wasn’t deserving of this award because she was. The perseverance to continue to play although facing a deadly disease is nothing but courage. I’m not saying that Army Veteran Noah Galloway who lost an arm and a leg in Iraq and now runs marathons and has come back to impressive shape isn’t deserving of this award, because like Lauren, he is. He is an incredible example of courage. But you can’t sit here and tell me that Jenner didn’t face courage. It doesn’t matter if he is a transgender, a woman, or a man, it really doesn’t. He has expressed courage through his trials. Whether you believe that the decision Jenner made was wrong or right, that’s up to you. At the end of the day, Jenner expressed courage and has made way for others to express courage. For the 12 year old boy or girl that is confused and worried about the different ways they may be feeling. Or what about the teenager that is nervous to come out or say something because he doesn’t want to lose his friends. Or the many people out there that are afraid they won’t be loved because of who they are. Jenner may not be a role model to you but she is a hero to the many kids, women, and men that are going through what she went through.

Maybe I just have too big of a heart. Maybe I care a bit more than others. I’m not really sure what it is, but I can’t fathom the physical emotions that play out over more than 60 years for Jenner. So for many of you saying, “she’s a waste,” or “she just put on a dress,” I want you to think of walking in her shoes for a day. Think of living with a secret that everyone disagrees with, shames, and finds disgusting. Would you tell anyone? Would you be afraid that others may not love you?

Whether you agree with Jenner or not, whether you agree with the decision ESPN made or not, at the end of the day courage comes in a many different shapes, sizes, forms, and types. So no, Jenner didn’t just “put on a dress,” she had the courage to do something to make herself happy knowing the negative backlash, degrading words, that were going to be said. You have no idea what someone else is going through. She has evolved the transgender community and through her courage to express who she really is, she has saved many lives and kept many people believing that people love you just the way you are.

I think I also gained some courage today too.