Word of the Day: Fortitude (CRC) | Courage That Keeps You Moving
What Does “Fortitude” Mean?
Fortitude means having the inner strength to face difficulty, pain, fear, or adversity with courage.
Merriam-Webster defines fortitude as “strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage.” The word comes through Middle English from Latin fortitudo, meaning strength, firmness, or courage. It is connected to the Latin word fortis, meaning “strong.”
In everyday language, fortitude means staying steady when something is hard: and choosing to keep moving forward.
Fortitude in Action
Fortitude supports success and builds community because it helps us keep learning, asking for help, and showing up for others when challenges arise.
A young reader may show fortitude by:
Reading one more page after meeting a difficult word
Asking a trusted adult to explain something confusing
Practicing a skill instead of giving up after one mistake
Speaking up respectfully when something feels unfair
Making a safe choice online, even when friends are pressuring them
Encouraging a younger sibling or friend who is still building reading confidence
Fortitude does not mean never feeling nervous, disappointed, or frustrated. It means recognizing those feelings and taking the next positive step anyway.
Fortitude and Reading Confidence
Reading confidence grows through practice, patience, and encouragement. When children see books that reflect their identities, families, neighborhoods, and dreams, reading can feel more welcoming and meaningful.
In barbershops and other trusted community spaces, a young person can read aloud, talk about a character, or discover a new word without feeling alone. A barber, caregiver, mentor, or educator can remind them:
“You do not have to know everything today. You only have to stay willing to learn.”
That message can change how a young reader sees a challenge. A difficult paragraph becomes a chance to practice. An unfamiliar word becomes an invitation to grow. A mistake becomes information: not a final judgment.
Through FROM THE BARBERSHOP TO THE BOARDROOM, CRC connects literacy with confidence, identity, civic engagement, and future leadership. Through Youth Workforce Development and Training, young people build the communication, preparation, and self-belief they need to move from the shop to the professional world.
Try “Fortitude” in a Sentence
“Jamal showed fortitude when he kept practicing his presentation and encouraged his classmates to participate.”
You can also say:
“I used fortitude when I asked for help with my reading.”
“Our team showed fortitude by solving the problem together.”
“Fortitude helps me make safe and respectful choices.”
“My friend showed fortitude by trying again after a setback.”
Today’s Youth Challenge
Choose one small challenge and face it with fortitude today:
Read for five minutes, even if you would rather stop.
Learn one new word and use it in a sentence.
Ask a trusted adult one question about something you want to understand.
Encourage someone else who is having a difficult day.
Take one safe, positive action in your school, family, barbershop, or community.
When you finish, say:
“I can be courageous, keep learning, and take my next step.”
A Parent or Caregiver Prompt
Ask your child:
“What is something that felt difficult this week, and what helped you keep going?”
Listen without rushing to solve the problem. Celebrate the effort, the question they asked, the page they read, or the safe choice they made. Those small moments help children understand that courage can be practiced every day.
You might also share a time when you needed fortitude. Your story can show that strength is not about being perfect. It is about continuing with support, purpose, and hope.
The Takeaway
Fortitude is courage with staying power.
It helps young people read through challenges, speak with confidence, participate safely, and recognize their ability to strengthen the community around them. One determined step can lead to another: and those steps can open a path from literacy to leadership.
Keep learning. Keep showing up. Keep moving forward. That is fortitude.
Learn More and Connect with CRC
Explore The Competitive Readers Coalition, read more on the CRC blog, or get involved.
Website: crcbooks.org
LinkedIn: The Competitive Readers Coalition
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