Casey the Cougar Says, “I Can, I Will! - A Children's Story

 Casey the Cougar Says, “I Can, I Will!

By Bill Conley – America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller

Moral of the Story:

Believing in yourself is the first step toward achieving your goals. When you see your dream clearly, you give yourself a reason to keep going. “I can” tells your mind that it’s possible; “I will” promises that you’ll make it happen. Setting your goal in front of you every day keeps you focused and determined. Great achievements come from small, steady steps forward. Doubt is the enemy of progress; faith in yourself is the fuel for success. Every champion was once a beginner who simply refused to quit. When you combine belief with action, you can turn any dream into reality.

Casey the Cougar lived in the tall pine hills above Timber Valley.
She was fast, strong, and agile, but more than anything, Casey had a big dream.

“I want to win the Valley Cup Track Championship this year,” she told her best friend, Benny the Beaver, one crisp autumn afternoon.

“That’s the toughest race in the whole region,” Benny said, gnawing thoughtfully on a stick. “Do you really think you can do it?”

Casey’s eyes lit up. “Benny, I don’t just think I can. I know I can. And I will.”

Benny tilted his head. “That sounds like your new catchphrase.”

Casey grinned. “It is. ‘I can. I will.’ And in the middle, I put my goal. Like this—” She picked up a stick and scratched in the dirt:

I CAN
Win the Valley Cup Track Championship
I WILL

“That’s my goal,” Casey said proudly. “And I’m going to look at it every single day until I win.”

Making the Plan

The next morning, Casey taped a big piece of paper to the wall above her bed with her phrase written in big, bold letters. She used bright colors so she’d see it the moment she woke up:

I CAN
Win the Valley Cup Track Championship
I WILL

She read it out loud every morning. Then she asked herself, “What do I need to do today to make this happen?”

Her plan was simple but powerful:

1.     Run every day, rain or shine.

2.     Eat healthy food to keep her body strong.

3.     Get enough sleep to recover.

4.     Visualize winning the race.

But more importantly, she decided she wouldn’t let excuses stop her.

The First Challenge

One frosty morning, Casey peeked out the window and saw snow falling hard. She groaned. “It’s too cold. Maybe I’ll skip running today.”

Then she looked at the paper above her bed:
I CAN
Win the Valley Cup Track Championship
I WILL

She took a deep breath. “If I want to win, I have to train, even in the snow.”

Bundling up, she went out for her run. Her paws slipped a few times, but she pushed forward. When she came home, her cheeks were red, but her heart felt proud.

The Voice of Doubt

One day at school, a fox named Felix smirked at her. “You? Win the Valley Cup? No one’s ever beaten Sierra the Cheetah. She’s the fastest animal in the valley!”

Casey felt her stomach twist. Felix’s words stung, but when she got home, she stood in front of her paper and read it aloud three times. “I can. I will. I can. I will. I can. I will.”

She reminded herself: Doubt is the enemy. Belief is the fuel.

Team Spirit

Even though it was a solo race, Casey found support from her friends. Benny biked alongside her during long runs, cheering her on. Patty the Parrot would call out from the trees, “Go, Casey! You can do it!”

One afternoon, Casey told them, “When you believe in yourself, it’s easier when others believe in you too. But the belief has to start with you.”

The Day of the Race

The morning of the Valley Cup was clear and bright. The track wound around the valley floor, through meadows and over small hills. All the animals gathered to watch. Sierra the Cheetah stretched confidently, her sleek tail swishing.

Casey took a deep breath. She closed her eyes and pictured her paper at home.
I CAN
Win the Valley Cup Track Championship
I WILL

The starting whistle blew. Casey sprinted forward, her muscles warmed from months of training. Sierra leapt ahead, but Casey didn’t panic. She remembered her plan: pace herself, stay steady, and push hardest at the end.

The Final Stretch

By the halfway mark, Sierra still led, but Casey was closing the gap. Her legs burned, her chest heaved, but she kept thinking: I can. I will.

As they rounded the final turn, Casey saw her chance. Sierra slowed slightly on the uphill. Casey surged forward with every ounce of energy she had.

The crowd roared as she crossed the finish line—a whisker ahead of Sierra.

Benny jumped up and down. “You did it, Casey! You really did it!”

Casey beamed. “Yes, I can. And I did.”

The Lesson

At the award ceremony, Casey held the Valley Cup high. “This isn’t just about running,” she told the crowd. “It’s about believing in yourself, setting your goal, and working for it every single day. Whatever your dream is—write it down, say ‘I can, I will,’ and don’t stop until it’s yours.”

A Useful Word to the Story

I can is the spark that lights the flame. I will is the promise that keeps it burning.
Your goal in the middle is the map you follow. See it daily, believe it deeply, and chase it bravely. Small steps taken each day lead to great victories. Excuses are the weeds that slow your growth—pull them out. Your belief shapes your action, and your action shapes your success. When you live by “I can, I will,” you turn dreams into reality.

Moral to the Story – Poem

I can is the dream that starts in your heart,
I will is the strength to finish your part.
Write down your goal, keep it clear in your view,
And each day take steps to make it come true.
Don’t fear the hard days, they’re part of the fight,
Keep moving forward with all of your might.
When belief meets action, the victory’s near,
Say “I can, I will,” and the path will be clear.

Think About It!

1.     What is one big goal you would write between “I can” and “I will”?

2.     How would looking at that goal every day help you stay focused?

3.     What could you do if someone told you your goal was impossible?