Tell us "What being a hero means to you" in 500 words or less...

The moral structure in which the world was built upon has defined good and evil. The evils of genocide, terrorism, and war have allowed extraordinary individuals to emerge from the crowds of ordinary people. Tragedies have shined a beam of light upon those who are empathetic and are willing to make sacrifices. They may not come in a bold red cape, a fancy, top of the line bat mobile, or carry a hammer and command the skies, but they carry actions that are justifiable and righteous. Heroes are individuals who act on their own moral beliefs displaying selflessness and self-sacrifice.

History books define heroes as people like Gandhi or President Eisenhower. Although inspiring and eminent heroes are appreciated, it is not necessary to save a country or win a war in order to be hero. While a donation to a children’s hospital may not brand you on the forehead with the word hero, it does not make you any less of a hero to those who benefit from your generosity. It is the small, seemingly trivial acts of kindness that represent the most common and overlooked kind of heroes, everyday heroes. They are not public figures. They are not obvious role models. They blend in with the mass of people you see at church on Sunday. They may or may not be wearing a uniform or be running in and out of burning buildings. They are human and they are fallible. But they possess compassion, affection, and courage to set aside their own insecurities and fears in order to do good for others, to do what they feel is right.

If you were to ask me who I admire most, I would say the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon. If you were to ask me who my hero was, I would say Dad. My dad is not perfect. He has his own set of problems as does every entity existing on this Earth. I do not particularly admire the way he manages his life nor am I proud that he struggles with finances. However, it is Dad who took me to the boardwalk when I needed relief from the evil that is school work. It is Dad who tries his best to make me smile with nonessential, material gifts that I beg for despite knowing his financial circumstances. It is Dad who is the first person to ask me “What’s wrong?” when I appear glum. He as an individual has personally contributed to my life more than Mr. Ban ever will. It is my Dad that selflessly took care of my every need and did what a father should do, nurture and love.

Heroism does not need to be acknowledged by many. Its existence becomes the weight on the other side of the balance that lifts up corruption and crime. To those that displayed great courage during the tragedy that was September 11 showing the world the strength of humanity in times of peril. Thank you.

A Fire Within

He surreptitiously glides undetected through the stagnant night, watching over his beloved city. He is the guardian of night, the unsung hero, the one and only Batman. Superheroes like him have become the archetypes of what it means to be a hero as society begins to worship the superficiality of physical strength and superpowers. However, it can never be forgotten that the true heroes are those who have compassion, those who have determination, and most importantly, those who are willing to sacrifice.

From the ancient times of Greece, heroes have been celebrated for their valor. The myths of Hercules, Achilles, and Odysseus have transcended time, surviving centuries of history to exist prominently in modern literature. To the ancient Greeks, these heroes were not just tales to entertain, but rather, reflections of Greek morals. Strangely enough, almost every hero met his downfall due to insipid actions driven by hubris. This common facet of the archetypical hero reveals the inherent inability of humanity to create a flawless hero. These foibles ground heroes so that they seem human, relatable to those who face similar conflicts that heroes often confront. This connection between reality and myth indicates humanity’s understanding that, in the end, heroes are ordinary people who lead ordinary lives filled with an extraordinary amount of compassion, honor, and integrity.

The most significant similarity between all heroes is their willingness to sacrifice for strangers, for family, and most significantly, for the good of society. Law enforcement agents and emergency responsive specialists are such heroes. They are some of the most altruistic people, willing to sacrifice everything, even their lives, for the welfare of others as highlighted by the tragedy of 9/11. Many people lost their lives on that disastrous day while others now consequently live physically disabled. What sets these seemingly ordinary people apart from everyone else and truly crowns them heroes is that if they had to relive 9/11, they would make the same sacrifices despite the consequences.

People have forgotten the hidden heroes that exist in their lives, heroes like teachers. Teachers are not necessarily those we meet in classroom settings, but rather people who bestow their wisdom upon us. One exemplary example is Erin Gruwell, the teacher whose dedication led to the publication of The Freedom Writers Diary. Not only did Gruwell teach her students the power of words, the beauty of language, and the depth of human character, but she also gave them a future, one filled with success and freed from violence. This all came with a price: her financial stability and marriage, things that she would give up again in a heartbeat for her students’ sakes.

Destiny is said to choose the heroes of this age; greatness is not won, but bestowed by higher powers. However, in this world, in this world of freewill, heroism is not born from without, but forged from the passion, the fire within.

To Be A Hero


To be a hero is to help someone in need. To be a hero is to stand up for what you believe and behave not as we want but as we ought. To be a hero is to believe in God and to serve rather than be served.

When helping some one in need you must help them, not do what you think will help, but ask them, and humble yourself before them. For it is not the physical help that is the most important but the act of offering the deed and struggling through whatever mental and social barriers there might be preventing you from performing it. So, for example; there is a new student who was ill-at-ease because of other students comments on the excellent work that he turned in. The aforementioned student had been assigned a large project and is having trouble carrying it out of class, 1. you could pretend you don't see and do nothing, or 2. you can swallow the fact that you're are going to be the laughing stock of your classmates and just help him. Sure the project could be as heavy as a load of bricks, but you fought the battle inside your head as you chose to really help someone; that battle is you becoming a hero, like a badge of courage stamped or branded onto your heart.

To stand up for your beliefs is easy for some and hard for others, for me its hard. I want to go with the flow. Thanks to my mother I have tools to suppress my desires and behave as I ought and not how I want. For example, if I believe in God will I have a lesser grade on this essay, will people brush it aside because I am being put in a box of what Christians do and what Christians don't do. These are the problems I faced when deciding to be heroic or not.

To serve rather than be served is to humble yourself in front of the world and be their slave rather than to seek a way for them to serve you. For example,my mother is always serving, the only time she stops her work is when she is sick or in the delivery room. She gave up her career to have five healthy children. She adds to her already high workload by homeschooling us. Every day she teaches a variety of different courses in all different levels, everything that we take is chosen to help us with our weak points or to cultivate certain talents. That takes up almost all of her day leaving little or no time for household duties. She even sacrifices sleep for us. That is a concrete example of an all-giving servant.

To me a hero is helpful, strong when faced with society problems, humble and God-fearing, and and filled with a desire to serve mankind.



By D. Martens

The Parts of a Hero


Heroes have been portrayed as super powerful, all knowing beings who manage to save the day. Whether it's Superman’s unbeatable strength or Wolverine’s regenerative powers, heroes use their abilities to help better humanity and the world as a whole. These mystical powers are disguised in our daily lives as charity, kindness, and love. We are surrounded by many undercover heroes. But what does being a hero mean?

By breaking down the various aspects of a hero helps us get a better image of the hero's appearance and what they stand for.

Part one : A hero's power.

A great hero is supplied with the power of fortitude and benevolence. This allows the hero to obtain the ability to perform random acts of kindness and express great courage during times of adversity and in doing so creates a strong character.

Part two: Heroic qualities

Ingredients include:

-A dash of Compassion
-A handful of Wisdom
-½ cup of Persistence
-A pinch of Confidence

All heroes are also ensured with a good moral compass, one that is functioning, having no scratches or dents. Then gently placed in the heart of the hero and sewn up with a silver lining for optimism.

All of these qualities formulated for the hero to become a passionate leader.



Part three : A hero’s clothing

Heroes don’t need anything fancy.There’s really no need for ultra tight spandex leggings hugging their legs or muscular armory. Heroes are ordinary, and that's the beauty of it. A hero’s originality models the importance of embracing your own self image. Besides, incredible feats can still be accomplished regardless of appearance.


I believe being a hero means making sacrifices for the sake of others. Performing acts of love and compassion out of our own free will. We always see heroes out doing their duties on a daily basis and sadly sometimes go unnoticed. Whether it’s volunteer service, working the night shift at the hospital, diligently fighting wars and protecting our country or purposefully running into buildings to save total strangers. Each one manages to prioritize others above themselves and inspires the public to do the same. Everything a hero is and always will be is an individual that’s willing to change the world for the benefits of one or many.

SPIDER-MAN! BATMAN! SUPERMAN! Do recognize any of these names? Would you consider them heroes? If so, what makes them a hero? What does a hero mean to you?
Heroes are made, not born. Heroes have some attributes that others do not. To me a hero must be motivated, determined, courageous, and dedicated. This is why being a hero is not for just anyone to be. All heroes have their own story in which makes them motivated to do good. For Spider Man, he was determined to stop the crimes so that no one would face the hardship he faced when his uncle was killed. If Spider Man was not determined to take a stand, then justice would not have been served.
Heroes sometimes have to be courageous and do something they never thought they would do. For instance, Batman was terrified of bats, but due to his courage, he conquored his fear. A hero must also be dedicated and willingly sacrifice themselves to help others in need. Superman was willing to jump in front of meteorites, buses, and trains in order to save other people.
A hero is someone who takes a stand and makes a difference in people's lives. No matter how big or small their actions are, their heart is what makes them powerful.

In the midst of voices crying,
Hope desires for a savior.
In the midst of people dying,
What must be done? What favor?

Must hide, must cover
Someone please take these pains away.
Don’t chide, don’t hover
What now? What task? What do we pay?

Oh wait! Oh look! Oh my!
A figure flying in the sky
Oh yes! Oh yes! Oh yes!
Now the villain cannot defy

Shiny cape and filled with wonder,
He’s ready as ever.
Swoops in to fight like a master eagle,
He never says never.

But you should know,
O vibrant youth.
Courage and strength?
This is only part of the truth.

Indeed a true hero must be brave and strong,
Perhaps subtract the abnormal powers.
Let me describe a hero, and follow along.
It’s already obvious a hero is not a coward.

A hero may fly, but a true hero loves.
A hero may save, but a true hero gives.
Constantly putting others above
Thinking selflessly and always forgives.

A true hero believes,
Always ready and always there.
A true hero knows,
All the causes worth fighting for.

It does not matter the shape nor the size,
A true hero loves and never despises.
It does not matter the costume nor the fabulous hair,
A true hero with a strong heart will always have flair.

I’m not hatin’ on the comics,
Nor am I endorsing them as the best.
But I’m not playin’ any tricks,
There are better qualities than the rest.

The insanely cliché “never gives up” really does apply here,
A hero is tenacious, fighting back all the failures and tears.
But it also seems so that a hero is a determined leader,
Envisioning a bright future -- step by step, meter by meter.

Filled with kindness and compassion,
A real hero doesn’t care too much about fashion.
Always deep and always inspiring,
A real hero will never stop tiring.

What matters most and let’s give a toast,
A great hero would never ever boast.
Very wise and very kind,
A great hero is hard to find.

Well now you should know the truth and the gist,
For I just gave you quite a long list.
Heroism is not merely a clear-cut definition,
But rather a life-long goal and vital mission.

A Shocking Disaster On a beautiful sunny morning on September 11,2001 in New York City, workers were happy going to the World Trade Center complex but then, there was a loud explosion in the Twin Towers.Then there were lots of smoke and debris which dusted the whole city.The towers then collapsed.People scattered away from the collapsed buildings. Lots of tears were in peoples' eyes which often made my heart ache, and sometimes makes me cry like those people did.While the towers were collapsing, it had trapped and buried may people that died shortly because of falling debris.But I think that if this ever happened to the terrorists that attacked the towers, they would have a different thought in mind, and I know that they would have the same reaction like we did. So when I grow up, I would like to create a better security system for guaranteed safety for everyone. I would also like to make world peace because it isn't right to harm people with violent ways and that there are many ways to resolve any problem together. If I could accomplish that, then I would like to say thank you to my country for letting my family have a good life here.

Along with many others, at my current age I never really realize that I’m setting myself up for failure. With receiving the popular “book work” education where I do not learn much, I receive little motivation to try new content on my own. Many times, people often get stuck in their everyday routine. While you are trapped in this routine, you sometimes feel nothing can be done about it, and time goes by not even looking your way. To me, a hero overcomes this lifestyle many people try years to get out of.
The first thing that usually comes to people’s minds about heroes is fictional heroes, like superman, but only make a difference in comics and movies. The real superheroes in the world I believe are those that make the decision to make something of themselves. To take the first correct step, and follow through with their choices is a hero to me. With many people living most of their lives in an “unsatisfactory” lifestyle for many years I see it in my best interest to take advantage of my time before it continues to fly by.
Heroes come in many shapes and sizes, offer many different ideals to a variety of people, and come off as a role model. It is not about what you appear on the surface, but what your choices are in life. A hero is someone who is influential, someone who makes a difference, despite whatever negative situation society is throwing at them. At my current state, I am among the rest, no different in the eyes of someone who chose to take the first steps.

The concepts of inspiration and heroism have always been ambiguous to me. Growing up I was frequently asked, “Who is your biggest hero?” and “Who inspires you?” Truth is, I never had a circle. I answered the way they expected me to: naming band members, significant figures in history, my dad, but I never understood the question. To aid me, I found that the dictionary definition of a hero is “a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.” By that denotation, I suppose most people I interact with on a daily basis could be considered heroes.
Evolving from a tiny, newborn baby to an angst-ridden, young adult about to be thrust into the mature world, my list of heroes and role models has shrunk drastically. In my pre-teen days, I would have considered every band member who satisfied my urge of standing up to my educational and familial oppressors a hero. And, trust me, there were quite a few. Nowadays, I find myself in the same stage of my life as those once heroic individuals, complaining about the same daily tasks and facing the same dilemmas. I have become less observant of those around me; occasionally, noting the lack of originality in my peers and turning my focus inward rather than outward. Even so, the heroes in my life that I can identify are very close to me. They have become my friends and mentors, in fact. They are not only courageous, possessing many noble qualities, but they are one of a kind. They face the world everyday with a fresh perspective, never giving advice solely upon what sounds good or what will calm my nerves. They ask for help; they fight for their relationships; they take care of themselves; they are the definition of lionhearted. Most of all, they radiate a sense of security, loves, and light.
Heroism is not necessarily how many kittens you have saved from a fire or how many records you have sold, but simply leaving something behind only you could have left. My heroes are not martyrs, rock stars, or revolutionaries. My heroes are just those of us who make the world a little safer, a little stronger, and a lot less scary.

A hero have many meaning and can be interpreted in different ways. To me, a hero do not need to have super power or being able to do something beyond human ability. In my eyes, my parents are my daily hero. They love and sacrifice unconditionally without expecting for return. I often take them for granted instead of recognizing them as a blessing. My parents nourished me since the day I was born and neve gave up on me. I see my parents as heros because I know they will never fail me.

The dictionary definition of hero is a person admired or idealized for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. I disagree with this assumption of what someone might think of as a hero. What being a hero truly means is to be responsive and generous, while also being persuasive and intuitive. A hero is a person that individuals look up to for more than just rescuing but the helpful qualities they possess as well.
Heroes are well known for their responsiveness like just being there for someone when they are in need to talk or advice and generosity, for instance, helping others without expecting nothing in return. Take for instance parents. Parents are the greatest heroes anyone could ask for! They have the qualities of responsiveness, an example would be when you are having a problem at school and you do not know what to do, a child can always talk to their parents no matter what. Even if a guardian did not know what to do at the time they would just be there for their child. Parents love their children and will always try to find ways to solve the problems of their children like it is their own problems. Not only are parents responsive, they are also generous. Parents like getting their children everything they need and want even if it takes away from them doing for themselves. For example, Christmas time, I do not know if I am the only one but my parents try to get everything on my list that I ask for even if it is unnecessary for me to have. Besides these qualities, there are plenty others like being persuasive and intuitive.
Other characteristics that make up heroes are their persuasiveness and intuitive. An example of this type of hero would be a teacher, a counselor, or a best friend. All these examples show how a hero can have a strong influence or impact on a person in a positive way because teachers, counselors, or a best friend would never want to see you fail. If anything they would want you to live up to their expectations of what they know a person can accomplish. Heroes like this are the people who push those to do better and positive things in their life. Then, as an “achievement,” starts a ripple effect of positive influence because of the hero. Intuitive is also another characteristic of what a hero is to me. Taking the time out to try understanding people without any idea of what they are going through is a hard to do. This is another heroic role of teachers, counselors, and best friends, they are the ones who do not judge a situation because they know that no one person goes through the same thing. Based on their experiences they would try to help out and make it seem as if you are not the only person who has gone through a tough time and will help you get over the situation.

Hero
By Darya Viles

I want to discuss my understanding of the word “hero.” To me, a hero must be someone who lays down her life for someone else, someone who has a sense of justice, and someone who fights fear. A hero is not biased because she is capable of helping everyone she can. A hero’s willingness to help everyone comes from her inner sense of justice. Lastly, a hero is someone who overcomes her fear of the situation putting both her and the other person in danger.
A firefighter in Iran named Omid Bassi shows me how a hero is willing to lay down his life for someone else. Omid went inside a burning house to save a little girl who was trapped inside. He found her in a room full of smoke. He gave her his oxygen mask to save her instead of himself. He knew the danger of smoke inhalation, but he made the decision to help another person. He overcame his own sense of the danger of breathing in smoke, and he also had a sense that justice required that he put the little girl’s life ahead of his own. Although he saved the girl, he died.
Acts of heroism also extend beyond people. Even animals can act as heros. We see stories of cats who fight dogs three times their size to help their sick owners. The cat surely understand the danger of fighting a big dog, but the cat placed its owner’s safety ahead of its own. A school of dolphins saved a surfer named Todd from a shark. The sharks had bitten Todd, and the dolphins formed a circle around him to keep the shark from biting him anymore. The dolphins maintained their fence of protection until paramedics came to help Todd.
Heroes are kind. They let their sense of justice guide their actions and decisions to place someone else’s safety before their own. Heroes are neither arrogant nor biased, and they know how to do brave things even if they are afraid. They don’t let fear of their personal safety paralyze them from helping someone else. Heroes push their fear aside because their sense of justice is so strong that they are able to lay down their lives for someone else.

In a movie, when someone is in the most dangerous situation, a hero like superman or batman will always appear in front of them, saving them from the frighten moment of their life. However, in reality a hero doesn’t have super power, but in themselves they have the inner strength wanting to help others. So what being a hero means? To me being hero is someone who is courage, trustworthy, caring, always help others when they are needed, put other matters before themselves, and the most important of all is that they make people feel happy no matter what.
To be a hero, people don’t have to be perfect. They make mistakes and learn from them. Their imperfection is what makes them a true hero. That’s what a hero means to me. There is no right or wrong answer of who is the hero of the world because in everyone’s heart, there will be someone who they think as a hero. I could be a hero to someone and they could be mine. We all can think of each other as hero. When people think of hero, it always appears to them that a hero is someone who always risking their life to save people. Like a firefighter, police, or doctor that saved people from their death or in a dangerous situation. During the event of 9/11 in 2001 that happened, many people were being rescued by the firefighter. They risked their life to go into the building that is about to collapse without thinking about how their life could end at that moment, but they choose to put their life after others no matter what the outcome would be. Yet, they are true heroes, the greatest that you could ask for.
Being a hero doesn’t always have to put their life on the line for other even though it’s a great thing. A person who does small things for people around them and for everyone else is also a hero. Although they don’t do great things like other to be acknowledging as a hero, but what they do can be acknowledge by the people that know them. It’s like the people I know in my life; they are a hero to me. Each one of them helped me overcame me many obstacles in my life, they cared for me, loved me, put myself before them, and always make me happy through their positive words and encouragements, it’s more than I could have asked for. And yes, they might not know that they are a hero to me, but I acknowledged every single thing that they did. Whatever your decision is, the choice you make can let people believe in you as a hero.

Five hundred words or less cannot begin to describe the essence and immeasurable impact of a hero. The standard definition of these inspirational individuals is non-existent because the perception of a hero is shaped by one’s unique and personal experiences. To me, a hero does not see their dedication and time spent as sacrificial but more as instinctual, nor do they seek recognition or praise. Heroes work endlessly to provide on the behalf of others before themselves. They possess the characteristic of selflessness, meaning their own needs and desires are willingly pushed to the back of their mind to allow for the well-being of others to come forth in their agendas. Based on my sixteen years so far, I truly believe my mother is my hero. Her physical strength fades as each year welcomes her but her mental strength remains resilient. The gravity of work she inputs in order for my life to be full of opportunity and hope is something I can never thank and repay her enough for. 6:45 AM and 10:30 PM are the most important times of the day to me because I am able to see my mother for the majority of the week; once in the morning before I head to school and once at night when she arrives home from work. She sacrifices her sleep to send me off in the morning and makes sure I eat a hearty breakfast to endure my measly eight hour day of sitting while her eight hour day consists of heavy dishes and servicing others. The role of a mother is considered to be the most hardworking jobs in the world. Their title as a mother blends into society just like how the skies effortlessly blend into hues of blue. Mothers are unsung heroes. Their gestures may seem minute compared to the gestures of super heroes depicted in movies, swooping in to save all the damsels in distress, but their seemingly “minute” actions accumulate over the years into effects that can never be emulated through a TV screen.

Only one millimeter away: hero and villain. No human should have definite labels, for we are all combinations of both good and evil. To me, the word “hero” means a perfect, majestic being that only helps the world and will not harm even the littlest organisms. Therefore, it is simply invalid to call someone a hero unless they are not human since we are all imperfect in our own ways.

To many people, soldiers and veterans are the heroes of their society. However, if you turn the word around and look at it from a different perspective, you will see that our so-called heroes might actually be villains to others. From the point of view of the opponents, our “heroes” are slaughtering them to defend our nation. Aren’t we just shedding blood like villains for our own wellbeing and safety? Aren’t we just destroying families of our rivals by taking their loved ones away? What exactly is the difference between a hero and a villain? We, as both heroes and villains, fight for what we believe in. The only way that others can tell you apart from good and evil is by their own morals. Standing in a neutral viewpoint, there is no way to define a person as everyone is within the gray zone of good and evil, hero and villain.

For instance, in the novel “All Quiet on the Western Front” by Erich Maria Remarque, Paul the protagonist enlisted with his friends to protect his country, Germany, and to keep its name in high authorities during the World War I. As he fought to defend, he took away the lives of his enemies for what he believed in. To Germans, Paul was a brave soldier, sacrificing his life in combat for his country. However, to the rivals, Paul was a foe, slaying their people for his own duty. In this case, he was viewed as both a hero and villain, depending on the viewpoints from different countries. No matter which perspective was taken in account of, Paul was neither completely good nor evil. He was a mixture of both, since he had murdered to defend, but the fact that the victims were also human beings with a beating heart will not change.

Should someone who kills another for his loved ones be defined as a hero or a villain? Many may have different answers to this question. However, to me, he would be both. His loved ones would consider him as a hero for sure, since he is fighting to protect. In another perspective, he is indeed a villain; he is, in fact, murdering another human being with feelings, families, friends. No one can define another as solely good or evil. Everyone has his or her own opinions based on the morals that he or she believes in. That’s okay because some things in life simply cannot be classified, even if our human nature tells us to do so.

Ever since we were born we have been surrounded by movies, comics, and media portraying “hero’s” but as we grow and mature that view begins to change and we start to realize what real hero is to us. A hero is someone who needs no recognition or praise in order to continue pushing through and doing what they do best.
In this modern day and age real heroes are easy to find but most often never recognized or even sometimes criticized. Everyday teachers are most often overlooked considering they play a major role in every kid’s future. They are often underpaid and almost never recognized for what they do for this great country. Being a teacher is not a job for the money or the props, it is a job not to be taken lightly, and they will surely struggle with kids who have yet to see the major role that school will have on their lives. Yet they will still meet every day of work with just as much passion and heart as the last and continue to push through the difficulties of life and the job. They are not out saving lives or fighting for our country, or are they? With every student they give the means and encouragement to help them to tackle life head on so maybe they are saving their lives by teaching future Americans what need to survive in this modern world.
One of Americas most highly regarded heroes is in a bit of a crisis, police officers the ones who defend American citizens’ not on foreign soil or from massive armies. They defend the heart of our country, its citizens they are the heroes who pull you out of a wrecked car, charge up the stairs into two burning towers without a thought of their own personal safety, and work to remove drugs and gangs from the streets that you try to live an honorable life and raise kids on. Unfortunately many people do not view them in the light they deserve many people will curse under their breath at an officer giving them a ticket for speeding while they’re running late for work. Maybe you see on the news a story on how a police officer was too brutal in their words or actions, however many citizens will fail to realize that this one particular incident is one out of hundreds of thousands where an officer has stepped in the line of duty and done their job with honor and integrity and those actions will most likely go unrecognized. Our police officers know the thoughts that people have and they will always be our safety and security and there at a moment’s notice when we need them most to walk in the line of duty where many never dare tread.
Our heroes are not on the movie screen or flying in the sky they are the ones who know what is stacked against them and will still never falter.

What Makes A Hero

A hero is only a hero if he or she gives up his or her life for another. A hero doesn’t

have to have super powers and super strength to be a hero. The hero can be a normal

person! In the Disney movie Hercules, the message of a true hero was succinctly

portrayed. From this definition the servicemen in 9/11 were true heroes.

A true hero doesn’t have to have power and strength. A person must be willing to

give himself up for another. To do that, it doesn’t take a superhero strength to make

that choice; instead it requires an unselfish heart. A choice to lay down his or her life

in exchange for another person’s life is a decision anyone can make. The number of

people he saved is not of the essence. He or she is a true hero even if he only saves one

person.

In the movie Hercules, the boy grew strong and rid the world of many monsters that

brought misery to the people’s lives. But when he asked his father why he wasn’t

allowed back into Olympus, his father replied that he wasn’t a true hero yet. So what

constitute a true hero from a hero? Hercules didn’t figure out later that to be a true

hero, he must sacrifice his life in exchange for another, which in this case was for the

liberation of Meg.

There were many heroes in 9/11. The service men and women went into the building

knowing that it was dangerous and that they could die in an attempt to save the people

in the World’s Trade Center. They risked their lives for others which constitute them to

be true heroes.

The heroes in 9/11 were like Hercules, true heroes. The heroes in 9/11 didn’t have

super powers or super strength and yet they were brave and unselfish, sacrificing their

lives to save the ones in the building. That sacrifice has to come from a genuine and

unselfish love, not some conditional or temporal love. That is why the rescue attempts

of the servicemen and women of 9/11 are legendary. Today we honor the people who

went into the building in 9/11 and see them as heroes; remembering them in everyone’s

hearts and memories as true heroes.

In the Disney Pixar film Ratatouille, Anton Ego, a food critic, mocks the famous quote "Anyone can cook," by the late Chef Gusteau. By the end of the story, Ego realizes what the chef truly meant and explains it as, "Not everyone can become a great artist; but a great artist can come from anywhere." The same applies to a hero; a hero can come from anywhere, be it a from a movie, a book, or a celebrity that you idolize.
Throughout my childhood, I have encountered a numerous amount of people who fit the hero description, including two different presidents among many other government officials. However, some of the greatest heroes in my life seem to be those closest to me, my friends and my family. Whenever I'm feeling down or stressed, a simple gesture from them is enough to keep me going. A hero is not limited someone who comes "to save the day," but includes anyone who can make a lasting impact, whether it's on a day to day basis or that one time you see a bystander picking up someone else's garbage. A true hero ultimately does the right thing even if he or she may not know it. A true hero can be a complete stranger or someone you've known from the start. A true hero puts the needs of others before their own welfare. A true hero does not need to be acknowledged out loud because their heroic deeds speak for themselves.

The word "hero" does not necessarily have a correct definition. There is no set paradigm depicting a hero's traits, and there is no instruction manual on how to be a hero. The best we can do in defining this word is slap on a stereotypical label saying that these guys are strong, smart, brave, willing to make sacrifices, etc. However, I believe that being a hero has an underlying meaning that is simply unfathomable to the point where it cannot be described with words. The best I can do in defining this word is write this essay.
The least that is expected from the archetypal hero is that they save people. However, heroic acts differ in size. Heroism could range from something as big as saving the world from a collision with a meteor or something as small as helping a friend out with homework. In both cases, the act has saved at least one person and as long as someone recognizes the act in question as heroic, I believe it counts as heroism.
Now think about how many cases of accidental heroism are out there. It happens all the time; people are saving others without realizing it. I think people have it built into them: help people in need. Albeit, there are people who would choose to ignore the fact that people need their help and therefore do nothing to improve the situation, but many other society members act on impulse: if he or she sees a person who needs help and he or she can do something about it, then he or she helps out. A hero can simply be an ordinary person who analyzes the situation, realizes they can help someone in need, and takes action according to what he or she believes will best benefit the situation.
The final point I'd like to add is that heroism, in my opinion, is mainly about perspective. What about all the people who are torn from society because they thought they were doing something for the greater good, but people simply found them psychotic, so they were locked away? Those people believe that society is now deprived of a hero, and they might find that the people who locked them up are not heroes at all, whereas regular citizens exalt whoever put the criminally insane behind bars. An additional example is the tearing down of the Astrodome. Some people thought this was great news. They probably thought it was about time for something new. On the flipside, many people thought that the Astrodome was an enormous loss, and tearing it down was an awful thing to do. People might view those who tore down the Astrodome as heroic or not depending on where they stand.
All in all, my definition is inevitably incomplete. What I will say is this: Heroes aren't born. They're not made. They are people who do what feels right to them, while society selects certain people that fit the archetypal image of "hero."

What a hero means to me is a person that saves people lives. A little girl can be trapped in a burning building and be saved by a fire fighter; he’s her hero. Friends can also save other people’s lives by talking them out of committing suicide.
It doesn’t have to be a superhero that can fly or have super strength. It can be a friend, family member, or a celebrity. Usually heroes don’t know what they’re capable of, one person at this very moment can be saved just by thinking of a famous singer or actor. They can reply to one of their comments saying something that may not be a big deal to them but to that fan it’s like they won the lottery.
Hero’s don’t have to wear capes, they can wear baggy jeans and a t-shirt and still be a hero to many people around the world. Many band members have saved fans life’s by talking to them in meet ups or just by hugging them. These heroes don’t save people from evil villains, they save them from dying.
Police officers, fire fighters, marines, the military, and many more forces save lives by fighting for them and protecting them. Their job is to save people from danger, they chose this career because they wanted to be heroes. Actors and singers wanted to make music or be in movies, they didn’t expect to be anyone’s hero; or get a message by someone saying “you saved my life”.
What a hero means to me is a person that saves people’s lives. They don’t save you from an evil villain, they save you from dying.

College is unheard of in my family. It's a dream. A fantasy. Something only few can achieve. Growing up those were the words flying around my neighborhood. My mom always had high hopes for me. She made me believe. Graduating high school will make me the first but going to college will make me a role model to my younger brother and most of all an inspiration to my future kids. College is a big leap to take but I am willing to take it if the opportunity present itself. This dream might sound impossible now but with a little help and support its only one more step to reality. So for me there isn’t just one hero. A hero is a bunch of things put together to form a vision to see a vivid picture. Things like families and friends. Those who are closest to you are the real heroes. Because face it, no matter how hard you try you’re always going to need a helping hand in one point in your life. No matter how strong and confident you might be. A hero can be anyone but in my case everyone who had made an impacted in my life are my true and only hero.

What does being a hero mean to me you ask?Being a hero is a person who will help anyone in need out of there own good heart.A hero won’t ask for a reward or try to get noticed. For example, a hero can be a firefighter,a policeman,a soldier,or anyone. A firefighter is a hero just by saving people from a forest fire or from a burning building out of his/her good heart . A policeman is a hero by serving justice and peace out of his/her own good heart. A soldier is a hero by volunteering his life and time to serve our country. Also anyone can be a hero you don’t need to have a suit of armor or have a radioactive body a.k.a Iron man or the hulk. You can be your own hero, you just need the right amount of courage to stand up for others and do your best to help as much as you can. Just the like men and women who had the courage to help as many people as possible from the collapsing twin tower building.We lost a lot of heros that day and that day we won’t ever forget. I will always remember to salute those heros. Thank you and don’t forget the sacrifice those heros made that horrible day.

The Story of Hercules

Once upon a time there lived a god named Zeus. Zeus had a wife who had a new born baby. The baby’s name was Hercules.

Hades wanted to rule Olympus and overthrow Zeus. Hades told his two servants to give a potion to Hercules which would change Hercules to a mortal and then kill him.

The servants only succeeded in making the baby drink everything except one drop. The baby was then found by an old couple before the servants could kill him. The boy grew strong and later found that his father was Zeus.
He traveled to Zeus’s temple and his father told him that in becoming a true hero can he become a god again and return to Olympus. As Hercules grew older he rid the world of many monsters relieving the people of their fear. After he became famous and he thought he was a true hero, he went back to his father’s temple to ask his father if he could come back to Olympus. To his great disappointment, he wasn’t considered a true hero yet.
Hercules wondered at this. Why was it that he rid the world of many monsters and he still wasn’t a hero? In the end he found that to be a true hero takes true love and that true love would lead to sacrificing his life for another person.
The people who went into the building in 9/11 to save the people in the building are true heroes because they had genuine love and went into the building to save the people even though they knew they could die. The people sacrificed themselves to save other people just like Hercules did. That is why the people who went into the building are true heroes.

What does it really mean to be a hero? There are many different ways of being a hero. Some helps save animals and some chooses to help the ones in need. I think everyone has their own way of being a hero and they are free to think any ways they want. No one has a right or wrong answer because they can choose who they want to look up to and no one can change that.
To me being a true hero is someone that is willing to do good instead of wrong. Someone that helps others when they are in need and someone that cares for others. A lot of people say being a hero means they care for people more than themselves. I don’t really think so, because a hero should care for himself as much as he cares for others. We need a hero that can take care of himself.
Even if a person is weak and not very brave, they themselves can be a heroes too. As long as they are ready to take action and help others. If they can manage that much they are a true hero. We all really don’t need someone who is “buff” and “macho” to help us. Just as long as they have their mind set on helping people in need he/she is a hero.
Here’s an example of a hero, someone is being bullied. A guy walks by and saw the whole thing. Does he walk away like nothing has happened? No, he tries to break them up or go tell a teacher or an adult. After helping the person that was being bullied he gets the reward of feeling happy to help. Give him a cookie for such a good job!
Another example of being a hero, a little boy walks up to you and tells you a man was forcing him to go in his car. Of course you ask him what happened next and the little boy says, “ the man told me that he would give me candy and tv if I go in the car. I told him no but he kept forcing me to go in the car.” Then a man in a green jacket comes telling you he is his father. You ask him if he really is his father and the guy says yes. So you believe him and walk away. But a hero would ask more questions and find out that he was lying. The stranger would get forceful but a hero would take the boy and run away or fight back. That’s something I believe a hero would do in that situation.
I think I have said enough but this is my true thoughts on someone being a real hero. Nothing can change the way I think and I choose to stick with this way of thinking. Being a hero means responsibility, respect, courage, being prepared, and most of all trustworthy. So these are my thoughts on the meaning of a true hero. Thank you very much for reading this.

WHAT IS AN AMAZING HERO

I wonder, what is it like to be hero? Does it mean fighting super villains? When people think of heroes they think of Batman, Spiderman, X-men, Superman and others. Little do they know those aren't actual heroes. Real heroes are people such as, Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, and Rosa Parks. To be a hero, it takes a lot of hard work. In order to be an outstanding hero you must be kind to others, be a wonderful influence, also have great citizenship. When you are kind to people they will most likely want to be around you. If you are a good influence on others it is likely that they will turn out to be very good people. To be a hero, it takes courage. If you are a hero you're brave enough to do almost anything. Last but not least, you must be helpful and make others feel comfortable. You should always be kind to other people.

You must be very kind to people. You should be kind to people regardless of their behavior. For example, if you sprinkle someone with great compliments people have a strong tendency of liking you better, it never fails. In fact, studies have shown that 99.9% of the United States Citizens that are helpful to others are known as heroes. For instance, those who assisted others during the catastrophe of 9/11, volunteers of the Red Cross ,Firefighters and others.

Secondly, to be a hero you need to be a good influence on others. It helps our world to be a better place. Good examples are always set for others to follow. In fact, those who set very good examples for others turn out to be awesome people. For example, my mom is a hero to me because she gives me speeches about disasters of wrong and the advantages of right.

Thirdly, it takes great citizenship to be a hero. If you are a hero, you must have time for your community. That is what a real hero does.

Finally, you should have lots of courage. It takes courage to be the best hero you possibly can be. It makes you have a wonderful appearance. Heroes tend to have a quality of spirit that enables them to face danger or pain without showing fear.

The possibilities of being a hero are endless especially if you believe. Today heroes are who they are because they did not stop trying. Military fighters have sacrificed their lives for us so that we can have the freedom and privileges we have today. There are many heroes all around us. You may discover one close to you whom you never would have expected.

Bravery, courage, these are the things I think about when it comes to heroes. But what do you think about? Have you ever asked yourself what is a hero? Who are our heroes? What does it mean to be a hero? Although the answers are different for everyone, they all have similarities.
A hero can be anyone we look up to, fictional or real. They can be someone we've never talked to or someone we see every day. They might be brave. Your hero doesn't even have to be human! They could have courage and strength.
They could just have been nice to us when no one else was. They could be the one who's always there for you. Whoever they are, they are a part of our lives. I don't mean like they're standing in front of us, giving us advice, though they could be. I mean, we
create, adopt, or idolize heroes because we need them to help us grow. We use heroes to solve everyday dilemmas. They help us realize our passions, chase after our dreams and follow our hearts.
We have many heroes. Some, we don't even realize we had. When we were young, our heroes tended to be that of fiction. Robin Hood, Spiderman, Batman, The Incredibles, these were our heroes. We dreamt of fighting alongside them and saving the day. We also had real life heroes. Fire fighters, police, military men and women, they were people that we were taught to trust.
Remember when you were little and went shopping with your parents? They told us that if we couldn't find them then to go to a worker or a police officer and tell them we were lost. Sometimes our heroes are older siblings or parents, coming in to check on us and scare away the bad dreams. As we got older our fictional heroes were replaced by more real life, everyday heroes. They weren't gone; we just didn't need their help fulfill our dreams or chase away the monsters in our lives anymore. They have to have a quality about them that we like and admire. They should help us grow and learn. The one thing they should never do is shoot us down. If we are really passionate about something they should support us and love us for who we are.


That's why they are our individual heroes and no one else's. A hero should be dependable. They should be trustworthy and reliable. Sometimes they need to protect us from harm whether physical or mental. But most importantly, they shouldn't let us down.
We look up to heroes. They are a part of who we are; we all have heroes and different opinions on what a hero is. They all have one thing in common: to protect and help us grow. Even if we aren't grown, we couldn't have gotten this far without them. Fictional or real, male or female, human or not, every day or never, they are our heroes.

During my freshman year, an old friend invited me to join Vovinam. I had never heard of it before and didn’t know it was Vietnamese martial arts. Nonetheless, I agreed and her mom took us to a gas station. There, an SUV pulled up alongside us. My friend and I climbed in and settled among these kids in blue uniforms. I realized that I technically shouldn’t be getting into a car full of strangers but I knew these were nice people. What I didn’t know was that these Vovinam kids and their parents would show me what it means to be a hero.

We drove into a gravel driveway in front of a small house. This was the Vovinam dojo! Inside, the walls were knocked down to form one giant room lined with mirrors. In front of the room teaching were two boys who couldn’t have been older than me. I took my place and began to copy them. The warm up had everyone sweating since it was a typical smoldering summer in Houston and there was no air conditioning. I felt out of place as I tried to follow the other students, but as I punched and kicked I was already becoming a part of the Vovinam family.

Master Tai, Instructor Vinh and the other students showed me what the Vovinam family is all about. Master Tai started “Lac Long Vovinam” to serve the community. His family renovated the house. They run the school three evenings a week. Tuition is $40/month/student. That’s roughly $1/hour but they only seek enough to keep the facility running. When there is a belt test or holiday, funds go towards a party. We even do camping, beach trips and picnics. Master Tai and Instructor Vinh manage this in addition to their jobs. Instructor Vinh wakes up at 4 A.M. each day and every week you can find him teaching until 9 P.M. In Master Tai’s free time, he’s been waking up at 5 A.M. to oversee the construction of a new Vovinam building!

When they teach class, they emphasize hard work in Vovinam and in life. It’s always important to strive for improvement in every area. Before long, the other students and I were given chances to teach class so that we could learn leadership and confidence. Education in particular is stressed. Once, we held a science enrichment camp. Each summer, I have study groups with Vovinam students as well. Instructor Vinh even convinced us to start Vietnamese school. When we go, we cram into his SUV just like always.

Now that I am a senior in high school, I’ve learned more than how to fight. Discipline, perseverance and compassion are the true skills of the Vovinam martial artist. Master Tai and Instructor Vinh are real heroes, doing honest work to take care of their families, giving back to their community and leading by example with only the wish that their deeds are paid forward. I’m inspired by them to be similarly heroic.

Dinner was almost over, yet the merriment was just beginning. As I sit with legs crossed in front of the array of empty dishes, the patchwork of dirty chopsticks, and the company of family and long lost relatives, I think back to the conversation that had played out weeks before.

“It was a rough marriage. She left him...” My mom spoke into the phone in Vietnamese, the mellifluous articulations captivated our ears. “Poor thing, he lives alone now. He rents the house from an old landlady. Yes, it’s in a pretty dangerous area, there have been several break ins already.”

It was the summer before my freshman year of high school. My family was preparing for our trip to Vietnam. It was our family’s first return in nearly ten years and mine since I was five years old.

“Is she talking about Chú Bích?” I whispered to my sister surreptitiously.

I don’t remember much from my first few years of life. I can’t recollect any memory of my uncle but I distinctly remember getting in trouble for stealing a picture of him and his bride because it was the prettiest thing five year old me had seen. He had let me keep it and take it with me to America. It still lies in one of the many dusty albums closed away in my parents’ bedroom.

Now I sit in his two-room home, tucked modestly away from the cacophonic streets of Saigon. This destitute reality differed immensely from the glossy picture that had eternalized his happier days. When I first stepped into his homely dwelling, I didn’t know if I could reconcile with the sparse furnishings, the quiet absence of air conditioning, and the cracked antiquated, blue floor tiles. However, it was on these tiles that Chú Bích laid out breakfast for us each morning; on these tiles, he sat and conversed with my father, as if thousands of miles and a decade hadn’t separated them at all. Within the walls of his home, my sense of materialism tumbled away, and all that was left were the people that I love and the place that I had come from.

I do not fully understand all the struggles or pain he had gone through, but Chú Bích welcomed us into his home and gave us all he had, even when it was so little. He represents an essence of Vietnam that I, in my naivete, had failed to grasp: through all the turmoil and difficulties, he still has the strength to love and the perseverance to toil on. It is the quiet, unsung heroes like him who inspire us in the most profound and unexpected ways. Through them, optimism shines despite pitfalls in life, and selflessness endures in the face of economic strife. They may not embody our conventional notions of success nor the bravery of an archetypal hero, but they anchor us home and remind us of what is important.

Being a hero to me means that you do something to change somebody’s life. A hero is not always the tallest or the strongest, as often seen in cartoons and movies but can just as easily be the person in the background that simply wants to lend a helping hand where they see a need. Some characteristics of a hero are inner strength, selflessness, compassion and being able to accept criticism and keep moving on with their lives. There are a lot of heroes, some known and some that we come across every day that are heroes to only us. Many of those heroes were on the scene of the 9/11 terrorist attack on the Twin Towers three years ago. They were pulling out people from debris and keeping them alive after clearing them to be okay. Although, people who volunteered saved a countless number of lives, many of those heroes lost their lives, trying to make a difference.
Being a hero does not mean you have to be known or very popular, as long as you know what you have done. A hero knows he/she will need supporters to achieve their goal of what they are trying to do. Heroes often encounter bumps in the road, but they just walk right over the bump and keep moving. That bump can be person or group who is trying to stop them on their way to their goal. Heroes know what to do with people who are trying to stop them and that is keeping their composure and not giving in to the people who are trying to stop progress. Heroes are not made, they are born. The only reason I say that is because anybody can be a hero at any time, at any place and in any given moment.
Anybody can be hero. It can be something as simple as helping your neighbor repair their roof after a storm or saving a life. If it is for a good reason, and it helps to change a life, then that’s a hero. If fame or accolades happen to come along with the unselfish act, then great but heroes don’t look for fame; they simply want to help by giving of themselves and putting others first. Some of the heroes in my life have been my parents, my teachers, my friends, my pastor and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. These individuals, like so many heroes that we read about every day, give of themselves every day, they have made sacrifices for me and so many others and at the end of the day, the good they do is not about them but about making a positive impact on the lives of everyone they come in contact with. That is what being a hero means to me.

What Being a Hero Means to Me
By
Connor Bazar

A person can have many qualities that make him a hero. Imaginary heroes are fun to watch on
TV and at the movies, but I prefer reading about real-life heroes. I also like history and reading about
the great people that have made our world what it has become today. The characteristics that are most
important to me in a hero are bravery, courage, being true to oneself, kindheartedness, loyalty and
being hard-headed.
Being true to oneself, kindhearted and loyal all at the same time can be very difficult. Abraham
Lincoln was that kind of hero. He was kindhearted to the slaves by signing the Emancipation
Proclamation. He remained loyal to the idea of the United States even when the states were divided
about slavery. Through all the terrible battles of the Civil War, he stayed true to himself and his ideals,
which is something I hope to be able to do as well.
Being hard-headed is an attribute that is normally thought of negatively. I believe that all
heroes have to be hard-headed to stay the course for whatever goal they are seeking. Martin Luther
King Jr. was certainly one of history’s most relentless hard headed people in fighting for his belief of
equality for all people regardless of race.
Heroes can also be everyday people. Ordinary people such as firefighters and police officers are
brave people who choose to do difficult work and deserve our thanks and respect. My friend in
elementary school who lost her dad and yet still did well in school was brave. There was a family in our
neighborhood that lost all their belongings in a fire, yet they were courageous enough to find another
place to live and start all over with almost nothing. These are everyday people that are brave and
courageous in ways that most of us cannot imagine. These are also people I know so it reminds me that
heroes are everywhere and can be anyone.
All of these people are heroes because they put other people’s needs before their own and
overcame very difficult situations that most people would walk away from. As I continue to grow and
learn more about the world around me, I wonder what I will be able to do to help others. In the
meantime, I will continue to strive to put others needs before my own and to help in as many ways as I
can. I do this in Boy Scouts doing service projects, but sometimes it is as simple as helping my neighbors
clean their yard. I want to be a hero someday and every day.