Heroes are often imagined as strong, cape-wearing, magic-conducting superhumans who save the world from disaster. However, among analysis, heroes are actually much more than that. Whether friends, family members, or strangers, heroes can come in all shapes in sizes and are born from many different situations. For example, my hero is my best friend, Sebastian. Sebastian is a hero to me because he exhibits traits that I consider to be heroic and many more values that allow him to improve the lives of others and myself; while he hasn’t physically rescued anyone, he has definitely saved lives.
Sebastian is courageous, standing up to people who are doing wrong; he is selfless, constantly coming to the aid of others even if it is not good for him; and he is skillful, whether in academics, giving advice, or while shredding the guitar. Sebastian is also so much more than that. He is a thoughtful, motivating person who looks out for others before himself. I think that is what makes him a hero, too – he motivates everyone around him to be better, the way athletes and celebrities encourage their fans.
Despite having experienced his own share of tragedy, Sebastian never lets that hold him back from helping others; he is an extremely supportive friend and even reaches out to strangers when they are in need. And, even more heroic, is that he doesn’t ask for anything in return. He feels happy if others are happy, and for him, that is a prize in itself. Even on days where you’re already content, he has his ways of making life even better. Much like the definition of a hero, he hasn’t let sadness make him angry – he just appreciates life even more and helps others appreciate their own. I have had my fair share of bloody accidents but my head has hurt after crying even more than that, and that’s a guarantee. Once I met Sebastian, he gave me a light at the end of the tunnel and changed my perspective of life itself – and he has done this for many more than myself.
Furthermore, Sebastian is also a hero because of his honesty, support, and trustworthiness that allows others to constantly confide in him. He hasn’t necessarily saved anyone from incoming traffic or otherwise physically rescued them, but he has a special ability to dull the pain that people feel inside, giving them an outlet to express it – a safe space to voice their feelings without judgment. He is a selfless, courageous human being who has been driven to help others with empathy and compassion after experiencing tragedy himself. Heroes aren’t only the people rescue kittens from burning houses or sacrifice their lives for others – they’re also the caring, selfless people who save us in different ways.
Works Cited:
Knorr, Caroline. “How to Protect Kids’ Mental Health During the Pandemic.” Common Sense Media: Ratings, Reviews, and Advice, Common Sense Media, 15 Apr. 2020, www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/how-to-protect-kids-mental-health-during-the-pandemic.
“See Me Is Scotland’s Programme to Tackle Mental Health Stigma and Discrimination.” See Me | Power of Okay, www.seemescotland.org/resources/campaign-resources/power-of-okay/.