Heroism

If I was to summarize heroes into three categories, this is how I would divide them: superheroes, accidental heroes, and personal heroes. I will devote one or more paragraphs to each subject and explore this more.

Superheroes- We all know what this term means. Spidey, Superman, Captain America, Mr. Incredible. In our mind we all have superheroes that we think of when we hear this term. What is it that pulls us to superheroes? Maybe we want to “experience” things that we physically cannot. When I think about it like this, it seems kind of silly, yet more and more new superheroes come and become real on paper. We make up stories, and share them with others. But where would we be without them? It seems we need superheroes to “guide” us through life, to show us our faults. They do what we cannot, but we still try to be more like them.

Accidental heroes- These are people who just happen to be at the right place at the right time and make a huge difference. For example, a small girl is learning to ride a bike by the river. She doesn’t know how to brake yet. Suddenly, she flies down the hill and is headed for the river. A bystander jumps in the way and saves her from what could have been the end. He was just lucky to be there at the right time. Should these people be counted as real heroes? I think so. Sometimes it may seem as if they don’t make much of a difference, but what would have happened to that girl had the man not been there? Of course they should. Even small acts of kindness can make a huge difference.

Personal heroes- These are the people we admire, look up to, model ourselves after. It could be your parents, a singer, artist, president or friend. It is someone who has traits that we like, that inspires us. If you want to be a president, you might look up to George Bush. If you want to become a famous pop singer, you might look up to Avril Lavigne. If you want to grow up and take over your dad’s business, you’d watch him. Firefighters or policemen are most definitely heroes. Every day they risk their lives for people they don’t even know. These are personal heroes and can make a difference in someone’s life.

So what’s the conclusion? There are many types of heroes. You may respect one type more than the other, but they should all be held in equal places. They are the people who make a difference in the world.