When we hear the word “Hero” our mind normally conjures images of a superhero flying through the sky, out to destroy evil, or perhaps actors and actresses who have achieved stardom by giving memorable performances, and we can even Or we think about famous personalities who have made a name for themselves in politics, science, and the industry

As children, we are told didactic stories of good versus evil. Be it in the fairy tales, bedtime stories, or scriptures the concept of a hero is imbibed into us from a young age.
We are drawn to superhero characters, and this can be seen in the popularity of comic books and the countless figurines sold over world wide. For example children in India are often taught the story of the Ramayana Hindu mythology …show more content…
We see heroes display the behaviors needed to succeed in life, better society and exterminate evil from the world.

Although these are some universal traits that define a hero, who we consider a hero is very personal. We see this all around us where a hero to one section of society is a villain to others. Take Adolf Hitler or Osama Bin Laden as an instance. It’s quite clear that these figures were the epitome of iniquitous, or to put is simply, evil. Both of these people had large groups of devoted followers who may have considered their leader as their hero because the ideas that they spread may align with their own ideals.

Having said that, heroes are not always larger than life. I personally believe that heroes often reveal the qualities that we wish to see in ourselves.They often take the path we wished we would have or could have taken in tough situations. A hero to me is ordinary and altruistic. It is human instinct of save yourself first, but a hero does the opposite when they put all others before themselves. Their willingness to make a personal sacrifice for the benefit of others is what earns them that title. It is the unsung heroes of the world who pass us by on the streets everyday. Those who never seek recognition for their deeds. People such as teachers who continue to shape the lives of their students for the better, the single parents out there …show more content…
That to me is heroism

While the qualities of a hero paint a grandiose picture of what a hero is, we should be wary of putting heroes on a pedestal because by idealizing someone as a hero, tend to turn a blind eye to their shortcomings. In addition when that hero does something that is uncharacteristic of them or does not align with our belief system, we are just as quick to burn them at the stake . Your parents could be your everyday heroes and you could fail to see their shortcomings when you’re young. In our adolescent ages we rarely think twice before criticizing them and calling out their “failings”

Lastly, heroism is situational and contextual. Take firefighters as an example, when taking a casual stroll down the lane without their gear or uniform they would not be considered as a hero, but it could be the same firefighter who later in the day fearlessly jumps into a fire to save someone would they receive recognition for their heroic actions. That is why I believe that if we look for heroic qualities in the person beside us, finding them is more likely than you think. We are surrounded by heroes who make life worth living. We all have the potential to be a hero ourselves and rise up to the situation. We can all be everyday