BASIC COURSE INFORMATION
As an online course, the writing that we do in English 305 is substantially
different from a face to face course. As such, it is imperative that you
understand the course style from the start. Nearly all of your work in this
course will be posted on the course blog. EACH WEEK YOU WILL HAVE THREE BLOG
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. A BLOG ENTRY,
2. A READING, AND
3. A WRITING ABOUT
THE READING.
Your reading and writing on the blog must be completed by
the Friday (by midnight) of the week in which the reading falls. You have all week each week to complete the reading and writing for that week, but there are no late assignments accepted, so be sure to be disciplined about the
work from the start.
Let me re-state that point; if you do the assigned
work before or during the week it is due, you will receive full credit. If you do the work after the Friday of the week it is assigned, you will get zero credit for that week.
A hero to me is someone who sets the standard for what to strive for and how to do it. A hero is also someone who is a role model. I feel that Barack Obama epitomizes these qualities therefore he is one of my heros. He demonstrates how to not fold under pressure in a dignified way. I can only imagine the tons of pressure he is under on a daiy basis and yet he never shows it. I think I can definitely take some notes from him in that area. He shows how to continue to reach for a seemingly unattainable goal in spite of obstacles. When he was running for office, he was underated senator from Chicago who was generally not that well-known, so many people thought the candidate with more experience and recognition would win. He proved otherwise. I admire his tenacity to keep pushing. Additonally, he is the first black president and I am African-American so him winning represented alot for me. He shows professionalism, determination and class every time I see him. I look up to him also because he is a good family man. He goes to work and loves hs wife and kids unconditionally. I think many times African-American men get a bad reputation through the media and it is refreshing to have our president as an example of the opposite. Politically, he has had the burden of making some decisions for our country and I think, as a result, he has turned us around for the better. He is a hero for me and I am sure many others.
ReplyDeleteI really like what you had to say. One of the things truly impressed me during his first campaign was how he spoke about racism in modern America. I loved the comment John Stewart had after Obama addressed his pastor. He said something to the effect that finally someone talked about racism to the American people as if they were adults. I found the comment amusing and true. Obama has an amazing way of communicating with people that leaves me in awe. While I don't always agree with his policies, I think he definitely someone worthy of admiration.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI truly admire the Dalai Lama. As both a spiritual and political leader he has done a lot to promote human rights and draw attention to the interconnectedness of all living beings. He is a good role model for non-violence and an advocate for easing the unnecessary suffering of all beings. The Dalai Lama lives his beliefs and sees that progress can be made within religious traditions. He has advocated on behalf of the Tibetan people as well as all who continue to suffer. I think that his beliefs and words have the potential to reshape the way we see international relations. As the world continues to debate the same issues, the Dalai Lama is asking that we look at these issues from a very different perspective. The Dalai Lama believes that all beings are connected to one another and that by creating arbitrary boundaries and socially constructed differences, the human race is unnecessarily creating and prolonging the suffering of others. I believe the goal of the Dalai Lama is admirable and something worth striving for. Deconstructing the social difference perceived would eliminate the us-them dichotomy that currently persists and would allow individuals to inclusively accept others and allow for greater peace. Although this may seem like a utopian ideal, I do believe it is possible to work towards such a goal. For the Dalai Lama to live the life he has lived constantly preaching this message is proof that it is not an unobtainable goal; furthermore, I think it is heroic for a single person to stand up in front of the entire global community and tell his story, not with anger and enmity, but with compassion and hope for a better world.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of Dalai Lama, but thanks to your blog I am now familiar with him. It's great that someone mentioned a spiritual and political leader as a hero especially when it is about advocates for non-violence.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhen we are children, who are the two people we look up to and want to be just like them when we grow up? Our parents, I would have to say my parents would have to be someone I would consider to be my heroes. Sometimes we forget all the things they do for us. My parents are two people I have been blessed with. My parents have always been there to support me and pick me up when I fall. They have always been there to guide me and make me into a better person. My parents have set good values and that have made me into the person I am today. If I am ever stuck with a problem or if something is bothering me I know I can always come to them for an answer, and if they don’t have it we can work together to figure it out. My parents are two strong individuals that I admire for their obstacles and hardships they have gone through and surpassed. My dad I admire him for being such a wonderful man, I am grateful for having a father like him. He’s my hero for all the things he does for my family. My dad is a hardworking man that sets a good example for me. The example, he sets is to always work hard and to never give up. Especially, seeing him and my mom work as farm workers it gives me a reason to appreciate everything they do and everything we have. Since they don’t want me to end up like them I appreciate them trying to help me out with my college education and push me to succeed. They have taught me to try and do my best, even if I fail it’s okay because I can always try again. My parents worked hard to have what they have. My mom is my hero as well for being such a lovely lady, who is always there to give a helping hand even when sometimes I don’t ask for it. My mother is the type of person who would help a complete stranger, and I really look up to her for that. They are also my heroes for being one of those couples that been with each other for a long time and love each other and it’s rare to see that now and days. These two people are my heroes because I know that they would do anything to protect me and to see me accomplish a better future. They might not be superman or the president but they are my heroes and that’s all I need. I just hope one day I can become just like them and follow their examples.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with you, I would hope that parents would be most peoples heros. I can tell you really appreciate what your parents have done for you in making sure you get a chance at a college education, that's awesome. My parents have done the same for me and I will always be grateful. Great post and good luck to you!
DeleteI definitely agree with you because my parents are my heroes as well. We are certainly blessed to have such wonderful and supportive parents. It is nice to see that there are people out there that appreciate and care about their parents as much as I do. Thank you for your post.
DeleteI think I can say that I come from a family with a similar mentality. I admire my parents and everything they have done for me because they do not want me struggle with a strenuous job like the ones they have and support me getting the education I need in order to be successful. However, I think it is very admirable that your mom is kind enough to help a stranger and that your parents still have a very solid relationship to this very day. My mother is a very strong woman but not the nicest woman and my parents might not be together either but are still very good people. Thus, your post about your parents is a very touching and inspiring in hopes maybe people will also be like them.
DeleteYou're right. Parents are the greatest heroes. Unfortunately, I have only lived with one parent all my life since they were separated. For my mom to raise 4 kids on her own shows how strong and heroic she can be.
DeleteI agree with you. My parents are my heroes as well. I could not have gotten to the point that I am now without them. I find your post very touching. I can totally relate.
DeleteI would have to say my hero is my mom. She helps me in any way I need, she inspires me and pushes me to achieve any goal I set, and she provides me with an example of how to be an amazing parent and how to treat my kids one day. My mother moved to the United States from England when she was a little girl and worked to correctly earn her citizenship. She was the first in our family, ever, to pursue a college degree when she was just 18 years old. She worked and payed her own way through school and not only attained her bachelors degree, but also a double masters and a teaching and administrative credential. My mom has worked in schools in terrible parts of Los Angles, that would make any person nervous to walked down the street, and she still regards those schools as her favorite teaching experiences. My mom then climbed her way up from an English teacher to become Vice Principal then eventually Principal of the Junior High where she works. All the while my mom was working her way to becoming a principal, she had to deal with the passing of my brother and the constant health problems of my father, which almost lead him to death several times. Through any bad time my mom was always the rock and the comfort that everyone relied on. When anything got bad, my mother was always the one that could help you through it. No matter what her own personal situation was, she would never hesitate to drop everything an help someone if they needed it. My mom is the one that helped me get through to get my bachelors and she still stands by my side as I get my teaching credential and masters. She is one of the most important people in my life and she is the reason I have had such a wonderful and blessed life. For all these reasons and so many more, my mom is my hero.
ReplyDeleteSeems like you have a wonderful mother and now I can see why you would consider her your hero. It's awesome that you have someone there for you to help you get through school. Goodluck in everything you do.
DeleteI believe that parents do play an exceedingly important role in shaping the development of their children. Providing help, inspiration, and hope should be the top priority of any parent. Kudos to your mom for being so supportive!
DeleteShe sounds like more than just a great mom, but a great person.
DeleteYou mother sounds like a wonderful woman. If I have your mom, she would have been my hero also.
DeleteMy mom serves as a hero to me as well. I can definitely relate to this. I credit her for making me the woman I am today.
DeleteMy Hero would have to be my step-father. While he is not my biological father, he has played a much more proactive role in raising me than my real dad. He has inspired me to be assertive, and to take responsibility for my actions. My stepfather was a Vietnam war veteran, and fought against the communist oppressors in Vietnam. He took a few bullets to the thigh and was almost left for dead, but eventually made it out alive. After the war, he escaped into the United States, and worked his way up the social ladder. He has experienced a lot, and has been in many violent slums. When he met my mother after he divorce, he was quick to wed her and become my primary paternal influence. However, this marriage was not without many trials that would almost tear apart the relationship. A few years after the marriage, there were periods of quarrel and distrust. The fights would escalate and I would be brought into them, thus causing much physical and emotional pain for a young ten year old at the time. However, I had learned to cope with the abuse, and after fighting depression and suicidal thoughts for a good eight years, I had come to the conclusion that my stepdad was indeed my hero. While he was abusive, narcissistic, and wholly imperfect, he was and still is my hero.
ReplyDeleteAll heroes have flaws. It is how they deal with them that truly makes them great. My mother doesn't always have the greatest self esteem, but she uses that in understanding and building up others.
DeleteI do not have "A" hero, I have multiple heroes that have impacted my life. My mother, my father, and my grandmother each have good attributes and have overcame very difficult situations in their lives that aspire me to be strong like them. For example, my mother is a very independent woman who is divorced and did not depend on my father or any man for happiness. She is a woman who has her opinions and expresses them when needed to be expressed. Not one moment goes by where I am grateful to have a mother like mine who has come from a patriarchal culture but still showed me that there are NO TRADITIONAL roles and that I can do whatever I please whether a man supports me or not. Secondly, my father is a wonderful man who has came from an abusive family. My paternal grandfather was a verbally and physically abusive man who would not only beat my father, but also my aunts and my paternal grandmother. However, most abusive families tend to repeat the violent cycle but my father did not. My father is the most caring and endearing man I know. He chooses to not repeat the mistakes of his father and demonstrates all his love with his words and his actions. Lastly, my maternal grandmother is a woman who did not live her childhood because at an early age she had to take care of her sick mother and her younger siblings. Thus, she did not continue school at an early age in order to work and to maintain the family because there was no alpha male to provide food or shelter. My grandmother is a very strong and hardworking woman who also is very independent but very loving. She helped the family surpass a struggle and has shown the importance of family. She has demonstrated that family are the loving people that you rely on in difficult times of need. With that mentality that has been passed down to me, I would do anything for my family. These individuals are MY heroes and they might not have started a movement but they have made me aspire to be a great person in everyday life.
ReplyDeleteI am with you on this. A single hero is truly hard to pick. I have so many heroes for specific reasons as well.
DeleteI agree it is hard to pick one person to be your hero because there is plenty of people that have impacted us in our lifes.
DeleteI was asked this same set of questions when I was in the third grade. I proudly stated that it was my Pa-Pa. He was my great-grandpa, and he had served in World War II. I took the title "hero" quite literally and assumed that one had to have saved lives to earn this status. Upon hearing about this, my Pa-Pa gave me a metal he had received. This only made him more of a hero in my eyes. Although I still consider him a hero, I realize that one of my biggest heroes is my mom. She is honest without being blunt. She is funny at no one's expense. She is loving with no strings attached. Growing up, I was actually proud that she was my mother before she was my "buddy." I always knew that the discipline she gave me was out of love, even when it kept me from doing what I wanted to do. My mom actually liked it when we were on vacation, and was sad to see us go off to school. She was and is supporting, loving, and the best mom that I know. I hope to be a mother like her, and that is why she is my hero.
ReplyDeleteYour mom and great grandpa sound great. The best heroes are those who are close to us because they already inspire us ant it’s awesome that they are right there when we need them. You are very fortunate to have two people in your family who are your heroes.
DeleteMy heroes are without a doubt my parents. When my mother came to the United States from Mexico during elementary school, she struggled as an English learner and was constantly bullied at school. My mother comes from a family of nine brothers and two sisters, and as the oldest sister she had to help my grandmother take care of the rest of the family. She tells me that she doesn’t remember a time as a child when she didn’t go to school and work at the same time. Fortunately, my mom quickly learned the language and excelled in her academics. After attending college, she became a teacher and worked her way up to the occupation that she holds today, which is a Superintendent. I am extremely proud and amazed at how successful and courageous my mother has been throughout her life. She has taught me the ethics of being a hard worker. As for my father, I am eternally grateful. When my mother decided to occupy such demanding careers, my father decided that he would take on the responsibilities of providing a functional household for our family. We call him our “supermom.” I really don’t know how this family would’ve worked without him. He has taken care of everything you could possibly think of including scheduling and taking us to our doctor appointments, cooking dinner, cleaning the house, washing our cars, maintaining our yard, taking care of our dogs, sewing, taking us and picking us up from school, helping us with our homework, taking us shopping …etc. You name it, he does it. I really don’t know how he does everything he does. I truly feel like I have the best parents in the world and I thank god everyday for blessing me with such amazing parents.
ReplyDeleteYour parents are truly people that can be considered heroes. Not many men are willing to take on the mother role, but for your father to be totally fine with that is great. Also for your mother to go so far in her career, even though she wasn't born here is a true accomplishment. They both sound like great parents.
DeleteI agree with you, your parents are true heroes. I can relate to your story. To be exact I can relate to your parent’s story since I was also born in Mexico and moved to the United States when I was a child. I had to learn the language (which in reality it is a continuing process) and adapt to a new life. I have a family, work full-time, and attend school to attain a rewarding career. Life can be challenging but learning from my parents anything is possible as long as we set our mind to it. You must also consider yourself to be blessed with having the amazing parents you have! :)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMy hero is pope Shenouda (III). To whom who never heard about him, he is the Pope of the Coptic Church of Alexandria. He was born on August, 3th, 1923, and his mother died few days after his birth. His older brother Raphael raised him and took care of him very well. Pope Shenouda loved the lord from all his heart and decided to join the monastic life, so he joined St. Mary monastery, known as Deir El-Suryan in the Nitrian Desert, Western desert in Egypt, where he became a monk in 1954. In 1962, he was appointed a General Bishop for Christian Education. On March, 9th, 1971, he became the pope 117th of Alexandria. He departed on March17th, 2012. During his papacy, Coptic Church has flourished and expanded all over the world. For instance, there are about 200 hundreds churches in the United States alone. Throughout his entire life even before he became a monk, he was known among his peers by his politeness, kindness, and love to everyone. Although he was nice and gentle spiritual man, he was firm defending the church faith and Christians rights and freedom. For example, in 1970s and early 1980s his relationship with President Sadat had fallen apart. Sadat was the president of Egypt from 1970 to 1981; He supported the growth of Islamic extremist groups, such as a group named the Muslim Brotherhood, to fight communist groups. Sadat also declared Islamic Sharia law as the main source of legislation. These two main steps, among many others, lead to the growth of radical Islamic ideology in Egypt. During his presidency, many violent massacres were committed against the Christians of Egypt, Copts, resulting in hundreds of murdered and injured cases. Copts were severely persecuted and the Coptic pope, pope Shenouda, himself was put in house arrest on September 1981, and large number of bishops and priests were put in prisons. Sadat was assassinated on October of the same year, one month after he had put Pope Shenouda in house arrest, by members of an Islamic extremist group who he backed earlier. Pope Shenouda was released from arrest on January 1985. He is my hero because he taught me how to be firm and fair and to lead by example for he was an excellent example of forgiveness, tolerance, and love. He taught us to love everyone, even who persecutes us, and to differentiate between forgiveness and firmness in defending our rights and our church faith. Numerous articles, not even books, would not be enough to list his achievements nor to number his good teachings which enriched our spiritual life and impacted our thought and are being reflected in our behaviors.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to have learned about a figure in the Coptic church! We are often only given a glimpse at a few "famous" religious figures that are supposed to encompass the true spirit of that religion, but there are many lesser-known (but very much deserving of the recognition!) individuals. I've been inspired to do more research in the Coptic tradition -- thanks!
DeleteAs corny as I might sound, my hero is my mommy. I love my mom so much; I look up to her each and every day. Sad to say I didn’t realize this until I became a mother. The day I became I mother I realized how much love a mother has for their child and what my mom went through to have me in this earth. I know I know corny corny, but it’s the truth. I look up to her now so much because she taught me hidden lessons that one day I would use on my own family. If my mother would have not showed me love, I would not know how to show my own child love, because I wouldn’t know what it was. I love her so much for teaching me these hidden lessons, and I value you her for her great accomplishments in life. She is my hero and I want to be my daughters hero someday too.
ReplyDeleteHaving children really puts things into perspective, and how our parents have influenced us. How wonderful that you get to have her in your life, what a gift.
DeleteMom's are awesome, and if we are lucky, we are born to the ones who care about us and bend over backwards for us. It is not corny that you write this about your mom. People don't realize how hard it is to be a mother, it is a thankless job, and people forget how hard yet how important it is. It is the MOST important job anyone will ever have. I hope my children feel this about me one day.
DeleteGreat husbands we have! IT is so nice to recieve a lift when feeling down, and our husbands do just that. I am happy to hear your husband is your hero, and how much he values you as a strong person. Sometimes in life we need a push or two and without it we might not be where we are today.
ReplyDeleteWow this is so inspiring. I think it is a beautiful thing when your partner can be a great motivator and push you towrds your goal. It is a very self-less and admirable action.
ReplyDeleteWithout a doubt, my hero is my dad. I could write pages and pages about him, but I'll make it short and sweet. When my mom died it was in the 1970's. I was the youngest of 10, and only six years old. Back in those ancient days, a single father was rare. My dad's friends and relatives started telling him that he should take all of us to Mexico where the relatives could help raise us. They also gave him bottles of Tequila to "help" with the pain. Well, my dad smashed those bottles of Tequila against a wall and faced his sorrows. He raised us alone, without ever remarrying or ever drinking one drop of alcohol. Throughout our lives, he guided, encouraged, respected and adored us. My dad became both my mom and dad, and I can't say enough what a true hero he was to have conquered the heartache of raising his sons and daughters alone.
ReplyDeleteWow. This story is amazing! There are alot of people (moms or dads) who are unable to step up to the plate for 1 child, let alone 10. Your father truley is an inspiration and I can see why he is your father. Good man.
DeleteThere are many people these days who do not take responsibility of their children. I am so proud of your father. He stepped up and took action. He didn't take the easy way out and go with his family. No, he took care of his kids. You can tell teat he really loves them and his wife. He respected her and loved her and it sounds like he didn't complain about raising his children alone. He is a true man!
DeleteIt is very wonderful to hear about how a significant other can change your whole perspective for the better. It is very inspiring for couples to have a relationship that you two have to be very supportive of each other and to bring out the best of each of you. I greatly admire that you have a hero like that in your life. :)
ReplyDeleteTo me a hero is someone that evokes the feelings of respect and admiration. In my case, since I was young I have always admired my father. The main reason for this is that he has an incredible ability to accomplish anything that he puts his mind into. He moved here to California from Mexico in his teen years, and ever since he has worked in different jobs. He is admirable because he is a fast learner that is always looking for something new to learn. For instance, he has learned about plumbing, mechanics, remodeling and construction. He even learned to speak English just by listening to other people. It is hard not to find my father admirable when he has achieved his progress through his own strong will. He is the type of person that cannot be sitting down for a long period of time without doing something productive. Additionally, he has always been the type of person that can easily socialize with his co-workers. One of his most outstanding characteristics is his honesty as he will say exactly what he thinks about whatever the subject is. Without a doubt, my father causes me to be proud with his determination and hard work.
ReplyDeleteI like what you have to say about your father, it sound like you really admire him. I’m sure that you have some of his characteristics in you. You should make sure you tell him how you feel about him or let him know in some way because everyone deserves to know that they have made the right choices for themselves as well as for the people in their life.
DeleteAs a child, most children say their hero is either their mom or their dad. A hero is someone who influences you to strive for what you were taught as a child. I never have had an answer for who my hero was. Not even a fictional one. I am not sure if I just never thought of it or didn't care for one. Growing up in foster care, you get let down many times by alot of different people. I never had a chance to care for someone and be influenced by someone so badly that they became my hero. I just lived according to what I was taught and learned from many people not just one person who would ahve been my hero.
ReplyDeleteI think maybe your hero is yourself. Growing up in difficult times you managed to survive and are enrolled in college. Maybe you had to be your own hero. Good for you to getting to the point where you are now.
DeleteI have the best hero ever. He is my husband because my two children and I are his world and he would do anything and everything for us. He has always had a job to support us since him and I have been together (which is not always common to find nowadays). Ever since we have been together he has kept his jobs (unless he was switching to a new one) even when he hated going to work because he knew he had a family to take care of. My husband supports me the many times that I need him to; providing every kind of support imaginable. He is so wonderful that I could never imagine life without him.
ReplyDeleteMy hero is and has always been my maternal grandmother. My grandma has always been a symbol of strength in my eyes. She has gone through more hardship than any other person I know. My grandmother came here with my grandpa and seven children Even though there was a language barrier she still went out and got a job to help her family. She was your stereotypical Mexican woman who worked out in the fields, but from there she got a job at a convalescent home. She enjoyed working at the convalescent home but unfortunately she could no longer work there because she decided taking care of her growing family was more important. My grandma took care of all her children till they were ready to leave the nest, then it was time to help raise the grandchildren. I was actually very surprised to find out how many grandchildren she took care of; I don’t think there isn’t a cousin of mine that lives in Bakersfield who wasn’t raised at some point in their life by her. The reason my grandma is a symbol of strength to me is because she was brave enough to leave what she knew back in Mexico just to come here and give her children a better life. She has also lost so many people in her life and she never once broke down to the point of no return. When my grandpa died I thought that she’d be distraught because they had been together for almost 60 years, but instead she accepted that it was his time and of course she was sad but she knew she couldn’t change anything. I think she gained this power of acceptance because she had already lost three of her children and a few grandchildren. My grandma has gone through so much but never once did she let that break her, she could have easily hidden away in the shadows somewhere and left everyone else to fend for themselves but instead she chose to stand up and find solace in the love she received from those around her. This is why my grandma is my hero; if I could be just half the woman she is then I would be proud of myself.
ReplyDeleteElaine Souvannakham
ReplyDeleteWeek 4 Blog
.
My hero is my husband. I have known my husband for 11 years, and he has always been the one person who made sure I was safe and doing fine. When I’m in need of help, he goes out of his way to find a solution to my problem first, then he takes care of his. He is the type that puts his family first. For example, one time before we got married, I was in financial trouble with school and personal payments, there wasn’t anyone I could find that would help me. My husband who was my boyfriend at the time was also in some financial trouble, but he gave up all his money & savings to help me out. I could go on and on about all the great things my husband did for me, but to sum it all up, he rescued me from all of my hardest obstacles.
I hope you guys are doing better financially now. I think it’s great that your husband is your hero there are not many people who could say that. It really sounds like he is more than a husband he is also your friend and a person you could go to in an emergency. I hope you always see him like that and I hope you guys have a long life together.
DeleteI have to agree with your comments about your husband being a hero. I have been married for a year and a half, and he has been the most supportive person I have ever met. I would never made it throught the last year if it were not for him. My son was involved in a horrible motorcycle accident a few months ago and had a partial amputation to his foot. My husband never left my side and helped with every step of my sons healung process.
DeleteLike many others, I also have more than one hero. My mother is on the top of my list. She is the strongest woman I have ever met. She has always done a great job to be the best mother that she could be. She has experienced a great deal of painful and stressful life situations but has always found the strength to get through them. I remember growing up and always thinking, “Wow, my mom does everything for everyone and she still dresses up and looks so pretty.” I obviously did not understand half of the things that were going on at that time but looking back, I realize how strong she was to have to brush some of the things off her shoulder and keep going everyday. She has always taught me how to be a responsible and reliable person; however, most of what I have learned from her has been from observing her. Growing up, I have learned how important it is for me to have her around and have a close relationship with her. It is sad to say that I began to appreciate her more once I became a mother myself. After having my two children, I have learned the meaning of unconditional love and how much work it is to be a parent, specially a single parent as she was at one point in our lives. My children adore her and I know she adores them too. I do consider myself blessed for having a mother like her and I would not trade her for anything or anyone in the world.
ReplyDeleteMy mom has done a lot for me also. She raised six kids and it's unbelievable that she had that much love to give. I do not have children, but I hope one day I could share my knowledge and love with my future children .
DeleteMy hero is the singer and songwriter Tori Amos. I fell in love with her music at the age of thirteen, and she has been my favorite artist and an inspiration to me ever since. She didn’t become successful until her late twenties, which makes me feel better about myself, because I’m almost twenty-five and haven’t accomplished all that much. No bad things that have happened have made her bitter; she just writes music about it. She suffered through a sexual assault when she was younger, and instead of harboring bad feelings for life, she wrote music about it and started a hotline called RAINN (Rape and Incest National Network) where people can call and get advice from counselors about how to deal with their assault. She is immensely talented and can play piano like no one I’ve ever seen. I am envious of people with that kind of musical talent, but also in awe of them. Her lyrics are so powerful and inspiring. She is a very strong woman and sets an example for any woman who has gone through an assault, a miscarriage, or a breakup. Tori Amos fans are like no others—we are all crazy about her, and most of us have gone through similar experiences.
ReplyDeleteI have many heroes but one that I am thinking very much of right now is my friend Robert. Robert's childhood was not an easy one. His father left and abandoned him to his mother, and his mother became involved in drugs and various boyfriends who beat Robert and his siblings. Robert also realized from a very young age that he is gay, and although he endured merciless jibes from his mother and her boyfriends, stayed true to who he is.
ReplyDeleteAfter (thankfully) being taken out of such a sad and dangerous situation, Robert has grown up into an amazing young man. I have seen him interact with both of his parents, and he holds no ill will against either of them, even after what he was put through. There are times where he does voice some regret about the past, but he loves his parents and every individual he meets with all his heart. He's such a forgiving person, and I aspire to be like him every day.
What inspires me most is even living in such a conservative community, Robert is not afraid to be an openly gay man, especially after all the ridicule he received from his family. If he receives a snide remark from someone in public (which I have witnessed), he returns the remark with kindness. He strives to be friends with everyone he meets and to help them in any way he can. This is why Robert will always be one of my heroes.
Thank you for sharing this I have had many gay friends over the years some closeted some not. While I have always been compassionate towards them I never felt the affect of their sexuality on the family. Five years ago my sister announced at the age of thirty-two my family was shocked to say the least. My parents cut communication and I felt lost. I made the commitment to stay close to my sister and eventually things worked out for all of us. I am glad your friend moved past the bad memories. Good for him.
DeleteMy definition of a hero is a person who is faced with a difficult decision or circumstance and prevails by choosing to respond with bravery and conviction, despite whatever sacrifice or difficulty the responsible choice might entail. The person who embodies this definition most to me is my cousin Rachel Garcia, who served in the United States Airforce for the last six years. In December of 2010, during a training mission in Kuwait, she was assigned machine gunner in the second truck of a four truck convoy to an Iraqi Police Station when they were attacked with an improvised explosive device that hit the third truck. The explosion killed her lieutenant and injured two others, so as soon as they were able to push through the ambush area, she had to defend her group against hundreds of vehicles. Her turret lost power right away, so she had to use a rifle for a while. Once somebody brought her a hand crank, she had to use it to use her 84-pound machine gun for about 20 minutes, along with carrying a heavy amount of armor. My cousin is a small person, at about 5’1.” During those 20 minutes, she covered “three sectors of fire normally covered by additional gunners,” while her wounded teammates were carried to safety. She also treated the shrapnel wounds of the two wounded teammates in the meantime before medics arrived. Rachel not only made the right choices in this circumstance, but she made them under an extraordinary amount of pressure, and she didn’t waste a single second or put her safety before that of those she was protecting. She rose above the trauma and shock of witnessing the explosion that killed her Lieutenant and wounded her teammates, and she was able to take control over her emotions and act fast. At only 25 years of age, she truly demonstrated leadership and bravery that day. And what really makes her admirable to me is that I know she would make the same difficult decisions any given day, because that is just the kind of person that she is.
ReplyDeleteI haven’t thought about a hero since I was in elementary school when I thought superman and batman where the only type of heroes. I’m not sure if I have a hero. To me a hero is not someone with heat vision, super strength, or a cape. A hero is someone who does kind and generous things for other people. A hero is someone who sacrifices everything for the good of someone else and doesn’t expect anything in return. I guess I do have a hero, not just one but two. It might sound kind of corny but my heroes are my mom and dad. They are the most generous and giving people I have ever met. They did not come from a family with money and they did not even go to high school but they struggled to make sure we had everything we needed. They also somehow manage to help others by donating clothing and food to churches. They worked very hard and they were still able to make it to our sport games and school plays. They made sure that we had everything they didn’t have and they pushed us to have a better life. They did not always get the gratitude that they deserve but they never gave up on us. Thanks to my heroes, even though it’s a little late in my life, I am here working on my bachelors in mathematics. My mom and dad are my heroes but they are not the only ones out there. There are many parents and people who sacrifice their own life day after day to make someone else’s life better.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful story. My parents are my heroes too. It truly is amazing how much some people endure for their children in the name of love. You sound like you have amazing parents. Cherish the memories.
DeleteI'm going to join the group and sing the praises of my mother. She came to the U.S. as a small child from Mexico and she was the oldest of twelve children. Her childhood was rough as she had to help raise all those children and my grandmother(who dropped out of school early in life and was illeterate) did not see the value in education and as a result would not allow my mother to do on homework because to my grandma homework was chores. As a result she did poorly in school and barely graduated. Despite the way she was raised we were expected to be on honor roll every semester. It would have never occurred to me to even challenge this. My mother became a stay at home mother when she married my father. We were blessed beyond belief to have her at home. Our daily meals were amazing. Our breakfast would include eggs or pancakes, bacon, sausage, oatmeal...etc. We rarely ate a bowl of cereal. When I was a senior in high school my mother informed me I would be attending junior college and paying for it myself. One thing I love about her is that she raised us to be self-sufficient. Once we worked there was not much financial assistance with the exception of a roof over our head and home cooked meals. My mother endured much in her life and she will forever be my hero.
ReplyDeleteWe are truly lucky to have such wonderful and inspirational mothers. My mother like yours went through several hardships in her life. Your mother sounds like a truly amazing woman. It is always nice to have someone at home that is so loving and supportive.
DeleteA hero is not someone you watch on TV shows or in the movies, the guy you recognize with the big muscles, no fear and the star of the show. Heroes are people you may see everyday, people that commit selfless acts of kindness to complete strangers, people that stay until the job is done and have the courage to do the right thing when it matters most. My hero, undoubtedly my parents. My parents are have committed their entire lives to helping others, routing for the underdog, and trying to do their part to make this world a better place. When I was 9 years old, my father and I were on our way home from a baseball game. We saw a car pulled over on the side of the road with its hazard lights. The women in the car looked desperate. Her and her 3 young children were standing by the car smoldering in the hot sun. My dad didn't even hesitate, he pulled over to see what the problem was. The women had a flat tire, no spare and no money. My dad went across the street, bought all three of her children a Slurpee and proceeded down the road. He returned with a brand new tire for her, put it on her car and sent her on her way. The lady was so grateful, she was truly thankful and if someone would have asked her who her hero was, she would have answered my dad,who was a complete stranger to her. I couldn't have been more proud of dad. My mom is the same way. countless hours of helping people, in so many ways. They are both wonderful people, and the best parents anyone could ask for. My parents are always there for me if I have a problem, we figure out a solution together. There are no "dumb" questions and they always have time for me.Both my parents have endured so much in life, but always had a smile on their faces. They believed in hard work, and showed my brother and I what we could achieve with hard work as well. When I think of the word "hero", my parents are the only people that come to mind. They will always be my heroes.
ReplyDeleteMy heroes would have to be my parents. It's not till I moved out that I could really appreciate everything they have done for me. They are hard workers who value their family and would do anything for us to have a better life. They raised me with great values. They supported me and have praised all my achievements. They have always been there to help me back up when I start to stumble. My mother was a runner in high school and had set a time record for the girls. Her time was recorded in the girls locker room. It was my inspiration every time we had to jog the mile. My mother started working at delano hospital as soon as she had me. She was chosen as employee of the year this year. My dad was a farm worker but opened up his own business. Now he is a successful carpenter. Their stories keep me grounded and motivated to make the best life I can for myself. I know their support and love is priceless but I would love to be able to give back to them.
ReplyDeleteI am surprised that no one other than myself has said this, I am my own hero. I have overcome many obstacles in my life the last several years. I married a man with three young daughters, I was only 22 at the time. Soon after we were married I had twin boys and within a month my husbands three daughters came to live with us permanently. I stayed home with the children, becay=use we could not afford daycare for five children, while my husband worked for $9.00 an hour. We made ends meet with the help of AFDC and food stamps. When my sons' started school I began attending Bakersfield College, it took several years, but here I am working on my masters degree. I eventually divorced from my husband of fifteen years, due to his methamphetamine use and was left to raise two teenage boys on my own. I obtained my bachelors degree and now am in MSW program, something I could not have done if I were still with my ex-husband. So I can onlythank myself for what has been accomplished in my life, my strength, and my children.
ReplyDeleteI have a hero. My hero is my dad. His name is Victor. I personally feel that he is the best dad in the world. He sacrifices so much for my brothers and my sisters. My dad is my best friend. I can always count on him to be by my side when I have a problem. He has many qualities of a hero. To me a hero doesn't try to get credit for all the good that he does. This describes my dad. My dad does little things for my family that he doesn't have to do. Whether it's cooking a big meal for the family and letting everyone eat before him, or it can be staying up late with you when you are sick. My dad does it all. Growing up I never really appreciated all the good he did for me, but now I have realized how lucky I am to have him. My dad always encouraged me to get an education and he has always been supportive of me and my brothers and sisters. I want to make him proud one day.
ReplyDeleteI have many heroes, but since we can choose one, I must say my boyfriend. He has helped me in so many ways; I do not think I'll ever be able to pay him back. Growing up my life was rough and it only got harder with age. I met my boyfriend in high school, which were the worst years of my life. We had know of each other before, but we never really spoke, we are very different and we just hung around with very different groups. In high school I was very quiet but at the same time highly outspoken. Whenever someone would upset me, I never stop to assess the situation, I would react. He looked past that and helped my control my anger. I also had problems at home with my mom and he did the best he could to be there for; he did as much as a teenager could and I could ask for more. Whenever I needed a should his was there even when I said nothing, he could just tell I was bothered. And he still continues to be a great hero. No matter how stressed I am, even when I want to give up, he is right there cheering me on. It is always great to hear "you can do it" and "I am right here whenever you need me."
ReplyDelete