A Girl's Hero

My Hero

Heroes come in different forms for all types of people. A person's hero may be a parent, a movie character, a superhero, or even a pet. This hero may just be a person they look up to, someone who understands them, or a friend who saved them from an emotional downfall. Everyone has a superhero whom they admire whether they are a Firefighter, Superman, or his or her parents. In their minds, this person is high on a pedestal, is invincible and cannot be influenced by anything. I was one of those believers. For me, a hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. My hero was my Nana; I thought she was imperishable. I was wrong. After the New Year, her health started to deteriorate. She was diagnosed with cancer when I was a baby. Surgery to remove the unexpected and inexplicable tumor did not work as we had hoped and she passed away last spring after a hard-fought battle. Idyllically as children, we believe that heroes, regardless if they are real or fictitious, are supposed to always be there; they do not leave and they certainly do not get sick or let go yet, sadly, that is what happened to my hero. My Nana died that day, and I stopped believing in heroes.
I am inspired by my Nana to be somebody who will also be admired by others. She always made it a point to tell me that she was proud of me and believed in me. She never gave up on anything or anyone and neither will I. In order to evolve into that person, I will find my voice and lead by example. To become the leader I aim to be; I need to be strong, reliable, and independent. Most importantly, I will continue to work hard to reach my goals, and be kind and generous in helping others to succeed. I too will become a good leader and hopefully inspire others along the way. It is my turn to take the helm and encourage others the way she did for me. I aspire to be that reflection of her, my Nana, my hero.
I know that in reality, heroes die, though reminders of our heroes can surround us. A mannerism displayed by someone else, a saying or a smell that brings back a memory, or some random act of kindness that seems familiar. Seemingly, a hero can resurface in other people's actions and another may rise to become the hero in place of the lost hero. That is my ultimate goal and will be the eventual outcome as I continue to live my life generously.