MyStory

Shalini R                                            

Class 6 Responsibility

MY HERO

I am twelve years old. I have had many heroes that I admired and wished I could also be like them. When I was five, my hero was Superman. I would try to simulate his flying actions by jumping down from my bed which promptly brought my mum with a cane into the bedroom.

When I was seven, I believed I’d found the perfect hero in Spiderman. I tried to crawl all over the living room and all over my sister which also promptly brought my mum with a cane. Being young and impressionable, I presumed that heroes must be perfect beings without flaws and shortcomings. They must have extraordinary strengths without any weaknesses. They must be good looking too, or so, I thought.

Recently I was sharing with my best friend what it takes to be a hero. I was shocked to learn that her hero is actually her father. “How could that be?” I thought, because fathers are just that; fathers. They are there only when you need them. They are supposed to provide everything for the family and they can neither fly nor jump over tall buildings. How could any fathers be heroes to their children? Only after my friend explained the values of a true hero did I realize my naivety. I have been foolished to emulate these comic characters.

Who then should be my hero? I was confused. I did not know what a hero does. This enigma was answered by my teacher, who exquisitely defined the characteristics.  A hero is an individual whom others admire or try to emulate. For adolescence and teenagers, this often means that person is someone they want to be like either because of the person’s lifestyle, athletic prowess or attitudes.

To some, heroes’ maybe celebrities like athletes and movie stars or someone in a child’s own circle of influence such as teachers and parents. What do those people have that make them attractive?

Why do children look up to the other adults in their lives? Whether or not we like it, parents are sometimes considered the enemy. Teenagers might see their moms and dads as judgmental and unconcerned about their lives. Two qualities are therefore crucial to being a hero or a role model.

A hero must be a good friend but also a firm leader. The hero should be able to relate to the child’s mentality and understand the constant struggles that kids go through everyday.

Heroes should provide answers, suggestions and advice appropriately. They should be available and within reach to offer guidance and a discerning ear. Hence heroes should be a friend and a good listener, I concluded. It was then I started looking around my circle of friends and family members for these special traits to seek forth my mentor.

It was no easy task selecting my hero. I actually interviewed several friends and family members including my sister but none came close to my expectations. It finally dawned on me that I have had a hero all my life without realizing. The person who has shared my joy and sorrow. The person who has been always there for me, teaching and playing while I was growing up. I need not look any further than my own father who has guided, nurtured and tutored me in every aspect. My father increased my confidence and determination. He also reduced my fear of examinations and taught me to overcome my carelessness. He also taught me methods and strategies of getting good grades in my tests.

Naturally, I laid the fictitious myth of Superman and Spiderman to rest. My father personifies my aspirations. He has been my superhero all these years. He is not only my hero but a friend, playmate, teacher, guru and a cuddly bear when it gets cold at night. My father is not able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. He is not able to swing from building to building and he is also not handsome. Nonetheless, my father taught me much more in these twelve young years than what these comic heroes could ever do.