life heroes essay

Essays About Heroes: 5 Examples And Topic Ideas

Here, we’ll look at examples of essays about heroes and questions that can be used as topics for essays about an imagined or real hero.

A few different images likely come to mind when you hear the word hero. You may imagine Superman flying above the world with his superpower of flight. You may imagine a personal hero, a real person who has made a significant impact on your life for the better. You might think of a true hero as someone who has shown heroic qualities in the public eye, working to help ordinary people through difficult situations.

When writing an essay about your life hero, it’s important to consider the qualities of that person that make them stand out to you. Whether you choose to write an essay about how your mom got you through tough times and became your role model or about a political figure who made a difference in the lives of people in history, it’s key to not just focus on the person’s actions—you’ll also want to focus on the qualities that allowed them to act heroically.

Here, we’ll explore examples of hero essays and potential topics to consider when writing about a hero.

For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers

Examples Of Essays About Heroes

• 1. These Are The Heroes Of The Coronavirus Pandemic By Ruth Marcus
• 2. Why Teachers Are My Heroes By Joshua Muskin
• 3. Martin Luther King Jr.—Civil Rights Activist & Hero By Kathy Weiser-Alexander

4. Steve Prefontaine: The Track Of A Hero By Bill O’Brian

5. forget hamilton, burr is the real hero by carey wallace, topic ideas for essays about heroes, 1. what makes a hero, 2. what are the most important characteristics of heroes in literature, 3. what constitutes a heroic act, 4. is selflessness required for heroism, 1.  these are the heroes of the coronavirus pandemic  by ruth marcus.

“Is this what they signed up for? There is some danger inherent in the ordinary practice of medicine, but not this much. I confess: I do not know that I would do the same in their circumstances; I am not sure I am so generous or so brave. If my child were graduating from medical school, how would I deal with her being sent, inadequately protected, into an emergency room? If my husband were a physician, would I send him off to the hospital — or let him back into the house in the interim?” Ruth Marcus

Healthcare workers have had no choice but to go above and beyond in recent years. In this essay, Marcus discusses the heroism of those in the healthcare field. He delves into the traits (including selflessness and courage) that make doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers heroes.

2.  Why Teachers Are My Heroes   By Joshua Muskin

“Teachers are my heroes because they accept this responsibility and try extremely hard to do this well even when the conditions in which they work are far from ideal; at least most do. Our jobs as society, education systems, and parents is to do our best to be strong allies to teachers, since their success is essential to ours.” Joshua Muskin

In this essay, Dr. Muskin discusses the many challenges teachers face and what parents, administrators, and education researchers can do to help teachers support students. Muskin explains that most teachers go above and beyond the call of duty to serve their classrooms.

3.  Martin Luther King Jr.—Civil Rights Activist & Hero   By Kathy Weiser-Alexander

“During this nonviolent protest, activists used boycotts, sit-ins, and marches to protest segregation and unfair hiring practices that caught the attention of the entire world. However, his tactics were put to the test when police brutality was used against the marchers, and King was arrested. But, his voice was not silenced, as he wrote his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” to refute his critics.” Kathy Weiser-Alexander

In this essay, Weiser-Alexander details both the traits and the actions of Dr. King before and during the civil rights movement. The author touches on King’s commitment to justice, persistence, and willingness to stand for his beliefs despite difficult circumstances.

“I remember this so vividly because Prefontaine was a hero to me, a hero in a way that no one was before, or really has been since. A British commentator once called him “an athletic Beatle.” If so, his persona was much more Lennon than McCartney. Actually, I thought of him more as Mick Jagger — or ultimately James Dean.” Bill O’Brian

A hero to many in the running world, Prefontaine’s confidence, unique style, and unmatched athletic ability have been heralded for decades. In this essay, O’Brian shares how he, as a distance runner during the era of Pre, related to his struggles and ambition.

“Burr fought against an ugly tide of anti-immigrant sentiment in the young republic, led by Hamilton’s Federalist party, which suggested that anyone without English heritage was a second-class citizen, and even challenged the rights of non-Anglos to hold office. In response, Burr insisted that anyone who contributed to society deserved all the rights of any other citizen, no matter their background.” Carey Wallace

In this essay, Wallace explains why Aaron Burr, the lifelong nemesis of founding father Alexander Hamilton, should be considered a historical hero. This essay exposes someone seen as a villain but much of society with a different take on their history. 

It can be interesting to think about your definition of a hero. When describing what the term hero means to you, you may want to choose a person (or a few people) you look up to as a hero to solidify your point. You might want to include fictional characters (such as those in the Marvel universe) and real-life brave souls, such as police officers and firefighters.

A word of caution: stay away from the cliche opening of describing how the dictionary defines a hero. Instead, lead-in with a personal story about a hero who has affected your life. While talking about a public figure as a hero is acceptable, you may find it easier to write about someone close to you who you feel has displayed heroic qualities. Writing about a family member or friend who has shown up as a heroic main character in your life can be just as exciting as writing about a real or imagined superhero.

From Beowulf to Marvel comics, heroes in literature take on many different traits. When writing an essay on what trait makes a hero come alive in a short story, novel, or comic, choose a few of your favorite heroes and find common themes that they share.

Perhaps your favorite heroes are selfless and are willing to put themselves last in the name of sacrifice for others. Perhaps they’re able to dig deep into the truth, being honest even when it’s hard, for the greater good. There’s no need to list endless heroes to make your point—choosing three or four heroes from literature can be a great way to support your argument about what characteristics define heroism in literature.

When someone is named a hero in real life, we often picture them saving people from a burning building or performing a difficult surgical operation. It can be difficult to pin down exactly what constitutes a heroic act. When writing about what constitutes a heroic act, think about people who go above and beyond, performing feats of courage, honesty, and bravery to support themselves or others. When writing about what constitutes a heroic act, discuss real-life or literary examples of heroes at work.

To many people, being a hero means giving back to others. While giving something away or trading in one’s well-being for others can certainly be seen as a heroic act, many people wonder if selflessness is required for heroism or if a hero can serve the greater good in a way that also supports their happiness. When writing about whether selflessness is required for heroism, choose examples from literature and real-life to support your point.

Tip: If writing an essay sounds like a lot of work, simplify it. Write a simple 5 paragraph essay instead.

If you’re still stuck, check out our available resource of essay writing topics .

Amanda has an M.S.Ed degree from the University of Pennsylvania in School and Mental Health Counseling and is a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer. She has experience writing magazine articles, newspaper articles, SEO-friendly web copy, and blog posts.

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Greater Good Science Center • Magazine • In Action • In Education

What Makes a Hero?

This month, Greater Good features videos of a presentation by Philip Zimbardo, the world-renowned psychologist perhaps best known for his infamous Stanford Prison Experiment. In his talk, Zimbardo discusses the psychology of evil and of heroism, exploring why good people sometimes turn bad and how we can encourage more people to perform heroic acts. In this excerpt from his talk, he zeroes in on his research and educational program designed to foster the “heroic imagination.”

More on Heroism

Watch the video of Philip Zimbardo's Greater Good talk on heroism.

Read his essay on " The Banality of Heroism ," which further explores the conditions that can promote heroism vs. evil.

Read this Greater Good essay on the "psychology of the bystander."

Learn more about Zimbardo's Heroic Imagination Project.

What makes us good? What makes us evil?

Research has uncovered many answers to the second question: Evil can be fostered by dehumanization, diffusion of responsibility, obedience to authority, unjust systems, group pressure, moral disengagement, and anonymity, to name a few.

But when we ask why people become heroic, research doesn’t yet have an answer. It could be that heroes have more compassion or empathy; maybe there’s a hero gene; maybe it’s because of their levels of oxytocin—research by neuroeconomist Paul Zak has shown that this “love hormone” in the brain increases the likelihood you’ll demonstrate altruism. We don’t know for sure.

I believe that heroism is different than altruism and compassion. For the last five years, my colleagues and I have been exploring the nature and roots of heroism, studying exemplary cases of heroism and surveying thousands of people about their choices to act (or not act) heroically. In that time, we’ve come to define heroism as an activity with several parts.

First, it’s performed in service to others in need—whether that’s a person, group, or community—or in defense of certain ideals. Second, it’s engaged in voluntarily, even in military contexts, as heroism remains an act that goes beyond something required by military duty. Third, a heroic act is one performed with recognition of possible risks and costs, be they to one’s physical health or personal reputation, in which the actor is willing to accept anticipated sacrifice. Finally, it is performed without external gain anticipated at the time of the act.

Simply put, then, the key to heroism is a concern for other people in need—a concern to defend a moral cause, knowing there is a personal risk, done without expectation of reward.

By that definition, then, altruism is heroism light—it doesn’t always involve a serious risk. Compassion is a virtue that may lead to heroism, but we don’t know that it does. We’re just now starting to scientifically distinguish heroism from these other concepts and zero in on what makes a hero.

My work on heroism follows 35 years of research in which I studied the psychology of evil, including my work on the infamous Stanford Prison Experiment . The two lines of research aren’t as different as they might seem; they’re actually two sides of the same coin.

A key insight from research on heroism so far is that the very same situations that inflame the hostile imagination in some people, making them villains, can also instill the heroic imagination in other people, prompting them to perform heroic deeds.

Take the Holocaust. Christians who helped Jews were in the same situation as other civilians who helped imprison or kill Jews, or ignored their suffering. The situation provided the impetus to act heroically or malevolently. Why did some people choose one path or the other?

Another key insight from my research has been that there’s no clear line between good and evil. Instead, the line is permeable; people can cross back and forth between it.

This is an idea wonderfully represented in an illusion by M. C. Escher, at left. When you squint and focus on the white as the figures and the black as the background, you see a world full of angels and tutus dancing around happily. But now focus on the black as the figures and the white as the background: Now it’s a world full of demons.

What Escher’s telling us is that the world is filled with angels and devils, goodness and badness, and these dark and light aspects of human nature are our basic yin and yang. That is, we all are born with the capacity to be anything. Because of our incredible brains, anything that is imaginable becomes possible, anything that becomes possible can get transformed into action, for better or for worse. 

Some people argue humans are born good or born bad; I think that’s nonsense. We are all born with this tremendous capacity to be anything, and we get shaped by our circumstances—by the family or the culture or the time period in which we happen to grow up, which are accidents of birth; whether we grow up in a war zone versus peace; if we grow up in poverty rather than prosperity.

George Bernard Shaw captured this point in the preface to his great play “Major Barbara”: “Every reasonable man and woman is a potential scoundrel and a potential good citizen. What a man is depends upon his character what’s inside. What he does and what we think of what he does depends on upon his circumstances.”

So each of us may possess the capacity to do terrible things. But we also posses an inner hero; if stirred to action, that inner hero is capable of performing tremendous goodness for others.

Another conclusion from my research is that few people do evil and fewer act heroically. Between these extremes in the bell curve of humanity are the masses—the general population who do nothing, who I call the “reluctant heroes”—those who refuse the call to action and, by doing nothing, often implicitly support the perpetrators of evil.

So on this bell curve of humanity, villains and heroes are the outliers. The reluctant heroes are the rest. What we need to discover is how to give a call to service to this general population. How do we make them aware of the evil that exists? How do we prevent them from getting seduced to the dark side?

We don’t yet have a recipe for creating heroes, but we have some clues, based on the stories of some inspiring heroes.

I love the story of a wonderful nine-year-old Chinese boy, who I call a dutiful hero. In 2008, there was a massive earthquake in China’s Szechuan province. The ceiling fell down on a school, killing almost all the kids in it. This kid escaped, and as he was running away he noticed two other kids struggling to get out. He ran back and saved them. He was later asked, “Why did you do that?” He replied, “I was the hall monitor! It was my duty, it was my job to look after my classmates!”

This perfectly illustrates what I call the “heroic imagination,” a focus on one’s duty to help and protect others. For him, it was cultivated by being assigned this role of hall monitor.

Another story: Irena Sendler was a Polish hero, a Catholic woman who saved at least 2,500 Jewish kids who were holed up in the Warsaw ghetto that the Nazis had erected. She was able to convince the parents of these kids to allow her to smuggle them out of the ghetto to safety. To do this, she organized a network.

That is a key principle of heroism: Heroes are most effective not alone but in a network. It’s through forming a network that people have the resources to bring their heroic impulses to life.

What these stories suggest is that every one of us can be a hero. Through my work on heroism, I’ve become even more convinced that acts of heroism don’t just arrive from truly exceptional people but from people placed in the right circumstance, given the necessary tools to transform compassion into heroic action.

Building on these insights, I have helped to start a program designed to learn more of heroism and to create the heroes of tomorrow.

The Heroic Imagination Project (HIP) is amplifying the voice of the world’s quiet heroes, using research and education networks to promote a heroic imagination in everyone, and then empower ordinary people of all ages and nations to engage in extraordinary acts of heroism. We want to democratize the notion of heroism, to emphasize that most heroes are ordinary people; it’s the act that’s extraordinary.

There are already a lot of great heroes projects out there, such as the Giraffe Heroes Project . The HIP is unique in that it’s the only one encouraging research into heroism, because there’s very little.

Here are a few key insights from research we’ve done surveying 4,000 Americans from across the country. Each of these statements is valid after controlling for all demographic variables, such as education and socioeconomic status.

Heroes surround us. One in five—20 percent—qualify as heroes, based on the definition of heroism I provide above. Seventy-two percent report helping another person in a dangerous emergency. Sixteen percent report whistle blowing on an injustice. Six percent report sacrificing for a non-relative or stranger. Fifteen percent report defying an unjust authority. And not one of these people has been formally recognized as a hero.

Opportunity matters. Most acts of heroism occur in urban areas, where there are more people and more people in need. You’re not going to be a hero if you live in the suburbs. No shit happens in the suburbs!

Education matters. The more educated you are, the more likely you are to be a hero, I think because you are more aware of situations.

Volunteering matters. One third of all the sample who were heroes also had volunteered significantly, up to 59 hours a week.

Gender matters. Males reported performing acts of heroism more than females. I think this is because women tend not to regard a lot of their heroic actions as heroic. It’s just what they think they’re supposed to do for their family or a friend.

Race matters. Blacks were eight times more likely than whites to qualify as heroes. We think that’s in part due to the rate of opportunity. (In our next survey, we’re going to track responses by area code to see if in fact these heroes are coming from inner cities.

Personal history matters. Having survived a disaster or personal trauma makes you three times more likely to be a hero and a volunteer.

Based on these insights into heroism, we’ve put together a toolkit for potential heroes, especially young heroes in training, who already have opportunities to act heroically when they’re kids, such as by opposing bullying.

A first step is to take the “hero pledge,” a public declaration on our website that says you’re willing to be a hero in waiting. It’s a pledge “to act when confronted with a situation where I feel something is wrong,” “to develop my heroic abilities,” and “to believe in the heroic capacities within myself and others, so I can build and refine them.”

You can also take our four-week “Hero Challenge” mini-course online to help you develop your heroic muscles. The challenge may not require you to do anything heroic, but it’s training you to be heroic. And we offer more rigorous, research-based education and training programs for middle and high schools, corporations, and the millitary that make people aware of the social factors that produce passivity, inspire them to take positive civic action, and encourage the skills needed to consistently translate heroic impulses into action.

We’re also in the process of creating an Encyclopedia of Heroes, a collection of hero stories from all over the world. Not just all the classic ones and fictional ones, but ones that people from around the world are going to send in, so they can nominate ordinary heroes with a picture and a story. It will be searchable, so you can find heroes by age, gender, city and country. These are the unsung, quiet heroes—they do their own thing, put themselves in danger, defend a moral cause, help someone in need. And we want to highlight them. We want them to be inspirational to other people just like them.

Essentially, we’re trying to build the social habits of heroes, to build a focus on the other, shifting away from the “me” and toward the “we.” As the poet John Donne wrote: “No man [or woman] is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; … any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

So every person is part of humanity. Each person’s pulse is part of humanity’s heartbeat. Heroes circulate the life force of goodness in our veins. And what the world needs now is more heroes—you. It’s time to take action against evil.

About the Author

Philip Zimbardo

Philip Zimbardo, Ph.D. , is a professor emeritus of psychology at Stanford University, a professor at Palo Alto University, a two-time past president of the Western Psychological Association, and a past president of the American Psychological Association. He is also the author of the best-selling book The Lucifer Effect and the president of the Heroic Imagination Project .

You May Also Enjoy

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Banality of evil: the flip-side.

The Banality of Heroism

Very nice information. In this world this is the very difficult question that what makes people good or evil. This post has helped a lot to understand the difference. Actually in my point of it depends upon the individual that what he/she thinks. If he/she thinks negative all the time them they became evil and thinking vice versa makes them good.

Andrew | 2:31 am, January 19, 2011 | Link

I really like reading this article because there are many individuals in the world that are heroes but are not recognized.  Heroes that have help humanity progress and prosper have fought with the greatest weapons which are love, respect, sincerity, and peace.  The governments that have had the greatest fear of seeing people free have always use war for colonization, genocide, and false treaties.  However, love is much stronger than war, and thanks to the modern forms of communication and exchange of information, more people are united for peace and do not support or participate in colonization or human genocide.  Since the start of humanity most people have use peace to progress, few have participated in war and few are participating. May peace prevail on earth!

Victor | 7:48 pm, January 29, 2011 | Link

A son raising up against an evil father. A brother standing up to a bully attacking his sibling. A stranger rallying to the side of a woman being assaulted in the street.

My sons are my strength. My reason to help others, that they may find the help they need in their lives.

pops | 9:39 am, February 3, 2011 | Link

Of course religion and eduction has a big impact on a child. But once a child is trying to live a good life (earning good karma or call it whatever you want) good things will happen to that child and he or she will recognize this.

So I think you can definitely change from evil to good.. maybe you _can be changed_ from good to evil.

Massud Hosseini | 7:28 am, September 17, 2011 | Link

Actually in my point of it depends upon the individual that what he/she thinks

asalah | 9:41 pm, September 24, 2011 | Link

“Research has uncovered many answers to the second question: Evil can be fostered by dehumanization, diffusion of responsibility, obedience to authority, unjust systems, group pressure, moral disengagement, and anonymity, to name a few.”  <—What I find amazing about this statement is that anything is being branded “evil” at all.  Well, maybe not.  Relativism seems to be something that’s employed when convenient, disregarded when it’s not.

Kukri | 6:58 pm, November 6, 2011 | Link

This is a very comprehensive discussion on heroism. Victor makes a great point in his comment about how most heroes go unnoticed by the vast majority of people. I think that lack of notoriety is part of what it means to be a hero: doing that which is unexpected without the need for a pat on the back. quotes for facebook status

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Generally I do not learn from posts on blogs, however I wish to say that this write-up very pressured me to check out and I did so! Your writing style has amazed me. Thank you, quite nice article.

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I found this informative and interesting blog so i think so its very useful and knowledge able.I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future.

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Thanks for the comments here very informative and useful keep posting comments here everyday guys thanks again.

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When a sniper’s bullet hits one soldier and misses the person next to him, that alone does not make the wounded soldier more heroic.

brokesteves | 6:10 am, April 24, 2012 | Link

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110 My Hero Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Everyone has heroes in their lives ''' people they look up to, admire, and aspire to be like. Whether it's a celebrity, a family member, a teacher, or even a fictional character, heroes can come in all shapes and sizes. Writing an essay about your hero can be a great way to express your admiration and appreciation for them. If you're struggling to come up with a topic for your hero essay, here are 110 ideas and examples to help get you started:

• My Mom/Dad: The person who has always been there for me, no matter what.
• My Grandparent: A wise and loving figure in my life.
• My Sibling: The person I look up to and learn from every day.
• My Best Friend: The person who always has my back and lifts me up when I'm feeling down.
• My Teacher: The person who has inspired me to learn and grow.
• My Coach: The person who pushes me to be my best self.
• My Favorite Author: The person whose words have shaped my worldview.
• My Favorite Musician: The person whose music speaks to my soul.
• My Favorite Actor/Actress: The person whose performances have moved me.
• My Favorite Artist: The person whose art has touched my heart.
• My Favorite Athlete: The person whose dedication and skill inspire me.
• My Favorite Activist: The person who fights for what they believe in.
• My Favorite Historical Figure: The person whose legacy continues to impact the world.
• My Favorite Fictional Character: The person who embodies the qualities I strive for.
• My Role Model: The person who sets a positive example for me to follow.
• My Mentor: The person who guides me and helps me grow.
• My Hero from History: The person who changed the world for the better.
• My Hero from Literature: The character who has stayed with me long after I finished reading their story.
• My Hero from Film/TV: The character who has inspired me with their courage and strength.
• My Hero from Music: The musician whose lyrics have spoken to me in times of need.
• My Hero from Sports: The athlete who has shown me what it takes to succeed.
• My Hero from Science: The scientist who has made groundbreaking discoveries.
• My Hero from Politics: The leader who fights for justice and equality.
• My Hero from Art: The artist whose work has challenged and inspired me.
• My Hero from Business: The entrepreneur who has built a successful career while giving back to their community.
• My Hero from Technology: The innovator who has revolutionized the way we live and work.
• My Hero from Medicine: The doctor who has saved lives and improved healthcare for all.
• My Hero from Education: The teacher who goes above and beyond to help their students succeed.
• My Hero from Humanitarian Work: The volunteer who dedicates their time and resources to helping those in need.
• My Hero from Environmentalism: The activist who fights to protect our planet and its resources.
• My Hero from Social Justice: The advocate who works to create a more just and equitable society.
• My Hero from Animal Rights: The activist who fights to protect and care for animals.
• My Hero from LGBTQ+ Rights: The advocate who fights for the rights and equality of LGBTQ+ individuals.
• My Hero from Disability Rights: The advocate who fights for the rights and inclusion of individuals with disabilities.
• My Hero from Women's Rights: The advocate who fights for gender equality and women's empowerment.
• My Hero from Civil Rights: The activist who fights for racial equality and social justice.
• My Hero from Peace and Nonviolence: The advocate who works to promote peace and nonviolence in a world torn by conflict.
• My Hero from Community Service: The volunteer who dedicates their time and energy to improving their community.
• My Hero from Public Service: The leader who serves their country and community with integrity and dedication.
• My Hero from the Military: The service member who sacrifices their own safety to protect their country and its citizens.
• My Hero from Law Enforcement: The officer who puts their life on the line to keep their community safe.
• My Hero from Firefighting: The firefighter who bravely battles fires to save lives and property.
• My Hero from Emergency Medical Services: The paramedic who provides life-saving care in times of crisis.
• My Hero from Nursing: The nurse who provides compassionate care to patients in need.
• My Hero from Medicine: The doctor who saves lives and improves the health of their patients.
• My Hero from Mental Health: The therapist who helps individuals overcome their struggles and find healing.
• My Hero from Addiction Recovery: The counselor who supports individuals on their journey to sobriety.
• My Hero from Disability Services: The advocate who fights for the rights and inclusion of individuals with disabilities.
• My Hero from Homelessness Services: The social worker who helps individuals find housing and support.
• My Hero from Youth Services: The mentor who supports and guides young people in need.
• My Hero from Elderly Care: The caregiver who provides compassionate support to elderly individuals.
• My Hero from Animal Welfare: The activist who fights to protect and care for animals in need.
• My Hero from Environmentalism: The advocate who works to protect our planet and its resources.
• My Hero from Social Justice: The advocate who fights for equality and justice for all.
• My Hero from LGBTQ+ Rights: The activist who fights for the rights and equality of LGBTQ+ individuals.
• My Hero from Education: The teacher who goes above and beyond to help their students

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77 My Hero Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best my hero topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 most interesting my hero topics to write about, 👍 good research topics about my hero, ❓ heroes essay questions.

• Celebrities as Good Role Models In the conclusion, it was affirmed that celebrities’ accomplishments are easily identifiable to the public, as is the case with Angelina and Oprah, and this makes them good role models.
• Willy Loman, a Poor Role Model to His Two Sons Biff and Happy The main theme in the play is sustained in the play with the sons of Willy attaining their personality from their father.
• Parents as Failed Role Models: A Doll’s House and Fight Club The drinking culture of parents revealed in the story of the Fight Club underscores the elements that increase children’s exposure to alcohol and drug taking.
• Mythological and Modern-Day Heroes Myths and other forms of literature were the tools that the community used to pass the deeds of the heroes from one generation to the other.
• Father as a Male Role Model During the days when schooling was considered to be accessible only to the children of the opulent, those who were not privileged enough to go to school, remained at home and helped their parents in […]
• My Hero: Bob Marley One of the things I admire the most about him is the possession of skills and the right attitude to influence positive change in society.
• Stereotyping Heroes in Cinema In mass media, representation usually involves the use of art and signs to change the concept of concrete reality, hence leading to stereotyping of characters and heroes in movies and other non-fiction programs from a […]
• Education and Leadership Role Modeling Generally, the article is of great significance to education, for it provides a guideline on what leadership trainers should emphasize in their endeavors of ensuring that education builds all round and sound mind leaders, who […]
• Significance of a Male Role Model for Forming Tomas and Gabe’s Personal It is possible to pay attention to Tomas and Gabe’s visions of masculinity referring to the ideas developed by Tomas in relation to the question, to the opinion which is characteristic for Gabe, and to […]
• The Life and Work of Jane Goodall, a Scientist and Role Model
• An Overview of the Reasons Why President Clinton Is a Role Model for Young People
• Prophet Muhammad as Role Model for Religious Teachers
• The Value of a Role Model in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
• How Fortinbras is a Role Model to Hamlet
• The Privatization of Italian Savings Banks: A Role Model for Germany
• A Literary Analysis of the Influence of a Role Model in to Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• Risk Culture and the Role Model of the Honorable Merchant
• The Reasons Why I Look up to Clinton Richard Dawkins as a Role Model
• A Feminist Role Model in the Character of Catherine Earnshaw
• Positive Role Model in the Children and Young Peoples Workforce
• The Global Environment Facility-a Role Model for International Governance
• Transformational Leaders As A Role Model
• Family and Cosmopolitan Role Model
• The Importance of a Role Model That Impacts a Person’s Life
• Princess Diana as a Role Model and People’s Princess
• The Misconception of a Role Model and the Relation to an Athlete
• Virtue Ethics And The Great Role Model Of Folklore And Language
• Gender and the Study of Economics: Is There A Role Model Effect
• Paul Erlich as an Environmental Role Model
• What Makes Nooyi An Exceptional Role Model For All Of The Women?
• Finding America’s Television Role Model
• The Effect of Cristiano Ronaldo as My Football Role Model
• Ethical Issues and Management: Manager as a Role Model
• Oprah ‘s Role Model For Women Breaking Down Many Invisible
• Tennyson’s Ulysses as a Victorian Role Model
• The Police Officer as a Role Model for Children
• Role Of A Role Model For Employees
• Why Rey Is the Female Role Model I’ve Always Wanted
• The Role Model Qualities Shown by the Finchs’s Maid in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• Professional Athletes Should Be Role Model to Kindergartners in Modern Society
• Holden Caufield as a Role Model in The Catcher in the Rye
• Why I Chose Martin Luther King as My Role Model
• The United States as a Role Model Government
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• What Makes a Strong Role Model?
• What Are Role Models Responsible For?
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• What Are the Types of Heroes?
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• What Is the Difference Between Ancient and Modern Heroes?
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• How Did Education Affect the Success of Forbes Heroes?
• What’s the Difference Between Imperfection and Cultural Heroes?
• Idealism Paper Topics
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Literary Vs. Real Life Heroes

This essay about the distinction between literary and real-life heroes explores how each influences society in different yet profound ways. Literary heroes, like Harry Potter or Atticus Finch, are constructed within narratives that underscore moral dilemmas and showcase exceptional qualities in fantastical scenarios. These characters serve as aspirational figures that stimulate the imagination and foster a sense of moral clarity. In contrast, real-life heroes emerge from ordinary circumstances and display extraordinary courage and resilience, such as Malala Yousafzai or frontline workers in crises. They inspire through their relatability and their tangible impacts, demonstrating what individuals can achieve despite fear and imperfection. The essay underscores that both types of heroes offer valuable lessons—literary heroes encourage us to aspire to higher ideals, while real-life heroes show the real impact of personal courage and integrity.

How it works

In our culture, the concept of a hero is one that permeates both our literary traditions and our real-life experiences. The heroes of literature and those who emerge in the real world often stand in stark contrast to each other, yet both serve crucial roles in inspiring and influencing society. Understanding the nuances between literary and real-life heroes can offer us deeper insights into what truly makes a person heroic.

Literary heroes are crafted from the imagination of authors and are often larger than life.

Characters such as Harry Potter, Katniss Everdeen, or Atticus Finch from Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” represent ideals of courage, bravery, and moral integrity. These heroes are placed in extraordinary circumstances, where they must make dramatic choices that reflect their exceptional qualities. Their stories are designed to evoke a sense of wonder and aspiration, often rooted in a narrative that clearly distinguishes between good and evil. The clarity of their heroic journeys allows readers to explore complex ethical questions within a safe and structured environment, making literary heroes both inspirational and instructive.

Conversely, real-life heroes usually emerge from the ranks of everyday people who find themselves in scenarios where they act in ways that are extraordinary. These individuals might not wear capes or wield magical powers, but their actions speak volumes about human potential and the impact of altruism. Consider figures like Malala Yousafzai, who stood up for the right to education in the face of extreme danger, or the countless frontline workers who risked their lives during global crises. Real-life heroes exemplify resilience, perseverance, and the capacity for self-sacrifice without the promise of a happy ending or narrative closure that literary heroes often enjoy.

The appeal of real-life heroes lies in their relatability. They are not infallible; they experience fear, doubt, and failure, just like any other person. Yet, it is their ability to rise above these challenges and make a significant impact that endears them to us. Their stories might not always be as polished or as dramatic as those of literary heroes, but they are real and raw, resonating with the genuine complexities of life.

The contrast between these types of heroes also reflects in the lessons they offer. Literary heroes, with their clear moral compass and often supernatural challenges, inspire us to strive for greater ideals and remind us of the values we aspire to embody. They are the embodiments of what we hope to be. Real-life heroes, on the other hand, demonstrate what we are capable of achieving as ordinary individuals. They ground us in reality and inspire change through tangible examples of courage and commitment.

Moreover, the narrative of a real-life hero can often be more unpredictable and less binary than that of a literary hero. While literary narratives often revolve around a clear conflict with a defined antagonist, real-life heroism can involve complex social issues or personal struggles that don’t necessarily have a visible enemy. This complexity adds a layer of authenticity to their heroism and provides a more nuanced perspective on what it means to be truly heroic.

In conclusion, both literary and real-life heroes have their unique allure and lessons. Through the stories of literary heroes, we explore the boundaries of our imagination and the ideals we hold dear. In the actions of real-life heroes, we find the tangible expressions of human potential and the profound impact of individual action. Each type of hero enriches our understanding of heroism and reflects the diverse ways in which courage and integrity can manifest in our world. Whether in the pages of a book or in the deeds within our communities, heroes continue to inspire, challenge, and change us, urging us onward towards our best selves.

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What Makes a Person Heroic?

Characteristics of a hero.

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Shereen Lehman, MS, is a healthcare journalist and fact checker. She has co-authored two books for the popular Dummies Series (as Shereen Jegtvig).

• Definitions
• Characteristics

What makes a person heroic? Is there a hero gene, naturally giving someone the characteristics of a hero? According to one study, the answer might rest in the type of heroism we are addressing.

In a paper published in 2010, researchers reported that people who engaged in one-time acts of bravery (like rushing into a burning building or rescuing someone from the path of an oncoming train) are not necessarily that much different from control groups of non-heroes.

By contrast, people who engage in lifelong heroism (such as professional nurses who regularly comfort the sick and dying) do share a number of important personality traits such as empathy , nurturance, and a need to live by a moral code.

Definitions of Heroism

The scientific study of heroism is a relatively recent topic of interest within the field of psychology.

Researchers have offered different definitions of exactly what makes a hero, but most suggest that heroism involves prosocial, altruistic actions that involve an element of personal risk or sacrifice. 

Researchers Franco, Blau, and Zimbardo define heroism as someone who:

• Acts voluntarily for the service of others who are in need, whether it is for an individual, a group, or a community
• Performs actions without any expectation of reward or external gain
• Recognizes and accepts the potential risk or sacrifice made by taking heroic actions

Researchers do not necessarily agree about the central characteristics that make up heroism. One study published in 2015 in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology suggested that heroes have 12 central traits, which are:

• Determination
• Inspirational
• Moral integrity
• Self-sacrifice
• Selflessness

The psychology of heroism might not be well understood, but many experts do believe that it is possible for people to learn to be heroes . The following are just a few of the major characteristics that researchers have ascribed to heroes.

Concern for the Well-Being of Others

According to researchers, empathy, and compassion for others are key variables that contribute to heroic behavior. People who rush in to help others in the face of danger and adversity do so because they genuinely care about the safety and well-being of other people. They cannot bear to see someone suffering and are compelled to take action.

One study published in 2009 found that people who have heroic tendencies also have a much higher degree of empathy.  

People who engage in acts of heroism have concern and care for the people around them and they are able to feel what those in need of help are feeling.

Understanding Other Perspectives

Researchers suggest that heroes aren't just compassionate and caring; they have a knack for being able to see things from the perspective of others. They can "walk a mile in another man's shoes," so to speak.

When they encounter a situation where an individual is in need, they are immediately able to see themselves in that same situation and see what needs to be done to help.

Heroes Have Useful Skills and Strengths

Clearly, having the training or physical ability to deal with a crisis can also play a major role in whether or not people become heroes.

In situations where would-be rescuers lack the know-how or sheer physical strength to make a difference, people are less likely to help or are more likely to find less direct ways to take action. And in many cases, this approach is probably best; after all, people senselessly rushing into a dangerous situation can pose even more difficulties for rescue workers.

People who are trained and capable, such as those with first aid training and experience, are more ready and able to step up when their skills are needed.

Heroes Have a Strong Moral Compass

According to heroism researchers Philip Zimbardo and Zeno Franco, heroes have two essential qualities that set them apart from non-heroes: they live by their values and they are willing to endure personal risk to protect those values.

Moral reasoning at the highest levels incorporates principles of justice, equality, and honor. The heroic mindset upholds the sanctity of human life above material desires and personal needs. All heroic decisions must consider the potential outcomes and choose the pathway that will serve the greater good of humanity.

Their values and personal beliefs give them the courage and resolve to endure risk and even danger in order to adhere to those principles.

Heroes Are Competent and Confident

It takes both skill and self-confidence to rush into places others fear to tread. Researchers suggest that people who perform heroic acts tend to feel confident in themselves and their abilities.

When faced with a crisis , they have an intrinsic belief that they are capable of handling the challenge and achieving success no matter what the odds are. Part of this confidence might stem from above-average coping skills and abilities to manage stress.

Heroes Are More Optimistic

A person who rushes into a burning building to save another person is not just extraordinarily brave; he or she also possesses an ability to overcome fear. Researchers suggest that heroic individuals are positive thinkers by nature, which contributes to their ability to look past the immediate danger of a situation and see a more optimistic outcome.

In one 2010 study, researchers found that people identified as heroes were more likely to put a positive spin on negative events.  

When faced with a potentially life-threatening illness, people with heroic tendencies might focus on the good that might come from the situation such as a renewed appreciation for life or an increased closeness with loved ones.

Heroes Have a Higher Tolerance for Risk

In many cases, these individuals may also have a lower experience of fear and a higher tolerance for risk. Plenty of caring and kind people might shrink back in the face of danger. Those who do leap into action are typically more likely to take greater risks in multiple aspects of their lives.

Persistence is another quality commonly shared by heroes. They are often more patient and will keep working on their goals, even after multiple setbacks.

The decision to act heroically is a choice that many of us will be called upon to make at some point in time. By conceiving of heroism as a universal attribute of human nature, not as a rare feature of the few 'heroic elect,' heroism becomes something that seems in the range of possibilities for every person, perhaps inspiring more of us to answer that call.

A Word From Verywell

Researchers have found that in a lot of ways, heroes are not all that different from most people. However, there are a number of skills you can build that can boost your hero characteristics.

Building empathy, becoming competent and skilled, and being persistent in the face of obstacles are all abilities you can work on over time. By doing so, you can improve your ability to help others and come through in times of need.

Walker LJ, Frimer JA, Dunlop WL. Varieties of moral personality: Beyond the banality of heroism .  J Pers . 2010;78(3):907‐942. doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.2010.00637.x

Franco ZE, Blau K, Zimbardo PG. Heroism: A conceptual analysis and differentiation between heroic action and altruism .  Review of General Psychology . 2011;15(2):99-113. doi:10.1037/a0022672.

Kinsella EL, Ritchie TD, Igou ER. Zeroing in on heroes: A prototype analysis of hero features . J Pers Soc Psychol. 2015;108(1):114-127. doi:10.1037/a0038463

Staats S, Wallace H, Anderson T, Gresley J, Hupp JM, Weiss E. The hero concept: Self, family, and friends who are brave, honest, and hopeful . Psychol Rep. 2009;104(3):820-832. doi:10.2466/PR0.104.3.820-832

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

• Heroism: Why Heroes are Important
• Markkula Center for Applied Ethics
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Why Heroes are Important

The impact of role models on the ideals to which we aspire.

When I was 16 years old, I read Henry David Thoreau's book Walden for the first time, and it changed my life. I read about living deliberately, about sucking the marrow out of life, about not, when I had come to die, discovering that I had not lived, and I was electrified. Somehow he convinced me that living deliberately meant becoming a philosopher, and I have not looked back since. And I try as often as I can to remind myself of Thoreau's warning to all philosophy professors: "There are nowadays professors of philosophy, but not philosophers. Yet it is admirable to profess because it was once admirable to live. To be a philosopher is not merely to have subtle thoughts, nor even to found a school, but so to love wisdom as to live according to its dictates, a life of simplicity, independence, magnanimity, and trust. It is to solve some of the problems of life, not only theoretically, but practically." If - horrible thought - I should fail to earn tenure here, I would largely blame that damned quotation. But even if that disaster should strike, I know I would find solace by asking how Henry would respond to such a setback, and I know I would be a better man by following his example. Thoreau is one of my dearest heroes, and I do not know who I would be without him.

The term "hero" comes from the ancient Greeks. For them, a hero was a mortal who had done something so far beyond the normal scope of human experience that he left an immortal memory behind him when he died, and thus received worship like that due the gods. Many of these first heroes were great benefactors of humankind: Hercules, the monster killer; Asclepius, the first doctor; Dionysus, the creator of Greek fraternities. But people who had committed unthinkable crimes were also called heroes; Oedipus and Medea, for example, received divine worship after their deaths as well. Originally, heroes were not necessarily good, but they were always extraordinary; to be a hero was to expand people's sense of what was possible for a human being.

Today, it is much harder to detach the concept of heroism from morality; we only call heroes those whom we admire and wish to emulate. But still the concept retains that original link to possibility. We need heroes first and foremost because our heroes help define the limits of our aspirations. We largely define our ideals by the heroes we choose, and our ideals -- things like courage, honor, and justice -- largely define us. Our heroes are symbols for us of all the qualities we would like to possess and all the ambitions we would like to satisfy. A person who chooses Martin Luther King or Susan B. Anthony as a hero is going to have a very different sense of what human excellence involves than someone who chooses, say, Paris Hilton, or the rapper 50 Cent. And because the ideals to which we aspire do so much to determine the ways in which we behave, we all have a vested interest in each person having heroes, and in the choice of heroes each of us makes.

That is why it is so important for us as a society, globally and locally, to try to shape these choices. Of course, this is a perennial moral issue, but there are warning signs that we need to refocus our attention on the issue now. Consider just a few of these signs:

o A couple years ago the administrators of the Barron Prize for Young Heroes polled American teenagers and found only half could name a personal hero. Superman and Spiderman were named twice as often as Gandhi, Martin Luther King, or Lincoln. It is clear that our media make it all too easy for us to confuse celebrity with excellence; of the students who gave an answer, more than half named an athlete, a movie star, or a musician. One in ten named winners on American Idol as heroes.

o Gangsta rap is a disaster for heroism. Just this week, director Spike Lee lamented the fact that, while his generation grew up idolizing great civil rights leaders, today young people in his community aspire to become pimps and strippers. Surely no one wants their children to get their role models from Gangsta rap and a hyper materialistic, misogynistic hiphop culture, but our communities are finding it difficult to make alternative role models take hold.

o And sometimes, the problem we face is that devotion to heroes is very strong, but directed toward the wrong heroes. In the Muslim world, Osama bin Laden and his like still have a widespread heroic appeal. We can tell how we are doing in the struggle for Muslim hearts and minds by the degree to which this continues to be true.

So what must we do? How should we address the problem? Part of the answer is personal. It never hurts us to remind ourselves who our own heroes are and what they represent for us, and to ask ourselves whether we are doing all we can to live up to these ideals. Not long ago there was a movement afoot to ask always, "What would Jesus do?" I'd like to see people asking questions like that, about Jesus or others, all the time. I confess I get a little thrill every time I see a protest poster asking, "Who would Jesus bomb?" That's heroism doing its work, right there. Moreover, those of us who are teachers - and all of us are teachers of our own children at least - have a special opportunity to introduce heroes to those we teach. And teaching about heroes really isn't hard; heroic lives have their appeal built in, all we need to do is make an effort to tell the stories. I assure you, the reason those students didn't choose Lincoln and King and Gandhi as heroes was not that they had heard their stories and dismissed them. It is our job to tell the stories. Tell your students what a difference people of courage and nobility and genius have made to the world. Just tell the stories! We should recommit to that purpose. Start by going home tonight and listing your five most important heroes.

But part of the answer to our problem is broader. It is clear that the greatest obstacle to the appreciation and adoption of heroes in our society is pervasive and corrosive cynicism and skepticism. It was widely claimed not long ago that 9/11 signalled the end of irony, but it is clear now that the reports of irony's death were greatly exaggerated. This obstacle of cynicism has been seriously increased by scandals like the steroids mess in Major League Baseball, by our leaders' opportunistic use of heroic imagery for short term political gain, and by the Pentagon's stories of glorious soldiers like Jessica Lynch and Pat Tillman that - by no fault of the soldiers involved - turned out to be convenient fabrications.

The best antidote to this cynicism is realism about the limits of human nature. We are cynical because so often our ideals have been betrayed. Washington and Jefferson held slaves, Martin Luther King is accused of philandering and plagiarizing, just about everybody had sex with someone they shouldn't, and so on. We need to separate out the things that make our heroes noteworthy, and forgive the shortcomings that blemish their heroic perfection. My own hero Thoreau had his share of blemishes. For instance, although he was supposed to be living totally independently out by Walden Pond, he went home to Mother on the weekends. But such carping and debunking misses the point. True, the false steps and frailties of heroic people make them more like us, and since most of us are not particularly heroic, that may seem to reduce the heroes' stature. But this dynamic pulls in the other direction as well: these magnificent spirits, these noble souls, amazingly, they are like us, they are human too. And perhaps, then, what was possible for them is possible for us. They stumbled, they wavered, they made fools of themselves - but nonetheless they rose and accomplished deeds of triumphant beauty. Perhaps we might do so too. Cynicism is too often merely an excuse for sparing ourselves the effort.

Again, the critical moral contribution of heroes is the expansion of our sense of possibility. If we most of us, as Thoreau said, live lives of quiet desperation, it is because our horizons of possibility are too cramped. Heroes can help us lift our eyes a little higher. Immanuel Kant said that "from the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made." That may well be true. But some have used that warped, knotted timber to build more boldly and beautifully than others, and we may all benefit by their examples. Heaven knows we need those examples now.

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Who are the real-life heroes in the time of COVID-19?

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By Gustavo Gonzalez

On World Humanitarian Day (WHD), 19 August, we celebrate and honor frontline workers, who, despite the risks, continue to provide life-saving support and protection to people most in need. On this day, we also commemorate humanitarians killed, harassed, and injured while performing their duty. This year’s theme is “Real-Life Heroes”.

But, what does it mean to be a hero? What does it take to help those in need, the poor and at-risk communities, those who are most vulnerable when a disaster strike? Why should we hold up as heroic the deeds of those who everyday continue to extend a helping hand?

As I write this, I am mourning the death of a UN colleague. He died last Friday, struck down by COVID-19, at the age of 32. As a team member of the UN’s Migration Agency, he showed exemplary dedication and commitment to the situation of migrants amidst this pandemic.

He was a true frontline hero, and he is not alone.

In these extraordinary times, and despite the very real danger to themselves, Filipino front line workers, like my fallen colleague, everyday put their own safety and well-being aside to provide life-saving support and protection to people most in need.

In the Philippines, every day since the beginning of the year, humanitarian workers have stood on the front lines dealing with the challenges arising from COVID-19 and other disaster events, like the displacement from the Taal Volcano eruption, the damage wrought by Typhoon Ambo, as well as continuing relief efforts in Marawi City and responding to those affected by the Cotabato and Davao Del Sur earthquakes. Despite the many risks, humanitarians continue to do their work, diligently and selflessly providing assistance to those who need it most.

Through years of responding to various emergencies and capitalizing on national expertise and capacity, the humanitarian community in the country has embraced a truly localized approach by recognizing what at-risk communities themselves can do in these challenging times. The private sector in the Philippines has also stepped up in sharing its resources and capabilities, joining with other humanitarian actors to support affected local governments and communities.

As we give recognition to local real-life heroes, we also need to protect and keep them free from harassment, threats, intimidation and violence. Since 2003, some 4,961 humanitarians around the world have been killed, wounded or abducted while carrying out their life-saving duties. In 2019 alone, the World Health Organization reported 1,009 attacks against health-care workers and facilities, resulting in 199 deaths and 628 injuries.

The COVID-19 pandemic has unveiled an important number of vulnerabilities as well as exposed our weaknesses in preventing shocks. It has also shown that the magnitude of the challenge is exceeding the response capacity of any single partner or country. It represents, in fact, one of the most dramatic calls to work together. The success of this battle will greatly rely on our capacity to learn from experience and remain committed to the highest humanitarian values. Our real-life heroes are already giving the example.

On 4 August, a revised version of the largest international humanitarian response plan in the country since Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 was released by the United Nations and humanitarian partners in the Philippines. Some 50 country-based UN and non-governmental partners are contributing to the response, bringing together national and international NGOs, faith-based organizations as well as the private sector.

COVID-19 might be today’s super-villain, but it does not deter our real-life heroes from doing their job and tirelessly working to find ways to combat the threat and eventually beat the invisible nemesis. We mourn the thousands who have lost their lives to the virus across the globe, including my colleague whom I have spoken of.

At the same time, we join Filipinos in upholding—in the midst of great adversity-- the tradition of celebrating the best of human kindness, generosity, social justice, human rights, solidarity and Bayanihan spirit. We celebrate what makes our front liners and humanitarian real-life heroes. We salute them for continuously putting their lives on the line, despite the risks and uncertainties.

Their efforts must not be overlooked or forgotten.

Mabuhay ang Real-life Heroes! Happy World Humanitarian Day!

Gustavo Gonzalez is the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Philippines

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Essay on Heroism

Students are often asked to write an essay on Heroism in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Heroism

What is heroism.

Heroism is the act of showing courage or bravery, often in challenging or dangerous situations. It’s about doing the right thing, even if it’s hard or scary. Heroes can be everyday people who stand up for what’s right or help others in need.

Types of Heroes

Heroes come in many forms. Some are famous, like firefighters or soldiers, who risk their lives to protect others. Others are ordinary people, like a friend who stands up to a bully, or a neighbor who helps an elderly person with their groceries.

Qualities of a Hero

Heroes are brave, but they’re also kind. They think about others before themselves, and they’re willing to act even when it’s hard. They’re honest, responsible, and they never give up, no matter how tough things get.

Why Heroism Matters

Heroism is important because it inspires us to be better people. When we see someone act bravely or kindly, it makes us want to do the same. Heroes show us that we all have the power to make a difference in the world.

In conclusion, heroism is about more than just bravery. It’s about kindness, selflessness, and perseverance. We can all be heroes, in our own ways, by standing up for what’s right and helping others when they need it.

250 Words Essay on Heroism

Heroism is the act of showing great courage and strength. It is often linked with people who do brave things to help others, even if it means putting themselves in danger. A hero can be anyone, from a firefighter saving lives to a student standing up against bullying.

There are many types of heroes. Some are famous, like Superman or Wonder Woman, who use their special powers to fight evil. But, real-life heroes do not have superpowers. They are ordinary people who do extraordinary things. Doctors, soldiers, and even our parents can be heroes.

Heroes have many qualities that make them special. They are brave, selfless, and always ready to help others. They don’t think twice before jumping into action, even if it means risking their own safety. They believe in doing what’s right, no matter how hard it is.

Why are Heroes Important?

Heroes are important because they inspire us. When we see someone acting bravely, it encourages us to be brave too. They show us that even in tough times, we can make a difference. Heroes remind us that we all have the power to do good.

In conclusion, heroism is about bravery, selflessness, and doing the right thing. We can all be heroes if we choose to stand up for what’s right, help others, and face our fears. So, let us try to be a hero in our own little ways and make the world a better place.

500 Words Essay on Heroism

Heroism is when a person does something brave, often risking their own safety to help others. It is not about being strong or powerful, but about showing courage and selflessness. A hero is someone who cares more about others than themselves. They are willing to face danger to protect or help someone else.

There are many types of heroes. Some are famous, like firefighters, police officers, or soldiers. These people risk their lives every day to keep us safe. But there are also everyday heroes who may not be as well-known. These could be teachers who inspire their students, doctors who save lives, or even a friend who stands up for someone being bullied.

Heroes have special qualities that make them stand out. They are brave, and not afraid to face danger. They are selfless, thinking of others before themselves. They are also kind, showing compassion and understanding to those in need. But most importantly, heroes are determined. They do not give up, even when things are tough.

Heroes in History

History is full of heroes. People like Martin Luther King Jr., who fought for equal rights, or Malala Yousafzai, who stood up for girls’ education, are examples of heroes. They faced great danger and even risked their lives for what they believed in. Their actions have made the world a better place.

Heroes Around Us

We do not have to look far to find heroes. They are all around us. Maybe it’s a parent who works hard to provide for their family, or a friend who helps you when you’re feeling down. You might even be a hero to someone without knowing it. By showing kindness and courage, we can all be heroes in our own way.

In conclusion, heroism is about more than just being strong or brave. It’s about caring for others, standing up for what is right, and never giving up. Heroes can be anyone, from famous figures to everyday people. And the best part is, we all have the potential to be heroes. So let’s strive to be the best we can be, and maybe one day, we will be someone’s hero.

In this essay, we have learned about the meaning of heroism, the types of heroes, the qualities of a hero, heroes in history, and heroes around us. We have also learned that we all have the potential to be heroes. It is important to remember that heroism is not about being powerful, but about showing courage and selflessness. It is about caring for others and standing up for what is right. So let’s strive to be the best we can be, and maybe one day, we will be someone’s hero.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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How to Write an Essay About My Hero

Writing an essay is difficult, but if it is about your favourite hero, it becomes even more challenging. You have to describe the main character, their heroic actions, and the unique skills that set them apart. A lot depends on the hero you have chosen to write an essay on. The first question that comes to your mind is who is your hero and why? It could be heroes or fighting soldiers from the war or a hero from a fictional story or your favourite cartoon movie. Once you have decided on the central figure of your essay, you can now describe and narrate all relevant details regarding your hero. The resilience, the character, and the personal traits that distinguish a common person from a hero can be elaborately discussed in the essay. If you are still in a fix and are wondering how to write an essay about my hero, then you have landed on the right page as we are about to give clear instructions on how to pen down a great compelling hero essay on your own. All you have to do is follow these simple guidelines and hints:

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Importance of Hero Essays

Catchy titles for an essay about my hero, how to get the best hero essay, how to start a hero essay, tips concerning writing a hero essay introduction, how to write body paragraphs, how to write conclusion for a hero essay, short example of a college essay about my hero.

Heroes or heroic figures have a great impact on the minds of young souls. Children who view cartoons and watch heroic actions of their favourite characters like to adopt their traits. That is why when writing a heroism essay, it becomes imperative to reflect on the qualities these heroes exhibit truly. This helps narrate how heroes transform the lives of ordinary people through their special attributes, chivalry, and characteristics. Some superheroes like Spiderman and Ironman depict special powers and are most children’s favourite. Children also consider authority figures like their father to be a superhero who can solve all kinds of problems and always help them.

Writing such kind of essays instil a sense of love and pride for their superheroes. Since students love their superheroes and look up to them for guidance, they would like to describe all the good qualities of their heroes. Writing an essay about my hero helps them use describing words and good writing skills, which will, in turn, help them excel in their life.

There are plenty of hero essay ideas you can choose from. If you are wondering how to write a title and heading for your hero essay, these shortlisted titles will surely help you.

• My Father: My Hero
• Heroes of the Second World War
• What Makes Superman a Superhero?
• Traits that Distinguish an Ordinary Man from a Hero
• Top Qualities of a Hero
• True Legends of Time
• Heroes for a Cause
• Life of Nelson Mandela
• Who is my Role Model?
• Finding Your Hero

Wondering how to write my hero essay outline? Here is a simple guideline that will help you organize your content professionally. Writing an essay outline, you must go through a proper format to convey all the points in an easy, coherent manner. You should be able to put it in the following way:

Introduction

In the heroes essay introduction, there should be a statement describing a hero's life and the attributes that make a hero. In the introductory paragraph, you should describe your hero briefly and what makes your hero different from other superheroes.

The other element important in the outline is background. Inform the reader about the heroic acts and details set against the background. If it is the entire life history you wish to explain, then mention it in the background.

Attributes of a Hero

Once you have explained the background information and the setting, you should now mention the characteristics and attributes of the hero. In this part of the essay, the positive and negative aspects of the hero should be properly explained.

Acts of Heroism

What are the different heroic acts or special powers that set your hero apart from other superheroes? When writing the heroes definition essay, you should put together the acts of heroism.

The concluding paragraph should sum up the details about your hero.

When writing an introduction, you should keep in mind the special powers of your hero. Don’t write down everything in the introduction. Here are some tips you should keep in mind:

• Keep it simple
• Choose your superhero
• Write it in a statement form
• Mention the key points that differentiate your hero from others

It should have the suggested length. The body paragraphs can comprise 3-4 paragraphs depending upon your content. It should have complete details and mention the special features and attributes of the hero you selected. You can break down the body paragraph into different points. In one paragraph, you can explain the setting, background, life history of the superhero. In the other consecutive paragraphs, you should explain the special features and attributes.

For a compelling who’s your hero essay conclusion, you must sum up the essay. Write down all the points that tie the essay together. From the beginning to the end, everything in the essay should be conveyed in a gist. A good conclusion leaves a great impact on the mind of the reader.

Finalizing Essay

Once you have written down everything, now is the time to finalize your essay. Make sure to edit, proofread, revise and provide citations where necessary.

Essay Revision

Revise your essay. Read it out loud. When you read the essay, you will be able to find mistakes.

Essay Proofreading

Proofread the essay. Keep a check on the grammatical errors and typos. There should be no mistakes. Students who have tight deadlines tend to miss this part and are in a hurry to submit their work. This might show serious issues in the essay, which will reflect badly on your work.

Make Citations

Write down the references. While writing down the essay, if you have taken from different sources, then you should mention it. These citations and references show varied sources from where you have taken material for your essay. It also reflects your researching skills.

An essay on my hero example is as follows:

For instance, your topic is ‘My father, my hero!’ Here is how you should begin writing your essay.

My father is a gem of a person. He knows how to take care of his family in times of distress. Apart from this, he is a great teacher, impacting the lives of millions of people. His noble ways of teaching and sharing knowledge make him a superhero not only for me but for all those people whose lives he touched.

My father had a small family. He was the only son of his parents. His parents loved him but were very strict. His childhood days were carefree, but he was a responsible kid, aware of his duty towards his parents. He would never disobey them. His love was unconditional for his parents, and he would go out of his way to serve them. Since he did not have his siblings to support him, he led quite a lonely life. He was a self-made man who struggled in his early years to make a name of himself. His teachers loved him for his honesty and intelligence.

As he grew up to be a man, he was loyal to his job and family. He left no stone unturned in serving his aging parents. He got married and had kids. His love continued to grow for his family. For the sake of our happiness, he would sacrifice his little acts of happiness. He would feel happy when we were happy. The students he taught learned acts of graciousness and nobility from him. They would yearn to be like him, striving in little ways to become a personality he would cherish. Simple acts of kindness made him a superhero. He became a hero in my eyes and in the lives of all those people he affected in one way or the other.

From the milkman to the newspaperman, every person would greet him with great respect. The respect he earned showed how loved and revered he was. His altruism, chivalry, and bravery were exhibited in daily activities. He was a man of integrity, values, and principles. All these things and a lot more made him different from other superheroes. He was neither a celebrity nor an action hero, but he was a great man of spirit who lived in people's hearts.

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13 Memorial Day Quotes to Honor Fallen Heroes

This great nation of the United States of America has endured through many hardships thanks to a long list of principles that uphold our way of life and structure of doing things. Freedom, liberty, and the right to choose how we want to live. But none of these things would have lasted as long as they have if not for the selfless, brave sacrifices of many men and women who pledged their lives to the service of this country. Memorial day is a time when we can collectively slow down and remember what those in service gave so that we, the people, can live the lives that every human being deserves to experience. Here are 13 Memorial Day quotes to honor the legacy of those who gave it all. 

10 Memorial Day Thank You Quotes 

Below, we’re breaking down the top 10 Memorial Day quotes that serve as a reminder of why we celebrate the holiday.

“Veterans are a symbol of what makes our nation great, and we must never forget all they have done to ensure our freedom.” – Rodney Frelinghuysen 

A simple quote but one that carries so much truth. Our armed forces are the backbone of this country. Without them, there’s a good chance it wouldn’t be flying the star spangled banner today. When we think of America, we must always remember those who gave up their physical and mental health, their lives, and their time with their family and loved ones to make sure that we can all live freely. 

“I believe our flag is more than just cloth and ink. It is a universally recognized symbol that stands for liberty, and freedom. It is the history of our nation, and it’s marked by the blood of those who died defending it.” – John Thune 

The Red, White, and Blue unites every American under a singular set of ideals. These ideals make us who we are. They set us apart not just as a people, but as a nation. Outside of the United States, the American flag reminds others of the statutes that hold this nation aloft, and the unbreakable spirit of patriotism that goes with it. 

The reason America is able to be seen in such a different light to other countries is because of the way of life that our people have fought so fervently for. Because of that, those courageous souls will be eternally immortalized through their service and sacrifice. 

“ If you want to thank a soldier, be the kind of American worth fighting for.” – Unknown 

There are many who do all they can to try and give back to those who fought for this country. While it is an admirable thing to look after and help our own, sometimes the best way that we can honor the ones who gave it all for the rest of us is to live the way that they themselves would have wanted to. Whether they are a Soldier who has laid down their life for their fellow man, or they are a Veteran who has sacrificed their health and peace of mind to do their part, they both equally served to ensure other Americans could live a fulfilling life. 

Showing respect to others, helping those in need, showing love for our country, and living our lives by the ideals are the foundation of this nation – these are some of the small ways that we can thank Soldiers for their service. 

“ Ceremonies are important. But our gratitude has to be more than visits to the troops and once-a-year Memorial Day ceremonies. We honor the dead best by treating the living well.” – Jennifer M. Ganholm  

Life is short and fleeting. We have no idea what each day may bring. Therefore, we should make it our mission to make sure we use it wisely. To offer hollow words at a graveside does no one any good, but treating one another with kindness, compassion, and fairness goes much farther. This is the American way: to support each other, to shoulder our burdens together as fellow humans made in the image of God.

This is what those who have passed on chose to fight and die for. We can honor their noble sacrifices by going forward and living our lives with intentionality. 

“ The brave never die, though they sleep in dust, their courage nerves a thousand living men.” – Minot J. Savage  

The sacrifices of brave men and women in our armed forces not only help protect our nation in which we live, but they also inspire others to do their part. Everyone who enlists in the United States military does so because they are inspired in some way, shape, or form. Whether it’s because of someone they knew who enlisted, a Veteran in their life regaling them with stories of their time in the service, or someone laying down their life for another, the unifying theme that connects these people is inspiration . 

Even in death, the Soldiers who gave it all to protect their people live on in the minds of many, inspiring them to continue to do what is right. 

“ So long as the memory of certain beloved friends lives in my heart, I shall say that life is good.” – Helen Keller 

Memorial Day is undoubtedly a difficult time for anyone who has had a friend or family member who has passed in the line of duty. You may find it a struggle to remain hopeful and positive on a day like this, wishing that they were still here with you. Yet while they may be gone, their memory lives on with those they left behind. It may sound like a cliche, but it’s one of the realest truths out there. 

We all as people are small and insignificant, and chances are the majority of us won’t be remembered by the masses decades from now. What matters is that we are in the hearts of the ones closest to us when we leave this earth. We may now be remembered by many, but as long as we are held dear in the minds of those we loved, our memory will live on just as much as when it was here in person. 

“Loyalty to country always. Loyalty to the government, when it deserves it.” – Mark Twain  

The laws by which we live are what has given the United States of America the unique identity that it has amidst other countries. The dedication to freedom and the pursuit of happiness as its citizens would see fit has earned it the nickname of “The Land of Opportunity.”

The body of government that has been elected to oversee the country has been in effect since the establishment of the Constitution. While the government usually does its best to do what is right for the country. Ultimately, it is not this body of government that the people are loyal to, but the country itself, and the ideals that come built into it. 

America is more than its courts and institutions. It is a place where everyone is to be treated fairly and equal, to see the vision for their lives fully realized. It is not the United States body of government that the fallen gave their lives for, it was the motherland itself and the ideals that come with it for which they were willing to sacrifice it all to protect. 

“ And I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.” – Lee Greenwood

Patriotism is not something that is exclusive to the United States alone. Yet, there is a special kind of fervor which its people display when expressing their appreciation for their homeland, one that is unique to this country. The willingness to enlist as a way to give back to their home, the people unified under the stars and stripes that fly high on our flag – Americans show time and time again that it is our patriotic bonds that bring us closer as a nation. 

When a Soldier looks up at the American flag, they see all of these things. It is this beautiful notion for which they are willing to give their lives: To ensure that the freedom for the people remains, and they will not be forgotten for it. 

“There is nothing nobler than risking your life for your country.” – Nick Lampson 

A hero denies themselves, and what they want, in order to see that others are kept safe by any means necessary. Every single one of the men and women who have fallen in service of this great country did so with that same mentality. They were willing to do whatever was required of them. This is so that those of us back home could continue to live in peace and harmony. These individuals stepped up when no one else would or wanted to. They answered the call when it was most important. 

They gave all they had with the knowledge that they wouldn’t get to see their loved ones again. This was all in the valiant effort to see that their home was kept safe.

“ This is the day we pay homage to all those who didn’t come home. This is not Veterans Day, it’s not a celebration, it is a day of solemn contemplation over the cost of freedom.” – Tamra Bolton

For every Veteran that we praise for their service to our country and its people, there are many more of those who never had the opportunity to become ones themselves. Memorial Day is a reminder to the American people that the lives we enjoy did not come freely.

The lives we live today came at the heavy price of the ones who put their own on hold. This country has been kept strong by the sacrifice of heroes who looked no different from you and me; fellow Americans who took up the mantle when the need was great. 

As long as the flag of the United States waves high in the breeze, so too will their memory live ever on.

3 Memorial Day Quotes for Loved Ones 

Check out these Memorial Day quotes. They are perfect for celebrating the holiday. They can also be shared with friends and family alike to get into a celebratory mood.

“Whether we observe the occasion through public ceremony or through private prayer, Memorial Day leaves few hearts unmoved. Each of the patriots whom we remember on this day was first a beloved son or daughter, a brother or sister, or a spouse, friend, and neighbor.” – George H. W. Bush 

As we remember the fallen, may we not just think of them as Soldiers fighting for what’s right, but as one of us. As those who mourn their loved ones go through this difficult time, may we also come alongside them and mourn the people that they were, not just what they did. 

“Who kept the faith and fought the fight; The glory theirs, the duty ours.” – Wallace Bruce

The fight for freedom has been a long and hard one. They did their part, now we should do ours and make sure that America remains a place worth fighting.  

“ Heroes never die. They live on forever in the hearts and minds of those who would follow in their footsteps.” – Emily Potter 

While they may be gone from us, those who passed in service to this country will never truly die. This is as long as they live on in the hearts and minds of those left behind. Very few people in this life are able to leave such an impact. We honor them by carrying their memory forward as we live the lives they fought hard to secure.

These Memorial Day Quotes Remind Us to Never Forget

This Memorial Day, we mourn those who gave it all for their country. May we not be sad about their passing. It may be a tumultuous time for many who have lost a loved one, friends, or family. However, I hope that you will find solace in knowing that they fell doing what they believed in. Not just for their country, but for you as well.

It is often hard to think of them being absent. However, we know that they are of the greatest of heroes this world has ever known. Their memory will be remembered as long as the United States of America endures. These Memorial Day quotes remind us to never forget.

Related reads: 

• What Is Armed Forces Day & Why Is it Important?  
• 11 Summer Vacation Activities for Veterans and Their Families  
• 6 Veteran Charities You Need to Know About For Jobs

About Ian Kempf

Ian Kempf is a senior at Liberty University, where he is pursuing his Bachelor of Science in English & Writing. The ability to use words and language to convey thoughts and meaning to others has always intrigued him. He hopes to use this knowledge to connect with others who share a love for the craft as well as use his ability of writing to inform and inspire.

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Memorial Day 2024: A Time to Remember Our Heroes

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47 Memorial Day Quotes to Honor Our Nation's Heroes

Posted: May 21, 2024 | Last updated: May 21, 2024

1) Calvin Coolidge

No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.

2) Billy Graham

Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.

3) Emily Potter

Heroes never die. They live on forever in the hearts and minds of those who would follow in their footsteps.

4) Robert G. Ingersoll

He loves his country best who strives to make it best.

RELATED: Memorial Day Songs to Celebrate America

5) Thucydides

The secret of happiness is freedom, and the secret of freedom, courage.

6) Nick Lampson

There is nothing nobler than risking your life for your country.

7) Bob Riley

I have long believed that sacrifice is the pinnacle of patriotism.

8) Claudia Pemberton

America without her soldiers would be like God without His angels.

9) Adlai Stevenson II

Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.

10) Elmer Davis

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.

11) Rodney Frelinghuysen

Veterans are a symbol of what makes our nation great, and we must never forget all they have done to ensure our freedom.

12) Minot J. Savage

The brave die never, though they sleep in dust, their courage nerves a thousand living men.

13) Unknown

Home of the free because of the brave.

14) Bernard Malamud

Without heroes, we are all plain people, and don't know how far we can go.

15) Unknown

We don't know them all, but we owe them all.

16) Unknown

May we never forget freedom isn't free.

17) Paul Tsongas

America is hope. It is compassion. It is excellence. It is valor.

18) Wallace Bruce

Who kept the faith and fought the fight; The glory theirs, the duty ours.

19) Mary Roach

Heroism doesn’t always happen in a burst of glory. Sometimes small triumphs and large hearts change the course of history.

20) George S. Patton

It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God such men lived.

21) Joseph Campbell

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.

22) Eleanor Roosevelt

Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility.

23) Calvin Coolidge

Heroism is not only in the man, but in the occasion.

24) Barack Obama

Our nation owes a debt to its fallen heroes that we can never fully repay.

25) Nathan Hale

I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.

26) Maya Angelou

How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!

27) Bob Dylan

A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.

28) John F. Kennedy

Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.

29) Daniel Webster

Their remembrance be as lasting as the land they honored.

30) Aristotle

You will never do anything in this world without courage.

31) Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Yours has the suffering been, the memory shall be ours.

32) Herbert Hoover

Here men endured that a nation might live.

33) Mitch Albom

Sharing tales of those we've lost is how we keep from really losing them.

34) Franklin D. Roosevelt

Freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.

35) James A. Garfield

For love of country they accepted death.

36) Mark Twain

Patriotism is supporting your country all the time.

37) Norman Schwarzkopf

It doesn't take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle.

38) John Thune

I believe our flag is more than just cloth and ink. It is a universally recognized symbol that stands for liberty, and freedom. It is the history of our nation, and it’s marked by the blood of those who died defending it.

39) Winston Churchill

Never was so much owed by so many few.

40) Christopher Gadsden

What I can do for my country, I am willing to do.

41) Martin Luther King, Jr.

In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.

42) Franklin D. Roosevelt

Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them.

43) General Douglas MacArthur

No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.

44) Theodore Roosevelt

Never throughout history has a man who lived a life of ease left a name worth remembering.

45) Benjamin Disraeli

The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.

46) G.K. Chesterson

Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die.

47) Helen Keller

So long as the memory of certain beloved friends lives in my heart, I shall say that life is good.

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Examples of Heroism

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Published: Mar 14, 2024

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Eric's Heroes: 'Un-coolest' road trip to meet Mister Rogers leads to life-long friendships

by Eric Johnson, KOMO News Anchor

SEATTLE — He walks to work in a suit and tie. He enters the glass doors of the King County Courthouse.

Casey McNerthney is the director of communications for the King County Prosecutor's Office. He tells us about the cruel things that human beings do to one another in a sometimes cruel world.

That's what Casey does, but it's not who he is.

To understand that, you should know a story.

"I remember just being so excited with my parents," he said. "It was just a fun time."

In 1985, his parents took him to see Mister Rogers, live and in-person at the Paramount Theater. Casey was just 4 years old.

When I asked him about Mister Rogers' message, Casey answered this way: "When you're not that cool kid in grade school, or middle school, or even pre-school, having somebody to say, 'Hey, you're all right. You're OK just the way you are,' that resonates."

It brings to mind one of the songs Mister Rogers used to sing on his show. "There's only one in the whole wide world. You are special."

And maybe this helps explain why Casey always felt a connection to Fred Rogers over the years. As a child, and even sometimes now, Casey has battled a tendency to stutter.

"I think it was the worst in probably kindergarten, first grade to about freshman year of high school," he explained. "It was really tough, you know, and kids are pretty rough."

But Casey has another tendency. There is a certain true-blue purity to the man that others are somehow drawn to. Everyone who has spent any time around him has felt it.

He went on with the business of becoming a young man. As a freshman in college at Western Washington, Casey and his best buddy, Morgan Marshall, decided to take a road trip.

From his home in the Bay Area, Morgan remembers that first conversation.

"Casey came up with the idea and as soon as I heard it, I'm like, 'I'm in,'" Morgan said.

"It seemed like a wild idea, and we were like, 'Alright, let's try it out,'" Casey said.

They decided to drive to Pittsburgh to visit Fred Rogers.

Do you remember the character, "Mr. McFeely" in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood? He was the postman. His real name is David Newell. Casey found out that he also did some P.R. for the show, so he sent him an e-mail.

David Newell remembers getting that initial request.

"They wanted to drive across country, they were in college at the time, and meet Fred Rogers," he said.

And so they climbed into Morgan's '87 Ford Aerostar van and took off to see America.

Casey has dozens of photos from the trip. There are pictures of the wide open road, as they drove through Montana, and the Dakotas and Wisconsin. They stopped at roadside attractions. They took pictures in front of a giant Viking and a giant cow. They visited Notre Dame University.

I asked this question of Casey as he told me about the trip, 24 years ago: "Why weren't you too cool for Fred Rogers?"

Casey smiled at the idea.

"Almost every one of our friends were like, 'What? That's weird.' Maybe it's just that I've never been THAT cool, know what I mean? Maybe that's part of it!" he said.

They arrived at TV station WQED in Pittsburgh on June 23, 2000.

Morgan remembers waiting in the lobby.

"And then his personal secretary came out and peeked around the corner and was like, 'You Morgan and Casey? Fred's waiting for you! He wants to see you!" Morgan recalled.

"And then we walked in his office," Casey said, "and there's no fanfare, it's just him. And it was great. He was exactly what you see on television. 'You must be Morgan and Casey, come on in! Great to meet you.'"

Morgan agreed.

"He was who you thought he was, to an exponential degree," he said.

David Newell remembers that day, too, and how Fred Rogers reacted to the boys.

"He said, 'You drove across country?' Newell said. "At first he couldn't believe it. He could see both of the boys were really good kids."

At one point, Casey asked Mister Rogers if he could record their conversation on a cassette recorder he'd brought.

The recording is muffled, but you can hear Fred say, in that voice that can only be his, "I'm just so touched by the two of you. You know, it gives me such great hope to think the future is in the hands of people like you."

Fred invited Casey and Morgan to explore his "neighborhood," the one they'd watched as children. They saw the trolley, and the traffic light, and the castle where King Friday and Lady Elaine lived.

And they talked some more.

Casey noticed that on the occasion that he stammered or stuttered, Fred Rogers didn't finish his sentences the way most people did, or use hand gestures to speed him up.

He didn't rush Casey at all. He just waited.

"I didn't speak as well then," Casey said. "And even now I get caught sometimes, but he understood that, even without me saying it, and was just patient. Fred was better than anybody I've ever met at reading people."

If you need proof of that, consider this: before the boys left, Mister Rogers said he had a friend in Seattle that he wanted them to meet. Casey remembers his words.

"He said, 'Here's her contact information,' and he said, 'Will you give her a call? Will you give Nicole a call when you get back?' We said, 'Yeah, we will.'"

"Nicole" was Nicole Brodeur, a columnist for the Seattle Times. She'd met Fred Rogers a decade before on an assignment. They'd struck up a correspondence, which turned into a friendship. They'd remained friends.

She understands better than most the effect Fred has on people.

"We all become children again when you're with him," she said. "You're a kid. You're vulnerable. You're not a cynic. You're your best self in a way because he brings that out of you."

The boys left Pittsburgh happy, with their hearts full.

"He also said, 'Be sure to call when you get home safely,' which is so cool," Casey said.

And when they got back to Seattle, Morgan made a call.

"I looked up Nicole in the Seattle Times, and you know, 'This is going to be strange but Fred Rogers wants us to say hello to you.' She was, 'We need to talk.'"

The three of them met at Tully's in Wallingford. And they became friends. Great friends.

Nicole wrote a beautiful column about the boys' trip.

She started it like this: "Sometimes the best way to enter true adulthood is to make one last visit to the time you were a child."

And, from Pittsburgh, Fred Rogers kept track of the new friendships. He was like that.

Nicole reads from a handwritten letter she received from Fred. "What a joy to hear from you yesterday, thank you for being so generous to Casey and Morgan."

Around that time Casey sent Fred two pictures in a frame: the one from the Paramount in 1985, and one of the three of them at the TV station in Pittsburgh.

Fred sent a note.

"Dear Casey," he wrote,. "The framed photo of you as a child and you and me years later is a real treasure.'"

It was a real friendship. As it turns out, Fred Rogers was only interested in real friendships.

Not long ago Casey was looking at old things he has saved. And he saves everything.

He came across a bunch of recorded phone messages. Most were college friends, but one of them was that unmistakable, soft voice.

"Hello Casey, this is Fred Rogers in Pittsburgh. I'm sitting here looking at a picture of you when you were very young, and when you came to visit us. Just know that we think of you often and I wish you the very best. Bye bye, Casey."

Fred Rogers retired in 2001. He kept the two framed pictures from Casey on an end-table in his office until his very last day.

And two years later, in 2003, he died, having touched and taught millions of us about simple, decent kindness.

Not least amongst his accomplishments was a friendship in Seattle that he orchestrated from Pennsylvania.

When Casey was married, he and Laird, his wife, tasked Nicole to officiate.

During the ceremony, Nicole said to the bride and groom and the people attending, "Casey and I are story people. We actually met over the course of me doing a story about he and Morgan traveling to meet Mister Rogers."

When they get together they talk about Fred Rogers, and how he loved to arrange for the people he cared about to find one another.

"He, I think, knew before any of us that the three of us were going to be life-long buddies," Casey said.

Nicole calls it a gift.

"He's my brother," she said of Casey. "And Fred knew. I mean, it's all because of Fred. And so, to this day, Fred's long gone, but we're still here."

After he's done with his work at the King County Courthouse, still in his blue suit, Casey exits through the glass doors and heads for home.

He's the kind of guy who does the un-coolest thing EVER, travels across the country as a freshman in college to meet Mister Rogers, and somehow turns it into a triumph of the human experience.

So now you know exactly who Casey McNerthney is: quite possibly the coolest guy in town.

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Guest Essay

Men Fear Me, Society Shames Me, and I Love My Life

By Glynnis MacNicol

Ms. MacNicol is a writer, a podcast host and the author of the forthcoming memoir “I’m Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself.”

I was once told that the challenge of making successful feminist porn is that the thing women desire most is freedom.

If that’s the case, one might consider my life over the past few years to be extremely pornographic — even without all the actual sex that occurred. It definitely has the makings of a fantasy, if we allowed for fantasies starring single, childless women on the brink of turning 50.

It’s not just in enjoying my age that I’m defying expectations. It’s that I’ve exempted myself from the central things we’re told give a woman’s life meaning — partnership and parenting. I’ve discovered that despite all the warnings, I regret none of those choices.

Indeed, I am enjoying them immensely. Instead of my prospects diminishing, as nearly every message that gets sent my way promises they will — fewer relationships, less excitement, less sex, less visibility — I find them widening. The world is more available to me than it’s ever been.

Saying so should not be radical in 2024, and yet, somehow it feels that way. We live in a world whose power structures continue to benefit from women staying in place. In fact, we’re currently experiencing the latest backlash against the meager feminist gains of the past half-century. My story — and those of the other women in similar shoes — shows that there are other, fulfilling ways to live.

It is disconcerting to enjoy oneself so much when there is so much to assure you to expect the opposite, just as it is strange to feel so good against a backdrop of so much terribleness in the world. But with age (hopefully) comes clarity.

Fifty is a milestone. And the fact my 50th birthday lands on or around some other significant 50ths has brought some things into focus. Last year was the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. This year is the 50th of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which may be less well known but remains significant: It allowed women for the first time to have bank accounts and credit cards in their own name, not needing a male signature.

That my birth date landed between the passing of these two landmark laws makes it easier for me to see that the life I’m living is a result of women having authority over both their bodies and their finances. I represent a cohort of women who lead lives that do not require us to ask permission or seek approval. I have availed myself of all the choices available to me, and while the results come with their own set of risks, they have been enormously satisfying.

The timing of my birthday also helps me see the violent rollback of women’s rights happening right now as a response to the independence these legal rights afforded women. Forget about the horror of being alone and middle-aged — there is nothing more terrifying to a patriarchal society than a woman who is free. That she might be having a better time without permission or supervision is downright insufferable.

My entry into middle age certainly had the makings of an unpleasant story.

Like many, I spent the early months of the pandemic by myself. It was the type of solitary confinement that popular science, and certain men with platforms, enjoy reminding us will be the terrible future that awaits a woman who remains single for too long. I went untouched by anyone. Unsmelled, too, which you might think is a strange thing to note, but it’s an even stranger thing to experience. Unseen except by the building exterminator and the remaining doormen of the Upper West Side who gave distant friendly greetings on my evening walks around Covid-empty New York.

Alone, unmarried, childless, past my so-called prime. A caricature, culture would have it, a fringe identity; a tragedy or a punchline, depending on your preference. At the very least a cautionary tale.

By August 2021, I was desperate — not for partnership but for connection. I bought a ticket to Paris, a place where I’d spent much of my free time before the pandemic and where I had a group of friends.

Paris, I reminded myself, prioritizes pleasure. I dove in. Cheese, wine, friendships, sex — and repeat.

At first it was shocking. I was ill prepared to get what I wanted, what it seemed I had summoned. There were moments when I wondered whether I should be ashamed. I had also never felt so free and so fully myself. I felt no shame or guilt, only the thrill that came with the knowledge I was exercising my freedom.

These days, generally speaking, there is little in cinema or literature, let alone the online world, to suggest that when you are a woman alone (forget about a middle-aged woman), things will go your way, as I have often experienced.

There have been better times. In the 1980s, sitcoms were stacked with starring women for whom men were a minor-character concern — “Designing Women,” “Murphy Brown,” “The Golden Girls” — all of which, if they premiered today (and that’s a big if), would feel radical. Later there was “Girlfriends.” Even “Sex and the City,” with its often regressive marriage plotting, remains surprisingly modern in its depictions of adult friendship and sexual mores. In each case, just as it looked as if these narratives might begin to fully take root in the real world, the women largely went back inside (or into body bags, in the case of many “Law & Order” plotlines). By the early aughts we were housewives again, real and imagined.

I suspect that a lot of this backlash is connected to the terror that men experienced at discovering that they are less necessary to women’s fulfillment than centuries of laws and stories have allowed them to believe. That terror is abundantly apparent today: From Harrison Butker’s commencement speech suggesting that women may find more fulfillment in marriage and children than in having a career, to the Supreme Court once again debating access to abortion to the push to roll back no-fault divorce laws: All are efforts to return women to a place where others can manage their access to … well, just about everything.

It’s in this light that my enjoyment begins to feel radical. Come fly with me. There’s no fear here.

Glynnis MacNicol is a writer, a podcast host and the author of the forthcoming memoir “I’m Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself.”

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