by Alejandro Smith December 8, 2023

As Christopher Reeve once said, “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” Christopher Reeve says heroes never back down and strive for the better, they are also strong so they can succeed in life even though there are obstacles along the way, and things won’t always work out the way they want them to, but they never give up, that’s why they’re heroes.

For me, heroes are people who are selfless because they sacrifice things for you and put your needs before theirs, or well-being for you. Heroes are also kind and compassionate, and they are always willing to help you because they want you to be happy and well.

To begin with, heroes are selfless because they are willing to put your needs and well-being before theirs. They also show bravery and altruism when they are in danger, they do this without expecting anything like personal gain or recognition from people. Being selfless is one of the most important parts of heroism, and being a hero in general. These acts of selflessness show that they care about other people and that they are willing to make sacrifices for your protection and well-being. In The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, Ponyboy and Johnny show selflessness by going inside a burning church to save the lives of other kids. They sacrifice their own lives just so they can save the kids from the burning church, they go and risk their own lives so the kids don’t die there. In chapter 6, Hinton writes, “I leaped out the window and heard timber crashing and the flames roaring right behind me. I staggered, almost falling, coughing and sobbing for breath. Then I heard Johnny scream, and as I turned to go back for him, Dally swore at me and clubbed me across the back as hard as he could, and I went down into a peaceful darkness.” (Hinton 93) This quote from the book shows that Ponyboy and Johnny were selfless because they went into a church risking their lives to save children from getting burned in the fire. They went inside not knowing if they would make out okay in the end or not. Ponyboy and Johnny were also brave because they weren’t scared of anything happening to them, they just wanted to make sure the kids were safe, and that nothing was going to happen to them. In chapter 6, Hinton writes, “I didn’t pay any attention, although pieces of the old roof were crashing down too close for comfort. I snatched up another kid, hoping he didn’t bite, and dropped him without waiting to see if he landed okay or not. I was coughing so hard I could hardly stand up, and I wished I had time to take off Dally’s jacket.” When Ponyboy and Johnny were in the house saving the children, they didn’t really care if anything was gonna happen to them. They cared about the children’s lives, and they made sure they were okay.In the end, they end up getting burned, and the kids are saved and nothing ends up happening to them, which makes them heroes.

In addition, heroes are also kind and compassionate because they understand that being empathic and helping others is important. They try to put themselves in your shoes to understand what you are going through, and they try to help you out. These heroes try to spread positivity and kindness and make a difference in people’s lives. Their acts of kindness influence others to do the same, which helps us follow their example to make a positive impact in our world. An example of someone who was kind and compassionate is Florence Nightingale, she was a nurse during the Crimean War in the mid-1800s. During her time as a nurse, she helped the wounded soldiers in need by caring for them, checking up on them, and writing letters home on their behalf. In the article, How Florence Nightingale Paved the Way for the Heroic Work of Nurses Today, by Suyin Haynes. She explains the ways Florence Nightingale was kind and compassionate toward the people she was caring for. In paragraph eight of the article, Haynes writes, “Nightingale’s compassion set her apart from others, says Green, and she gained her famous moniker for checking in on her patients by lamplight, often writing letters to loved ones at home on their behalf.” (Haynes, Paragraph 8) This quote shows that Florence Nightingale was kind and compassionate towards the people she was caring for. She made sure her patients were in decent condition while in her care, and she even wrote letters to the patients’ loved ones. She also helped other people become nurses and changed the way nursing was viewed in society. Her example has had an impact on the world, showing people to be kind and compassionate to others, and to be empathic. You should always be kind to others because you don’t know what they are going through. For example, people might be struggling with mental health, physical health, family issues, etc. So we should always be mindful of other people’s situations and be compassionate. Florence Nightingale inspired me that we should all be kind and compassionate towards one another, and to make a positive impact on the world.