Heroism Defined

by Hadley Aden and Gavin Hood 

The real heroes anyway aren't the people doing things; the real heroes are the people NOTICING things, paying attention.

–John Green

No cape… but still the same great traits? Two students, Gavin Hood and Hadley Aden, share their perspective on what it means to be a hero in today’s world. These excerpts come from the students’ essays which respond to the question about the definition of heroism.  

Heroes are humble 

Hood: According to Arthur Ashe, “True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” This quote outlines that these heroes function to serve others, and that this action of helping others is what they live for. People like this are also very true to themselves and their beliefs, acting on what they think is ethical rather than what other people tell them is right. Furthermore, they stay very undramatic even when they have done something that could earn themselves a great amount of fame and respect. However, these heroes need other specific traits to function the way they do. According to Criss Jami, “To be heroic is to be courageous enough to die for something.”  

Aden: Another quote supporting this point is by Albert Schweitzer, a French-German polymath: “The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.” This quote is a great example of how a hero is meant to act. A hero is not selfish or rude when helping others; he always puts himself before others and shows concern for all of his peers. A hero is selfless and mindful of himself.  

Heroes don’t wait for someone else to step up to the plate, but they don’t act rashly either

Hood: Heroes need to have many traits for their heroism to function correctly but rushing into situations without thinking is not one of them. Heroes cannot be inconsiderate for this could endanger the lives of the people they would potentially save and undermine their selflessness. This takes high amounts of judgement, critical thinking, and weighing odds. It is very important for heroes to not be reckless and stay calm.

Aden: Real heroes are always aware, attentive to the people they are there for; they’ve got to be vigilant. A real hero cares about others and is always making sure that others are safe and helped, even if they aren’t a big role in someone else's life. These people care about you, putting you before themselves, keeping you safe and happy, always having your back. Roddy Ricch, a rapper, once claimed that “The quietest man in the room, who is being very observant, is the smartest and the strongest.” This shows how someone taking in the information is the most important, is the strongest, and has the most power in a way, and heroes are always doing that and always taking in their surroundings, knowing what needs to happen before they can act, always watchful.

Heroes are hiding in plain sight 

Hood: These people are not the heroes from your favorite movie that save the world from a tyrannical super villain, but the people you see everyday walking on the streets. These heroes are also very selfless. They function for others, not for the preservation of their own well-being. When most people think of being a hero they think of people in capes or uniforms, but the real heroes are ordinary people. In the Foo Fighters song My Hero, Dave Grohl sings, “There goes my hero, he’s ordinary.” This same concept is better explained by Jodi Picoult when she wrote that heroes “bled, and they bruised, and their superpowers were as simple as listening, or loving.” Both of these quotes start to develop the idea that to be a true hero, it is very important to be ordinary. As a part of being ordinary, true heroism means being free of pressure to perform acts of kindness. For example, Brian McGee and Matthew Layton demonstrate this ordinary heroism perfectly. According to a Reader’s Digest article “20 Real-Life Heroes That Are  Changing the World,” written by Morgan Cutolo, Brian and Matthew saved 14 people from a wildfire. When Brian found out that the area where his leased cabins were was near a wildfire, he took action. In the article it states, “After banging on doors and almost getting trapped themselves, they saved a total of 14 people from the flames.”

Aden: Heroism is a concept that can describe someone in a life-threatening situation, but also your everyday student upstander at school, who is always someone who is selfless, compassionate, and observant. Heroism may be grand and fame-seeking, but it can also be found in small acts of kindness. Acts that may not seem important to one person, but are another person's everything. John Green said in the book The Fault in Our Stars, that "The real heroes anyway aren't the people doing things; the real heroes are the people NOTICING things, paying attention." This differentiates the normal people from actual hidden heroes.

In 2011, a group of teenagers were on a trek without adult supervision in Alaska when they were attacked by a bear. All seven teenagers survived due to 16-year-old Samuel Boas, who has EMS training from his hometown in Connecticut. When medics got there after 9 hours, he still tried to stay and help the second group of people before he would go get help himself. This shows an amazing amount of selflessness and how even though he was injured himself, he still helped his friends while calm and with the minimal resources that they had. This is a great example of a hero in everyday life, someone who most people wouldn’t have expected to save seven kids’ lives. 

Heroes are others-focused

Hood: Heroism could be talking to someone who has no one else to talk to or even just helping someone feel welcome. In short, heroes are ordinary people who show acts of kindness or courage without being pressured into doing so.  

Aden: Heroes are always compassionate about what they’re doing, always showing that they genuinely care and are never complaining or lazy in what they do. “A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.” - Bob Dylan, American Songwriter. What Dylan means by this is that a hero is not aloof; he’s always fulfilling his responsibilities, even with his freedom. He completes his duties because he knows he has to; it was set upon him because he is trusted by the people…