As I flipped through the channels on my television I stopped at the news. There was another shooting in Utah. There was another hurricane in Japan. There was another mugging just a mile away from where I live. I, like many other Americans, immediately thought back to the day when mayhem and destruction was brought to our country. The disaster on September 11, 2001, when the world trade centers collapsed due to a terrorist attack. When the world is constantly being reminded of that tragedy, they see the fear and destruction it brought upon us all. I see something different, I see Gerard Way.
The sound of crushing bricks, and metal rang through the small apartment from the television set. The walls slightly illuminated by the fire on the screen. The red glow haunted the memory of Gerard along with the countless others watching the breaking news that day. As the panic set in across the country, a spark of reality caught flame in Gerard. He immediately called his best friends, knowing that they had musical talents. He didn’t know if this would work, but he had a plan. “We are going to change things,” Gerard said to his friends. He set out to not only create a band that was soon to become famous, but to change the way Americans thought. Change was severely needed on 2001 and Gerard set out to be that change.
As I flashed back into reality I quickly was caught in my memories again. When I was younger I had the same dream that everyone had in their own way; to change the world. It sounds dramatic but every little kid is. I wanted to grow up and be someone memorable. As I grew older I could see more and more of the changes that needed to happen. But most of all I saw the hope people needed. As hurricanes destroy homes, and war cripples nations, I wanted more and more to be a part of that change. Gerard Way did what I wanted to do as a kid. He may have broken up with the band to live his own life but he taught me many things. What I learned the most from him is that even out of the worst situations, hope can still sprout up like a tree in the midst of a burnt forest. He also taught me that whoever you are, you can be that hope. You just have to set out for change.
Submitted by Anonymous
We've all had people in our lives who have made a positive impact on us. A parent or grandparent, a sibling who was there for us, or maybe even just a guy who shines shoes for a living? Whoever they are, tell us their story so they can inspire us even more.
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