Everyday Hero Stories

Where did your values come from?

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.

Tell Us Your Story
SHARING
GRANDMA KNOWS BEST When I was a child, I stayed with my grandmother a lot of the time while my mother was at work. One day some money problems started to arise for her and her husband. They needed a little more income so she decided that she was going to go sing at the nearby retirement home. So I had to go with her. I wasn't...
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CONFIDENCE
MARCUS T Marcus is a neighbor I am just coming to know. I am immediately drawn to this man not because of his disability (he is a quadriplegic) but because of this many positive character traits. He is a man who appreciates life and inspires me to be the best that I can be. He uses his mind to learn daily and has...
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OVERCOMING
MARCUS T Marcus was injured in a skiing accident when he was in his early 20's. He has been completely paralyzed from the neck down since this accident. Marcus with the help of his wife, Anne, learned to paint beautiful paintings by holding the paint brush in his mouth. His paintings are incredible and he is fascinating...
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CARING
MIKE S My friend Mike is a hero. He started a small excavating business over 20 years ago, and despite ups and downs in his business, remains upbeat more than most. Mike works hard from dawn until dark and is always happy to see or hear from people no matter how busy or weary he is. In his thirties, Mike fell into a...
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STRENGTH
ELAINE E My mother was my greatest hero. She never stopped living even when she was dying. I could see the wind in her sails calming 3 days before she died. It wasn't the crossing that was difficult it was the life she felt she hadn't completed that made her grip tighter and relentless. Each day meant something to her...
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DEVOTION
BELINDA C Belinda is a caring person who tries to be with her family as much as she can. She is a strong,independent woman. She works at The Department of Children and Families because she is caring.
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PATIENCE
DUERME CON LOS ANGELES All summer, I waited apprehensively for the letter. Through the hot days in June and sticky days in July, I ran out front to the mailbox and returned inside empty-handed and disappointed. After what felt like years, the crisp white envelope sealed with a blue Hofstra University crest finally arrived. No, this...
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RIGHT CHOICES
LITTLE THINGS STILL MEAN A LOT Recently, I experienced a wonderful lesson in how little things still mean a lot. It has always been tempting for one to believe "My life makes no difference" or "What impact do I have on the world? I'm just one person. No one notices me." This past spring I got a head's up, which reminded me of why Sunday School...
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TEACHING BY EXAMPLE
KINDNESS AT THE VET In tenth grade, I began volunteering at a veterinary hospital that was run by a family friend in order to get experience for what I thought would be my future job. As it turns out; the experience I gained at the hospital taught me the opposite: that my future was not in veterinary medicine. However, there is one...
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HARD WORK
ELECTRICAL LINEMAN In the winter of 2007, the mid western United States was ravaged by monstrous ice storms. In the days and weeks leading up to the holiday season; teams of electrical lineman left there homes and families to restore power to the people affected by the storms. For weeks at a time, working 100 plus hours each,...
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APPRECIATION
APPRECIATE THE UNAPPRECIATED My 19 year old daughter was the victim of an assault in December of 2008. This was a very traumatic event, but because of her inner strength she rose above it. As a victim she was potentially qualified to receive financial victim assistance, which was available through a victim advocacy program in our State. This...
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HELPING OTHERS
SECONDS CHANGE LIVES FOREVER... Ever since I was a child, I have had this gut feeling that I should be doing something with my life to help others. It wasn't until last year that I realized what that was. Those few seconds on that day changed several lives... I believe it changed mine for the better. I was 20 years old. I was attending...
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RESPECT
SACRED HEART & VILLE PLATTE HS TEAMS My name is Tim. I am a physical therapist in the small Cajun/Creole Southwest Louisiana town of Ville Platte where 51% of our population of 8,000 lives below the poverty line. We have two high school football teams in our city. One is an 82% African American, predominately Protestant, mostly poor public school...
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TEAMWORK
THE TEE COTTON BOWL In my small Cajun/Creole Southwest Louisiana town of Ville Platte we have two uncommon high school football teams. One is an 82% African American, predominately Protestant, and mostly poor public school called the Ville Platte High Bulldogs. The other is an all white, Catholic, largely upper middle class private...
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CHARACTER
RUSSELL J Russell was a man of his word, he would never let you down in any way. He inspired my life with many of his words. He wasn't only my step father he was a friend: a friend that I could talk to about anything, a friend that I could trust no matter what and a friend that I was able to run to if I ever had a problem....
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COMPASSION
COL. JAMES B As a young boy of seven, who lost his mother and father from drinking, this man came in to my life and showed me what a family really was and helped me through all the bad times. Thirty years later I remember him as is it was yesterday and all the things his family and he did for me.
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CHARACTER
RICHARD H My hero is my grandfather, he has been a real inspiration to me and my brothers. He teaches valuable life lessons and pushes the envelope every day. As a retired orthopedic surgeon he has a lot of time on his hands and doesn't waste one second of it. At 73, he has a lot of life highlights. He's ran every...
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LOVE
TAMY SUE My cat, Tamy Sue, is my hero. I rescued her from an animal shelter ten and a half years ago, but in reality, she rescued me. I was very ill when I adopted Tamy Sue, and she has been there for me through thick and thin when no friends could be found. When she first came into my life I was in chronic pain every...
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CARING
CRAIG E Once in a blue moon you come across something that makes you think, 'This is the find of the century!' Okay, this particular thing may not be the find of the century, but it certainly is my best find of 2009 and it is 'Autism Hangout' created and hosted by Craig E. Craig is an incredibly down to earth,...
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GRATITUDE
BILLIE S As a child I saw my mother as anything but a hero, but when I became a parent I found out what a Hero truly is. I never realized that super powers could be wisdom, understanding, and patience when it comes to raising our children. It wasn't until my 21 year old daughter decided that my life style wasn't...
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FRIENDSHIP
KELSEY S My hero would have to be my best friend of five years, Kelsey. She is such an amazing girl. She can bring out the good qualities in anyone. I met her on my first day of fourth grade right after I moved to a new town and knew no one. I went to my class and I sat in the very back and no one spoke to me at all. I...
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FORGIVENESS
FORGIVENESS It is a hard thing to forgive people. My best friend and I had a recent argument and we decided not talk over the summer. For me it is really hard to not talk to her. She hurt me and I hurt her. The way we hurt each other is that we pressed each others buttons really well. I am not sure how to fix the problem. I...
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DEVOTION
GRIFFITHS In my life there really has not been too many people that I have been able to look up to. However, there are two people who always meant the world to me, my grandfather and grandmother. Both were amazing human beings who cared more about others then they did about themselves. I never realized the magnitude of...
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HARD WORK
GROWING UP WITH HARRY; STORIES OF CHARACTER During the week, Harry was a lawyer, and he would advise his clients on how best to take care of their families. He was well respected as a lawyer because he cared deeply about his clients. His father and his grandfather had done the same work, and he was a member of the same law firm: Lord, Day & Lord. I...
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INSPIRATION
MELISSA L My hero is my sister, Missy. Technically, she's my half-sister, but I don't bother with that. She is my sister, through and through. She was 21 when I was born, so in some ways she's more mentor than sibling. She is the exact opposite of me. She likes punk music, I like country. She's a big city girl, I'm a small...
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RESPECT
PUBLIX Respect is a very important value in my life. Especially manners. Please and Thank you are words that can make a difference in someone's day. One day a while ago when I was about ten years old my mom and I were at Publix. On this particular day they had various samples of many foods out. Being ten I wanted to try...
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HARD WORK
CHYANN C Chyann is a very hard working student. She has overcome extreme environmental obstacles to be a part of our school. She works hard everyday to meet the challenges she faces both academically and socially. She never gives up.
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CHARACTER
I REMEMBER MAMA In today's world, when a friend tells you he/she has met a female with a million-dollar smile, you automatically visualize a Miss America contestant or a young person whose beauty is exceptional. What you probably do not conjure up in your mind's eye is the image of a ninety-six and a half year old, teeny,...
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FORGIVENESS
LAST WORDS My story may not be one of many challenges or of many hardships. But it is one that I know made me who I am today. It started the year of sixth grade. I met and became best friends with a girl named Carla. We made each other laugh and smiles were never far away. Then summer came. Carla was more of a tomboy and...
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COURAGE
A GUY WHO GETS CONSISTENLY BULLIED. Well, this guy in my school Ivan, bullies me EVERYDAY. And he pushes me, kicks me, punches me, and a lot more. And I'm tired of it. Has any of you out there have an own Personal bully? Because If you do, I'm here for you guys. People who bully people think they get respect for it. Well, they don't. No one...
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GIVING BACK
GLORIA S I was first introduced to Puppies Behind Bars when I watched a special on Animal Planet. This non-profit organization is the brainchild of Gloria Gilbert Stoga. Puppies Behind Bars (PBB) is a program in which specially-selected prisoners from participating prisons are trained in the preparation of a puppy to...
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SOUL
THE MOUNTAIN These are poem's I wrote two weeks ago upon completing my Masters degree, I am a non-traditional student, (49 years old) and have been back in college at Michigan State University, I finished my bachelors degree in 2006 and continued on-these are my poems--- The Mountain By Thomas F. M. As the journey...
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OVERCOMING
LEONARD L My dad is my hero. It's been five years since he had his first seizure. After that came the diagnosis of a brain tumor. Then epilepsy, and most recently prostate cancer. But he's still here. Waking up every morning like the rest of us, wondering what other challenges lie ahead. And secretly wishing, that he'll...
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