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
CHARACTER
STEVEN S Steven is not only my husband; he is also my hero. He grew up in Los Angeles. Steven was a kid who got into a lot of fights and sometimes into a lot of trouble. Yet, he graduated high school and became an auto body mechanic. Not feeling satisfied as an auto body mechanic, he taught himself to work as a Jaguar...
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CHARACTER
ANGELA R Looking through the values I saw so many that described my mom, starting with ambition and going down the list. Not one but all describe my mother. She is truly a hero in my eyes, not like Hercules, but one that a lot of people would take for granted everyday. A mom that dedicates her life to her children. My dad...
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REACHING OUT
JUDGE KATHLEEN V Judge Kathleen V. is more than just a judge overseeing a drug court for juveniles with substance abuse issues. She inspires confidence in kids who have little in the way of family support - she is cheerleader to those who succeed - she is genuine in her concern and commitment to helping kids live a healthy and...
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CARING
AMI CHO S The song 'Beautiful' was Ami's favorite song. The story you have on TV is as related to us exactly what happened at her school. A new enrollee at her school came to the lunch room and sat at a table where no one was. No one would sit with him. Ami got up from her table and moved over to where the new student was....
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CARING
MICAH S Chorus has just ended and I am so excited about going to woodshop that I don't see these chairs in my way. Then suddenly, I trip over them and go flying and land on the ground unconscious. My breath is knocked out of me. It aches and hurts just to move, walk or get up. Micah says, 'Ben!' with lots of worry in his...
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CARING
ELLEN E My sister Ellen is my hero. We came from a somewhat poor family with three boys and my sister. My father died when we were pretty young. After my father died, my sister took care of my mother and us. She had just gotten married and she would have my mother stay at her house most weekends because she knew she was...
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LOVE
MARTIN T Forty years ago at the age of six I had spent a great deal of time in a box in the closet and endured many years of abuse at home. I came to my first grade class sucking my thumb and staying behind when the class would go out to play. I was filthy and neglected. At one point I was kept out of school for an...
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CHARACTER
JUNE AND GRAD W This couple is in their mid 70's and work together for good like the wings of a beautiful bird in flight. Whichever one is involved in a project, the other is there to help. Together they've been taking care of a hospice patient for over two years. They care for any stray animal that crosses their path, not only...
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REACHING OUT
PAT B Pat B. is a retired 2nd grade teacher. Like a lot of other teachers, Mrs. B faced challenges having kids in her class that brought with them various problems from home. In my particular case, as with so many other kids that she helped, I came from a disadvantaged family. I was often teased about my clothes, my...
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REACHING OUT
JOSEPH G Joseph is always there when I need someone to talk to. He was one of the friends I made at my new school. If I ever have any doubts about something, he gives me the confidence. He believes in me no matter what I am trying to do. No one has ever really believed in me or told me I can do things. People have just...
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REACHING OUT
RHONDA K After a bad childhood & no family; I lacked a huge concern for others. With no hope, I came to VCU as a lost freshman. Little did I know, my life would be changed forever by my advisor. Mrs. K. came into my life in August 2004 and I quickly bonded with her. I felt I could trust her, something not normal for me....
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REACHING OUT
DEANN K It is with great honor to nominate Dr. DeAnn K., a Professor of Sociology at The University of Louisiana at Lafayette as an outstanding person. Dr. K. believes in the success of students especially those with disabilities. Her belief is that she will NEVER, EVER give up hope on a student regardless of the grade...
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RIGHT CHOICES
CAROL M Carol is the director of P.A.C.T. (Partner Against Crime Team Mentoring Program) where she connects mentors with youths on probation who need a positive influence in an attempt to turn their life around. She treats the troubled youngsters with respect and dignity. Long hours are selflessly dedicated to keep the...
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CARING
SHERMAN P I would like to nominate my dad as a hero. He lives across the country from me and my husband, but is never more than a phone call or email away. My husband and I live in beautiful Colorado where the mountains have become our backyard and playground. From time to time I find myself faced with having to do...
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REACHING OUT
JENNIFER B I am nominating my mom as my hero. I love my mother very much. She is always cheering me on to reach my dreams. Even though she didn't reach all of her dreams, she wants me to reach mine. She is my hero because she is the perfect mom. I have said a few bad things to her, but she is very, very forgiving. If I...
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LEARNING
STEVE V I never ever thought my dad would be a hero to me, but he is now. See this week we found out he has cancer. But that is just part of my story. I never liked my dad. I feel like I wished his cancer on him. I have Autism and a lot of other problems. I love to ride my horse and do gymnastics. I thought my dad never...
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HELPING OTHERS
ALAN F Alan is a wonderful man who works as a high risk obstetrician. He has saved countless mothers and babies, and he does it every day. Alan does such wonderful things every day, and he doesn't go around flaunting it. He says he's just doing his job, but he's really giving back to the community, and saving lives each...
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APPRECIATION
GEOFFREY H Most little girls grow up with their dad as their own personal hero. But my father is an inspiration to everyone in his life. As is frequently the case, the most generous and supportive person always seems to feel the least appreciated. I know there are days that my dad must feel that way. I want him to know that...
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APPRECIATION
TOMMY E My hero is my dad because he encourages me to live my life and he tells me what is right and what is wrong. I look up to him because he was there for me all my life and he never left me and he never will. He is just a great person to look up to. He is always there for me.
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APPRECIATION
PAUL S My dad has been in the Army Reserve for 25 years and he is extremely patriotic. I never understood why my dad wanted to die for his country but he tells me all the time that 'someone has to do it' and that he 'would rather die in battle defending his country and its people than of old age.' To see him put that...
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AMBITION
RUSSELL C My mom married this guy named Russell when I was around two years of age. Which is probably the best decision she ever made. He saved my family from crashing down. He saved me from becoming a worthless person to this world. I thought I was taking up space and breathing some better person's air. Through time he...
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COURAGE
JOHN R This young man faced tragedy, overcame it and became a helper of others. His religious values, athletic abilities, and drive gives renewed hope to the returning disabled veterans from the war on terror. He scored highly in the 1983 Illinois State high school track meet; was a two-time All-American at the...
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OPPORTUNITY
JASON'S VISION Jason is a man with vision. He lives in a rural Levy County area and saw a need. People with disabilities in this community had limited choices and not much of a chance of reaching their goals or fulfilling their dreams. He began by opening a gift shop, and has not only created a place for his friends and...
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LEARNING
SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE Larry gave us "Direction" in more ways than he could ever know. For the better part of 35 years, Larry's life has revolved around searching out the finest music and then sharing his treasured finds through teaching and directing students and adults alike - always seeking that moment of perfection in performing...
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COURAGE
SOMEONE I COULD TRUST I had been suffering from anorexia and bulimia for more than a year when she first started asking me what was wrong. I didn't want to tell her; not because she was my math teacher and it was "uncool" to get close to teachers- it was because I was afraid to trust. The past year had been a rough one, and I felt...
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FORGIVENESS
MISLEADING APPEARANCE That was an unusually dark winter night. I was on my way home from work on the ghastly quiet road of my hometown. I drove my bicycle alone. It was midnight when I finished my third shift. Winter wind kept tapping my face as I tried to rush home. Suddenly, I noticed one man with a long hair, riding behind me...
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RIGHT CHOICES
A TEACHER'S LESSON We stood there on the corridor of our classroom talking with our English teacher, not on academic matters but on general issues. He was really speaking with us as if we were full adults. We were still in our penultimate class in high school. In the cause of our discussion my friend made a comment. Then our...
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TRUST
TRUST I bought a violin from a man who lives a long distance away. I had contacted him by phone after being given information about him by my violin teacher. The violin seller asked for my name and address, and we agreed that he would send me the violin, I would send him my old one, and after he had evaluated my old...
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TEACHING BY EXAMPLE
THE CONNECTION Like most of my fellow actors in New York I was "between jobs" and making ends meet as a lunch waiter in a small high quality Italian restaurant in Greenwich Village. I was a lousy waiter. I enjoyed the customers and didn't mind the work, but my ADD kept me from coordinating all the details a good waiter needs to...
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FORGIVENESS
PLEASE ACCEPT MY APOLOGY You probably remember me from the other day. I was the one who reacted very slowly to the green traffic light. When you honked your horn, I realized I was holding up traffic, so please accept my apology. However, I do want you to know why I seemed in a daze. You see, I was just at the doctor's office getting the...
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OPPORTUNITY
AN OLD DUTCHMAN TEACHES ME WORK ETHIC Being from a well-to-do family didn't excuse me from work in the summer. My Dad, raised during the Great Depression, realized the benefits and discipline of hard work. He didn't want me to grow up soft. When I was sixteen, he sent me to work with Martin Brock, a sixty-something farmer. It was early June in...
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ENCOURAGEMENT
HOW YOU GOING TO FEED THAT PIG? Dad's question rendered me speechless. I had been saving to buy a pig for months, and when somebody gave me a dollar for my sixth birthday, I had $5 to buy the pig. Then he said: "I have a deal for you. I'll furnish the feed for your pig, and you can furnish the labor to feed the pigs. Then, when your pig grows...
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FRIENDSHIP
PEGGY Susie May Isaacs, my great-grandmother, was a beautiful woman, both in person and in spirit. She lived through two World Wars and the Great Depression. She was born in a dugout in Western Oklahoma to a Cheyenne Indian father and white mother during a time of great upheaval for the Native Americans in the Oklahoma...
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