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
KINDNESS
BULLIES The first year of middle school was a rough road. I missed elementary school but I knew that there was no turning back. In one of my classes there was a bully that nobody liked. He bullied everyone, including me. I felt so hated and I felt like I didn't belong in this world anymore. The bully came up to me one...
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PERSEVERANCE
MARCUS T Marcus is my hero because he didn't let a disability stop him . He became great in his NEW career. He never gives up! Oh, to have the patience he has. And what talent! I can't praise him enough and stand in awe of his achievements.
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LOVE
DELORIS G My mother, Dee Hiner-Garrelts is my heroine. She instilled in my brothers, sisters and myself the values that last a lifetime. Although she is only 5'2", she is a giant in my eyes. She always stressed kindness to others and love of our fellow man as the keys to living a good life. She made sure each Sunday...
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PERSEVERANCE
ISABELLE S My daughter is my hero. She has a very strong spirit. She was born with many neurological problems. We were told that she would not live a day, week, month or a year. The doctors were not certain on her future. She is 14 now, she can communicate quite well, knows what she wants, very stubborn and opinionated! She...
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COURAGE
BAILEY T My hero is my mom. She had a hard life. When my brother and I were born, my mom was married to a man who was not a nice man. He hit her and called her a lot of bad names. She thought that it was anger issues. When I was about seven years old my mom had enough of it because she had lived with it for seventeen long...
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COURAGE
ALEXANDRA NICOLE F My husband died when my daughter was 16. I collapsed emotionally and all I could do was work 12 hours a day 7 days a week. She picked up our lives and made sure her 13 year old brother went to school and graduated. Three years later I had a stroke on my 50th birthday. My Alex worked and supported the 3 of us...
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LISTENING
THE PERFECT NOTE Colorado. A state of skiing, snowboarding, hiking and many great activities. But who would have known I would fall for something so different. The great magic of music. I was in fifth grade, trying to decide what I would fit in with. The P.E group, or the dance girls or even maybe the track team. I had moved many...
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CARING
MY MOTHER My mother is a teacher. And I say "is" because her love and influence continues to impact many even though they may no longer be "physically" near. She taught us that to have a friend....you have to be a friend. To be honest... what goes around, comes around. To think with our heads...and our...
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COURAGE
A CHILD'S STRENGTH My daughter, Amy was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes at the age of eight. She was hospitalized immediately to get her blood sugars stabilized with insulin injections. Being a young mother who knew virtually nothing about diabetes, I remained at the hospital in the days to come,in order to learn how to care for...
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HELPING OTHERS
NADIA N My Aunt, Nadia My aunt Nadia was born on March 18, 1960. She is the third of seven kids. Throughout her late elementary and early middle school years, my aunt, Nadia, was bullied on a regular basis. She was made fun of for her ethnicity and physical appearance since she had to wear a back brace for minor...
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LOVE
MS. JOHNSON I remember being a 3rd grader at Will Rogers Elementary School in Santa Monica, CA and being almost invisible to the world. My parents were hard-working but very busy surviving and no time to spend quality time with me. They did not show affection or ever tell me they loved me, I guess as a result of how they...
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COMMITMENT
JOYCE B My wife is my hero. She has to be the strongest person I know. Numerous miscarriages and hardships she stays dedicated and loyal to our god. She is the best wife a man could ever ask for. Due to this, she is my hero.
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COMMITMENT
COMMITMENT I was working with an organization that cared for children in need. I was supervising and training a group of women that were employed to look after the children and provide them the things that they need so that they can be integrated back to the society after their stay with the organization. It turned out...
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RISING ABOVE
EMILY H Emily, a 13 year old girl, was rushed into a surgery at UVA children's hospital when she was told that she had a massive ovarian cyst. Emily a passionate athlete was not allowed to play any sports but still watched friends and family play all the time. She says, "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
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FRIENDSHIP
A FRIEND I have this best friend whom I'm still friends with. We built this club house in his back yard (without nails everything was just leaning up pretty impressive) but one night we were being dumb and lit this tire on fire in the club house (a complete accident by the way) but as he ran in the house to get water, I...
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DETERMINATION
STUDENT AT TIANANMEN SQUARE Student in China fighting for democracy. And standing in front of a tank to do it.
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APPRECIATION
A STEP BACK I CANNOT TAKE Today I saw a young girl, and she looked at me, she said, "I cannot wait till I'm as big as you". And I remember when I said those exact words. Now how I wish I could take them back. I remember my childhood as if it were yesterday. I am still young, only 14, entering my "teen" years. I looked and said, "well...
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FRIENDSHIP
TRACEY W Tracey taught me more than just how to ride a horse. She has taught me to bond with these beautiful friends. Tracey is like a 2nd mom to me I could tell her anything. Tracey has helped me in so many ways. She calls me her barn daughter as does her husband. Tracey has taught me about growing up and how to drive a...
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LOYALTY
SPIRIT W My hero is not a person, but a horse, and some can say I'm crazy. To some, he is just a horse, but to me he's a friend. He comforts me in every way possible. He will do silly things to cheer me up. And it sounds crazy, but it is almost as if he can understand me and he listens and responds in his own little way....
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LOVE
PEGGY T Peggy and I met in 1975, it was love at first sight. We both tried to ignore our feelings for each other but as time passed, we both admitted that it was divine destiny that we met and were in love with each other. We married in 1977. Life was a struggle with school, two children and starting to build a life...
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INSPIRATION
MY CHILDREN My children are my heroes. I have two beautiful little girls and they inspire me to be a wonderful mom. I want my children to have a good life,they deserve it. So, when I wake up and look at my beautiful babies, I am very inspired, and proud. The reason I wrote about my babies is because they are mine and will...
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TRUE BEAUTY
A CROW'S LOSS A fresh Tuesday morning and to my eyes falling on a dog on my street which was getting disturbed by the two crows which were attacking him. It was after some time when I noticed that there was a small crow who was being attacked by that dog and the two big crows were trying to protect their child crow from the...
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DETERMINATION
EMPOWERMENT My name is Charlie Wachtel and I have end stage kidney failure. Three years ago, I was a day away from dying and had lost the ability to walk. Now, due to my spiritual/health/wellness background, I am making a miraculous comeback, defying the odds and if everything continues to go well, I could be off dialysis by...
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FRIENDSHIP
CINDY T My grandma is nice and took us in when no one else would. She is patient with us and does a lot for us. I am lucky to have her in my life.
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LOYALTY
ZACHERY LEE G My Brother Zachery committed suicide on April 4th 2011. My brother was one of the toughest people I knew. He was never scared of anything and always stood up for himself and his family. Zachery was only 18. Born on July 29th 1992. He did this because of people not being honest and causing drama. My brother loved...
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RISING ABOVE
MICHAEL R My Dad is amazing. Which, is what most children would say about their own father. But what I find different about mine is that he has been so supportive through my illnesses; while having a lot of other things to do. Such as work 18 hours every second day, dealing with the death of my grandmother and multiple...
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FRIENDSHIP
JAIME L I found this one and only friend who is more than a sister or any family member. She is always there ready to give without asking anything in return. MY BEST FRIEND EVER. I LOVE YOU! You are my angel!
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APPRECIATION
ZACHERY LEE G My little brother, Zachery Lee Gillespie was my best friend. On April 4, 2011 he took his own life because of hurtful things others were doing to him. Everyday I live without him, the pain gets worse. If only, I could have him back ... I'd do anything.
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APPRECIATION
MOM AND DAD My heroes are my mom and dad! They always created a loving environment for me to grow and make mistakes, but always gave their unconditional love and support to help me find myself as a caring human being. I couldn't have wished for a better relationship than the one I savor with them. Love you guys so much!
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OVERCOMING
FINDING OUT THE TRUTH For the last 22 years of my life I always questioned why I was so different from my family and cousins. My childhood days were difficult because I endlessly kept searching for love and acceptance. I felt lonely at school so I would try to make friends who would love me for the way I am, but still had trouble...
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COURAGE
ZACHERY G On April 4, 2011 he ended his life. He was my best friend and my baby cousin. He would do anything for anyone. He was loving and caring. He always had my back and I miss him so much. Life will never be the same without him. He was only 18 years old.
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HOPE
MILEY O My hero is my younger cousin, Miley. She is almost four now. Miley was born almost four months early in 2007. When she was born she was only 13 inches long. Her mom (my cousin), Alex, was only 16 when she gave birth to Miley. Miley was born with out her eyes open and was on a ventilator for those four months,...
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RISING ABOVE
HOPE TRUMPS HARM Believing that life contains more than one's experiences and hanging on to the hope that there is something greater than the harm experienced, I strove to overcome and excel through my circumstances of abuse. Because hope trumps harm, I followed it and I now help others with similar circumstances and find hope...
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