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
COMPASSION
DORA C This is my grandma and she was always very supportive of everything I did. She was always doing good things and helping other people. She lived her life to the fullest and did her best to live everyday like it was her last.
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GENEROSITY
A SIMPLE DOLLAR My mother and I were at my brothers middle school waiting for him in the parking lot, he was at a basketball game. A few girls were at a vending machine and I'm assuming the machine took their dollar. In an effort to get their snack they were banging and shaking the machine. Many adults walked by and looked at...
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APPRECIATION
BLESSED BY HURRICIANE CHARLIE My husband and I traveled all around the US for several years in our Class A motor home. We were trying to decide if we still wanted to travel or sell it when we found out my husband had terminal cancer and died a short time later. I had never driven the motor-home myself and did not want to travel by myself...
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MAKING A DIFFERENCE
BRIEANA U Our daughter is our American Hero. Throughout school, all academic and athletic. At 14, became part of a blended family. In her junior year, took the wrong road. At 22, became a soldier with the United States Army. Just left from Alaska back to Afghanistan. The military is her life. She believes all Americans...
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COURAGE
RENATE 'RITA' W I wouldn't be here if it weren't for her. Neither would my sisters, my nieces, nephews or my daughter. I guess my grandma is just as much a hero too because if it weren't for her, my mom wouldn't be here. Two very strong women making their way during a time that most of us can't even begin to comprehend. My...
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HELPING OTHERS
HELPING OTHERS After the death of my son, someone wrote on his online guest book about how he had helped an elderly couple who had lost their home during a hurricane. He helped them gather as many of their belongings as he could from the twisted metal. This person told how they would always remember my son riding his bike down...
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HELPING OTHERS
RHONDA T Rhonda helps everyone. At the expense of her own finances, health, and even mental well being at times. She always goes out of her way to help her children, grandchildren, family, and the ones she loves. She is fiercely loyal, and is hard to anger. I love my mother, and hope one day to be as helpful, loving and...
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INSPIRATION
JIM T My hero was not a war hero, a fireman, or superman. In fact, he wasn’t anything in particular. Jim was an elderly man who sat in the back of my church with his frail wife. Never did he make a scene, or draw any attention to himself. Never did he ask for anything, even when he most needed it. But, he was always...
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OVERCOMING
THE OBSTACLE THAT CHANGED MY LIFE I was diagnosed with moderately-severe ADD and a verbal communicating learning disability at a very young age. School was hard for me and I was always unable to concentrate and express myself verbally. When I entered high school, I got involved with my school's FFA chapter. FFA is a youth organization designed...
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HELPING OTHERS
BILL B I am just a 14 year old. My dad does not have a disease or anything like that but he is my hero. He grew up the oldest of his 3 siblings. He lived in a small town, 3 miles from one end to the other with his parents. He lived a hard life. He got let go from his job when my mom was 9 month pregnant with my older...
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LEADERSHIP
CAMERON J He was always the star player in any sport that he participated in. But he was so much different than all the other players who thought they were gods at all sports, he was humble. He was nice to everyone and he just had that warm touch that could turn your day around. He was a good role model for kids to look up...
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HELPING OTHERS
EYES WIDE FIRST NOTE I teach a music class for kids without training or confidence. I set up a stage in my barn. We call it "The Plum" (the road on my farm is Plum Hollow Lane). This isn't a typical success story, but the kids are playing and recording their own songs. They are gaining confidence and exploring their creative side.
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FORGIVENESS
WHAT ELSE COULD I DO? My mom had been in the hospital ICU for months and as I stayed with her, many days and nights were spent in the ICU waiting room with other people in similar situations to me, hoping and praying that God would bring our loved ones through. One day I met this man whose son was there at the point of death from an...
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RIGHT CHOICES
RETURNED MY PURSE A few years ago I was doing some grocery shopping. The parking lot was freezing and all I could think about was getting in the car. I used the keys to turn the car on and started hustling cases of water, bags of dog food, and other plastic bags full of groceries in the car. Finally, mission accomplished. I jumped...
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INSPIRATION
CHRISTINA W My Mom, Chris, who is now 89 years young has given and given to her family all of her life. She has done without many comforts so we could have things we needed or wanted as we grew up. She has discovered that she has advanced stages of breast cancer and just recently found out that it has spread to her throat....
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LIVE YOUR DREAMS
MOVING ON For over 3 years, I stayed with an emotionally, physically, and sexually abusive man who was very controlling. I had big dreams involving travel and going back to school, but when it seemed that those things would never come true, I began to drink. Through the inspiration of a friend and a swift kick in the...
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HELPING OTHERS
GLORIA C First off, I want to say I looked at the values that best described my hero, to be honest I think they all fit her. My hero happens to be my mother, the most beautiful woman I have ever met, and a genuine angel. My Father passed away when I was just 10 months old. This was way before anybody talked about being a...
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COURAGE
DAVID J One day in high school, I saw a crowd of students in the hall watching a 6'4" senior pick up a 5' freshman and hook his pants belt to a hook high upon the wall where he hung there in humiliation as the students below him laughed. A dark haired 5'7" student pushed his way through the crowd, reached up and unhooked...
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GRATITUDE
BROKEN HEART FROM A BROKEN HOME When I was 17 years old I was taken away from my father’s abusive home by the state. If I had moved back in with my mother I wouldn’t have been able to finish high school that year (my parents were divorced and lived far apart). One of my good friends asked his parents if they would temporarily adopt me so I...
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ENCOURAGEMENT
GOING BACK TO SCHOOL My boss wanted me to go to college even though I had been out of high school eleven years. I was scared and afraid of failure. Many people told me I had a good job. I didn't go to college because it was a lot of work. A couple of weeks later while on the way home from work and trying to decide about college, I...
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STRENGTH
RAMONA R My mom is my hero. She was very poor growing up had to quit school in the 8th grade to work to help support her family. She met my dad whose family was not fond of her because of her social status. They went on to marry and had four kids. My father worked two and three jobs most of his life until he made a...
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LOVE
ANNA S This story is about my mother who I love so much. My mom is a caring, loving, fun person who helps others, and always has a full heart. My mom is my "Hero" because of what she does.... Like she takes in my brothers friends when they need a place to stay... She cares for us and always makes the right decision. But...
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COURAGE
NANCY M My mom is and forever will be my hero. She had a heart attack while vacationing in Mexico and due to lack of medical advances she suffered a brain injury. I watched her fight for 2 long years before she lost the battle. In those two years she couldn't talk, walk, eat, or function in any other way but she stayed...
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HOPE
ALL HAS FAILED? HOPE! I believe… I believe when life deals you unbearable situations, there still is hope. Entering college and altering your mindset into a mature, level headed person while adjusting to the new transition is a challenge; however, it is attainable. Many situations and obstacles will be present: some good that will...
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APPRECIATION
CHRISTINA S My mom, Christina, has been the biggest inspiration of my life. She has lead me through the worst of times. She has gone through things I can't possibly imagine myself, which makes her being my hero a wise and very great choice. I love my mom and I hope things get better.
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PERSEVERANCE
KYLYN S Born at 2 lbs. 10 oz. she came into the world tiny, yet strong. At the age of 4 she witnessed her father do horrible things... threatening to take my life and hers. We lived in hiding for 2 years, supported by family and friends through a network of caring people. She will be 7 on April Fools 2011 and she is...
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TEACHING BY EXAMPLE
JEFF A Mr. A was the principal of my middle school and one of the most kind, upstanding and grateful people I have ever known. He treated silly middle school drama and tears with laughter, compassion and patience that only someone who truly cared about his students could muster. His solution for a fight between friends...
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RESPECT
TAKING THE TIME TO ACTUALLY APPRECIATE AND LISTEN... I have always wanted to share this story because it is one of the things that I will remember for my entire life and I’m sure the other person feels the same. We had a substitute teacher in my high school World History class. This lady was very nice and seemed excited to see us. She told a story about when her...
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PERSEVERANCE
DALE D Dale was in the army during the first Gulf War. He was on the front lines. He doesn't talk much about what he did. When he got back he got married. In less than a year from getting married he was told he had MS. He is now 37 and fully disabled from the MS. They have determined the war caused it. He has only one...
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HELPING OTHERS
MY FELLOW MAN Our present economic debacle succeeded in thrusting me into the dark place which is an all out struggle to maintain the mere fundamentals of survival. I began to know fear intimately on a moment to moment basis. It was easy to be cynical about the world. To blame various politicians and complain bitterly about...
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HELPING OTHERS
GREG S I was at O'Hare Airport to find my business flight had been delayed by over two hours. While sitting at the gate I noticed that an elderly Japanese couple that seemed confused, as their flight had been changed to another terminal. The gate agent didn't speak Japanese. The couple could read English but could not...
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HELPING OTHERS
UNKNOWN My wife and I were on vacation in France. We got on to the wrong expressway heading south out of Paris. We stopped to ask directions from a young 20 year old eating lunch under a shade tree. He didn't know English and I didn't know French, but he motioned for me to follow him. He drove 15-20 minutes through...
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COURAGE
GOLDA M She was a Jewish woman who supported the rights of Jews everywhere, and believed in the existence of a safe state. She voiced her opinions in a sea of opposition, and was not afraid. She seemed fearless, determined, focused on millions with a will to thrive in a precarious world. She is a role model for me,...
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