Don`t Need No Muscles To Save The Day by Kaleb

Don`t Need No Muscles To Save The Day by Kaleb - June 2017 Scholarship Essay

Hot tears seared the deep cut on my left cheek. A mixture of blood and tears hit the dirt as I doubled over in pain, my own legs collapsing underneath me. Curled up on the unforgiving ground in pain, fear, and worst of all, helplessness, I was the epitome of a victim to the classic elementary school bully tale. Eventually, he grew bored with picking on the easiest target on the playground and left me alone to wallow in my pool of blood and tears. From that moment, I resolved to be stronger; I wouldn’t let someone push me around like that again.

As a six-year-old super reader, all I did in my abundant time alone was read superhero comics. Intelligent, charismatic, and strong, these heroic men and women always defeated their bullies and saved the day. Glorified by the people of Metropolis or even citizens from Suwanee, Georgia, these men and women demonstrated that such abilities will make you unstoppable. Heroes like Superman, Batman, and Captain America showed me every day how to stand up for what was right and defeat evil, whether it was in the form of a super villain destroying a city or a childish bully pushing people around. They were my first heroes, the people I wanted to be like when I grew up, and they became my role models and even idols.

Six years later and ten inches taller, I was no longer the scrawny, scared target. I was the kid who was ready to always look out for himself. I didn't need any superhero to save me, and since I was in middle school, I was smart enough to know that the superheroes in comic books weren't even real anyway. I had to be the one to grow up and be tough. Superheroes were nothing but a pretty fantasy to comfort children at night. The real world was much more harsh and unforgiving.

Over the next six years, I began to see that I was the unforgiving one. I discovered this through the warmth and kindness people showed me, and through them, I also realized that my childhood dream of becoming a superhero wasn’t too far off. Just like the superheroes I read about, their power and abilities are not for themselves, but for the people they serve. I have come to know myself and that my strengths don’t come from being the toughest or strongest person in the room, but from being the kindest and most caring.

This inspired me to look into humanitarian service, because I know that serving others, just as superheroes did, gives me the strength and desire to serve another day. Creating over one hundred thousand meals last year, serving the homeless on Christmas Day, and even putting a smile on a face are all responsibilities of a hero, in my book. I knew it would be difficult, and my work would never be done. However, I think that is the beauty of it. It’s not the massive muscles, the fancy equipment, or the superpowers that save the day, it's the big heart. A superhero always heads the call of those around him, not because he knows he can do it but because he knows he should. I want to be a superhero in the lives of the people around me. This time, I know I can.