Hero

             Society has built up this image of a hero as someone who is well-known, easy to get along with, and always accomplishing helpful deeds. Recognition is what most people strive for in life. Many struggle to be under the spotlight, to be put on a higher pedestal than others, to be immortalized, and to have that sense of respect. I believe this is an honorable objective. Yet what about the individuals who are not acknowledged, which we do not hear about. Someone who performs good deeds, without the reward and acknowledgment of hero status. To me this is a hero.
             A hero is someone who does not live their life to be put under the spotlight. It is someone who I would consider as living a modest life to be exact. When I look at all my friends in my life, there is one unique person who demonstrates all my qualities of a hero. His name is Sheldon, and I never thought of him as a hero until now.
             A hero in my eyes is someone who does not look for recognition. They do the good deed for exactly that, the pure act of doing the deed. The hero has no other purpose than to have that satisfying feeling to himself, he has done well. He is just helping other people out, without expecting any kind of reward. Sheldon is one of my good friends that does not look for recognition when he deserves it. When I received my brand new computer and needed help setting it up, he offered his skills without even being asked. His experienced assistance was a vast help to me. When I needed advice on money, love, and my parents, he invited me over and listened to my problems. In both of these situations, I thanked him immensely and asked if I could do anything for him. He shook his head and told me "I"m just trying to help you out. When I need help, I know you will notice." This demeanor threw me off and made me realize he has not been helping me to appear caring, he genuinely is.
             As Machiavelli once said, "the end justifies the means".