Heroes and The Little Things

Many people have said it and many people have heard it; “heroes are the ordinary people who make themselves extraordinary.” It is simple, yes, but also so completely true that it is hard to find a fault in such a belief. I have grown up under the guidance of people I still view as heroes simply because I think they are extraordinary. For a lot of us, our parents are our heroes. Students are so inspired by their teachers and professors that they too become educators in adulthood. Meanwhile, our youthful innocence is congested with hopeless dreams of flying like Superman or saving civilians like Batman. No matter your age, heroes are unquestionably a part of our lives.

I have worked as a camp counselor for quite some time over my summer vacations and the stories I can recollect are infinite. But, this summer was different. Though on the surface I probably appeared to be as goofy as I usually was or exhausted from the constant beatings campers inflict on my body, I was secretly admiring one camper in particular. John C. is a rising 2^nd grader about to experience life in a new school and feels just as much anxiety and excitement that comes with a change in environment as any other normal kid. He is passionate about math and loves the color green. John is also autistic and so, is very special. With his condition come obsessive behaviors over ideas, beliefs, or things. Interestingly, he loves toilets and all things related to plumbing and also Abraham Lincoln and anything associated with his name.

During all of my weeks at camp I was lucky to meet many new, young faces full of vivacious spirits but John was so memorable for too many great reasons. Though autistic, he is brilliant and extremely bright. Even if he tended to abruptly interrupt your conversations or reading time, he was at least always doing so with a contagious happy attitude. It was never easy to be strict or upset with him as biased as that may make me sound. During our weekly trip to the beach in Week 4 I was instructing the campers to be quiet as we listened to the rules. Initially, it was hard to get John to stop interrupting that is until I learned to compromise.

As I said earlier, John loves toilets and all things associated with them. Therefore, he is infatuated with drains. As he started to get overly excited and disruptive while listening to the beach rules, I calmly sat next to him and placed my hands over his frantic arms that he incessantly swings when energized and said, “I will make you a promise.” He quickly asked, “WHAT?” to which I said, “I will allow you to show me a drain near the beach if you promise me that you will stay quiet.” His smile warmly spread from ear-to-ear and he graciously looked up at me and whispered, “You know Matthew, you are good. You are great.” He then gently patted his arm over my shoulder and we turned to listen.

Okay sure, maybe a hero is someone who is not ordinary but extraordinary. But, are the qualities or actions that make those heroes extraordinary distinct? Do you have to save someone’s life? Does a hero have to be widely recognized? I like to think not to all the above. A hero can be someone who compromises when situations can be difficult and rewards a child with something he so dearly loves. Then again, a hero can be someone who smiles as much as they can at their mentors and is always willing to be a friend to anyone.

When John smiled and put his arm up around me, for the first time I think I saw my cousin, Anne. Most importantly, I think I understood her relationship with Dylan. I saw care and generosity in the purest of forms. She was a hero to him and he was a hero to her in both life and death. What Anne did was heroic that day but I think the both of them were each other’s idols long before that. A hero could emerge through a smile, a laugh, or even a bedtime story. You have your heroes who you admire but I want you to recognize that you may be a hero too. John, you taught me so much and I will never forget that heroic smile. Nor can I forget our trips to the drains and bathrooms in which you heroically taught me how to fix clogs. So, never forget to pass along a smile for it is the little things and the little moments that create our heroes. Here is to a better tomorrow.

-M