A Different Kind of Hero

My hero is my dad. He may not have fought in a war, ran into burning buildings to save people, or caught the bad guys growing up, but to me he is just as much of a hero. The year I was born my dad started his own company from the ground up. He didn’t have much help aside from my mom who stood by his side and a few friends willing to help make his dream happen. I’m sure my dad’s dreams when he was my age (19) were a lot different than starting a crane company in Southern California. But, a few years later, because he had a family to support, he was willing to do everything to give us the best life growing up. And he did just that. I don’t have a single dull memory from my childhood. He worked a lot, 15 hour workdays. But he made sure to put aside weekends to take us boating and dirt bike riding. We had so many opportunities growing up because my dad was willing to work a little harder and maintain a successful business. Nothing has stopped my dad, not even cancer. Every night during my high school years, we would watch The O’reilly Factor and Hannity and Colmes (back when it was that) together. He taught me about politics, the freedoms we are so lucky to have, the importance of exercising my right to vote, and the basics of business. It’s because of my dad that I am attending a great college, pursuing my dreams. It’s because of the opportunities my dad has enabled me to have that I know what my passion is. And it is because of my dad that I know the true value of hard work, a lesson I think more people could stand to learn. He taught me not to expect things to be handed to me, and that just because I want something doesn’t mean I am going to get it. My dad is a true hero. His legacy might not be through a badge or medal, it’s through my younger brother, older sister, and I, the kids he helped raise and teach so many valuable lessons.