Superman was always my favorite superhero growing up because he was everything a superhero should be: brave, courageous, honorable, and strong. He was always there to save the day, to save the people, to save the world. But what makes Superman the hero that we all know and love?

Since the iconic superhero was created, Superman had always seemed to be everything. He had the longest list of superpowers, excluding his strong physique that men dedicated hours of their lives at the gym for and women devoured over in the movies. But even though Superman was this strong, super-buff character in the DC comic books[1], something else about him always stood out—his character. He seemed to be a calm and collected person that always helped other people. Even if he was not an alien—meaning that he would not have all of these supernatural abilities—he would still be a good person that wanted to help others. Granted, he would not have his superpowers that help him do various things, but he would still have the heart of gold that embodies the true characteristics of a hero.

The essential question is: can anyone be a hero? Can anyone save the day, save the people, save the world? Yes. A hero is what is on the inside, the genetic make-up of the heart, of the soul. It is not the 6’7”, six-pack, sexy guy who puts on a cape, mask, and super tight suit and calls himself a hero. A hero is the person who fights for what is right even though everyone else is okay or ignorant to the problem. It is the person who stands up for what is right even if being a hero means risking his or her own life for the sake of the people.  Does anyone remember the bookkeeper in Atlanta who calmed down the gunman, preventing any type of killings to take place[2]? What about the group of teachers who stood up for those kids at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Colorado[3]? We have to remember these people because they did something—something that saved lives. Although they did not have Superman’s powers, they were Superman because they were brave, courageous honorable, and memorable.

A hero could be someone close to us, too. When thinking of a hero, I am obligated to think of my loving family and friends. I think of the people who always believed in me even when I did not believe in myself, the people who never gave up on me even when I told them to. I think of the people who told me that everything was going to be okay. They are my heroes because they chose to do good, not by obligation or by what society thinks is right to do.

Real heroes do not wear a cap or a mask or a suit to save the world, nor do they have superpowers or ninja skills, but what they do have is something that comes voluntarily from the heart—the willingness to do it, to save and help others.