My hero is... My hero is. Everyone thinks of a spactacular person when they hear the word 'hero', their savior, their superhero. What kids fail to see is that their superhero is right in front of their face. Honestly, my hero doesn't get that much recognition for all the wonderful things this woman does. My hero, is my mother. Yeah, you probably hear a lot how almost every child's hero is their parents and it probably gets boring by the millionth time, but it's true. My mother has the ability to transform into diffrent shades of sympathy, knowing just what to say to make my siblings and I feel better. Just when it seems I am on the lowest park of the mountain, she rises me up to the tallest pinaccle with her words of wisdom...and her freshly baked cookies don't hurt either. When I was younger, I never realized the commitment my mother had to holding our family together, and giving my siblings and I every object we convetted. Somewhere through the years, with the chaos of being a teenager, I somehow realized that my mother is the reason why our family is as strong as it is. My mother is the reason why I can buy the clothes that I want to buy. I finally see the magnitude my mother goes too, to make me happy. I will forever be grateful for what she has done for me. Her words flow into my hears and stay in my mind for eternity, teaching me important lessons such as the essense of life and love. She's that queen of hearts on the turn for my royal flush, allowing me to go all in, take chances, because I know I can never lose with that queen of hearts on my side. My mother is definitely someone I know I can trust to lead me into the jackpot of life. There have been many heros throughout the history of america. Martin Luther King Jr.'s opening statement said, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." To many people, this man is a hero, because he made that dream come true. Not just his dream, but many other peoples dream throughout the United States. He was put down, and people even attacked his house, but he would never give up on his dream. People admire him because he never gave up, and his dream transformed into the community that we have today. A person that could be a hero to some, would be the man of Greek Mythology known as Hercules. Hercules had a god as one of his parents, the almighty Zues for a father, and a mortal woman for a mother. Zues' queen, Hera, was jealous of Hercules, so she sent two serpents to his crib when he was an infant. Hercules was found the next morning prattling delighted baby talk, a serpent in each hand. Even then, Hercules could have been a hero to many by overcoming the odds when he was just an infant. When the right time came, Hercules was suppose to become King, but Hera tricked Zues into giving his cousin Eurystheus the crown. Hercules went mad and strangled his children, which isn't a very good characteristic you want in a king, and could have been his heroic downfall if not for his heroic labors. Hercules was sentenced to do a mass of labors for his crimes, among these labors he had to spite the beast known as the Nemean Lion, and capture Erymanthian Boar. After a total of twelve labors, Hercules became a god. The reason why Hercules is considered a hero is much more than is superhuman strength or his god status. Hercules was at his peak when he fell to the bottom. He worked hard over twleve obstacles to get that god status. That is why he is looked upon as a hero through my eyes. My mother is of course the person that has attained hero status the most in my life. She is my Martin Luther, she is my Hercules. The things she has taught me will soon be passed foward in my family for generations to come. Today, let us remember the words that our hero has spoke. Today, let's give thanks to that special person, that kept us going, and keeps us going on as of now. Today, let's repeat the times our hero has come to our rescue. Let us look foward into the future, and look upon the the times that our hero will come to our rescue again. My mother has come to my rescue more than once, and I know it is her heroic instinct that will allow her to do so again. She teaches me how to be a hero someday, with famous words every hero should know such as "Don't Do Drugs","Go To College", "Remember to put the toilet seat down". I know one day she might need someone to come to her rescue, and I'll be more than happy to come. ©Copyright Ryan Pfeifer for the Oratorical Contest of El Cajon, CA