When I was younger, the word hero made me think of superhero movies. To me, heroes were the brave men and women who fought off villains, saved cities, and always won in the end. They were strong, fearless, and utterly perfect – never making mistakes, and never letting a single person down. My childhood imagination was shaped by these images. They made me believe that being a hero meant being someone who had no flaws and could never fail.
But as I grew up, I began to realise that these heroes were merely illusions- actors playing ‘larger than life’ roles. Outside the movies, no one was completely fearless or perfect. Real life was not filled with dramatic battles or magical rescues. This realisation left me a little disappointed, because it seemed like the heroes I once believed in no longer existed. For a while, I wondered if I had been wrong all along – if real heroes were just a myth after all.
If heroes weren’t real, then who could I look up to?
That answer came from someone I had known all my life: my mother.
She never fights monsters or wears a cape, but she always shows strength in smaller, everyday ways. She works hard to provide for our family, comforts me in times when I feel overwhelmed and pushes through challenges even when she is exhausted herself. I’ve seen her deal with stress, make mistakes, and face difficulties, but instead of giving up, she always keeps going. To me, that takes far more courage than anything I have ever seen in movies.
Through her, I’ve come to understand that an iconic hero isn’t defined by perfection or superpowers. A true hero is someone who inspires others through their perseverance, kindness and sacrifices. My mum shows me that real bravery is not about being fearless, but about facing challenges and fears with resilience.
Looking back, the heroes I once admired on the screen of my TV seem smaller compared to the ONE I see in my own life. My mother shows me that real heroism isn’t about flying through the sky or winning battles. Real heroism is about staying grounded and never giving up on the people that you love. She has shaped the way I see courage and taught me that true heroes don’t appear merely in stories and movies– they live in our homes and hearts.
Writer : Harman
Grade : 8 (Year 2025)
Place : Sydney, Australia
