My protector

“Heroes and Villains,” a class taught by Keri Shadlow at Storm Lake High School last semester, yielded essays by the students in which they describe their personal heroes. Each young writer conducted interviews and gathered evidence to build an argument supporting the person selected. Jake Kurtz of the Storm Lake Times Pilot visited the class and provided tips for the students.

Him. He’s my other half. My lifelong partner. No, not in the way you’re thinking. He’s been there since birth. We’re three years apart. He’s been my best friend since Day One. 

Most of all he’s been my protector. He is selfless, humble, compassionate, caring, and strong. He’s done so much not only for me, but for others as well. You can see these traits as I explain the different ways he has been my protector in my life.

Growing up without a father figure in my life has changed the way I view the world. I never felt like I would be protected. I never felt like I had the one figure that made me feel like I could go anywhere without a care in the world. He was the one that changed my perspective on this. He has taught me how to be selfless. 

As I’ve grown older, he has shown me that he will always have my back no matter what it comes down to. He’s always been there for me. He was the one who pushed me not to let others walk all over me. He’s gone through so much adversity of his own and put it aside for me. 

On the night of the assault he rushed home from his college dorm, three hours away, he came to comfort me. He has always put me before himself, yet he still tries and deals with his own problems. I’ve never looked up to someone the way I look up to him, he makes me strong because of his own strength. 

My little brother had a few words to share as well. He told me his experience and this is what he said, “If anything, growing up I’ve always been confused and stuck between the two families I have. This hero has taught me that no matter what, I need to be compassionate. I’m young and I don’t completely understand everything, but even though I am not biologically his brother, he will always treat me with the love he has for his own family. He has always worried about me, but I know he will always push me to better myself. He has also taught me to be humble. I’ve always wanted to stick out due to my two families, but he told me that even if I do well, I don’t always have to grab the attention of others because it will come eventually. I’m still working on it, but I know that at some point people will view me in a good light even if I don’t notice it.” 

A teacher at the high school has a few words to exchange too. She says, “He was always a kid who had a happy go lucky attitude. He was always on top of things as a student, contributed to class conversations, and was good with conversations overall. One thing that set him aside from other students was he always cared. He cared about schoolwork. He cared about people whether he knew them or not. He cared for his teachers. He was a great kid to have in class.”

In a way my hero has shown me countless times that he will always love and care for me. There is no one else in my life that has shown me that. He’s grown up to be the first to go to college. He works his hardest everywhere he goes. 

He’s always the first to respond when I am upset. First to come around when I’m hurt. I can always count on him to be … My protector. Selfless. Humble. Caring. Compassionate and Strong. 

No one in my life will ever compare to him. He is someone I aspire to be, and hope that others will also see him in the light that I do. I love him wholeheartedly. My hero. My protector. Kiwon Ioanis.