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Alice Paul was a women’s rights activist, specifically she worked towards gaining women the right to vote. She was not shy when it came to her methods. She bucked the system and urged protests and demonstrations. Because of these actions she was spurned by the mor traditional women’s suffragettes. Because of her actions she was often subject to police brutality. A great movie about these events called “Iron Jawed Angels “ came out a bunch of years ago but it is outstanding.

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Cleopatra VII of Egypt is often seen as a heroic figure because of her intelligence, political skill, and determination. She became queen at only 18 years old and ruled during a time when Egypt faced constant pressure from the expanding Roman Empire. Unlike many rulers, Cleopatra was highly educated. She could speak several languages, studied philosophy and science, and directly engaged with her people instead of relying solely on advisors. She formed alliances with Julius Caesar and later Mark Antony, not only out of romance, but also as strategic moves to secure Egypt’s position in world politics. Even though her reign ended with Rome taking control of Egypt, Cleopatra is remembered for fighting to maintain her country’s independence for as long as possible. Her courage to rule in a male-dominated world and her ability to combine diplomacy with leadership make her stand out as a hero in history.

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Alan Cumming is a Scottish actor, director, writer and producer. He’s also bisexual and a staunch supporter of LGBTQ+ rights. It can be hard to be an activist and successful in the film industry, but Cumming has a BAFTA Award, 5 Emmy Awards 2 Tony Awards, and an Oliver Award. He guest hosted on Jimmy Kimmel Live in July 2025 and used the opportunity to criticize Trump and the American Goverment. He signed the Artists4Ceasefire letter in 2023. He’s not afraid to be himself or to speak out about what matters.

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Marie Curie was a scientist in the early 1900s and was the first ever woman to win the Nobel Prize. She was also the very first person to win it twice. Curie, along with her husband, made the discovery of polonium and radium, which further aided the development of X-Rays. Her knowledge and impact on the world of science and medicine makes her a hero to me, because without her discoveries we most likely would not have been able to advance to the level of medical technology and science that we have today.

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Malcolm X was an African American activist and leader who fought for racial justice and equality in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s. He spoke out against systemic racism, challenged discrimination, and encouraged Black people to take pride in their heritage and demand for their rights. He was a hero because he bravely stood up to oppression, inspired a generation to fight for justice.

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The Odyssey is an epic poem written by Homer, an ancient Greek poet. This was one of my favorite pastimes as a child: reading works by Homer. Homer tells the story of Odysseus, the king of Ithaca who takes on a ten-year journey to get home after the Trojan war. He encounters dangerous trickery and faces many life-threatening monsters. Poseidon, the king of the sea, does not favor Odysseus making him directly responsible for a lot of the misfortunes Odysseus experiences. Although his plans to get home seem to get thwarted over and over, his perseverance, wit and resiliency were inspiring for me to imagine. There were so many quests that spelled out certain defeat or even death, Odysseus defied every one of those outcomes. This specific story is what opened up the rabbit hole into mythology for me!

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Martin Luther King Jr.: Kaden Devine-Walsh

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Martin Luther King Jr.: Kaden Devine-Walsh

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Born in 1929, Martin Luther King Jr. was a pastor who played a key [art in the American Civil Rights movement in the mid 1950's. He was also the co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). This was a group that worked to organize Black churches to conduct nonviolent protests against racial segregation and discrimination. He was most influential in the Montgomery BUs Boycott (1955-1956), March on Washington (1963) and the Birmingham Campaign (1963). While i assume most know of his "I Have a Dream" speech, which was a rallying cry for a better future, I want to focus on the letter he wrote while in jail during the Birmingham Campaign. This letter he wrote stuck with me and is by far the most eloquently worded piece I have ever read. MLK had a way with words, he had a way of connecting to your soul and rallying you to stand up and fight. He spoke out against those who told him and his group they should have 'waited'. But how are you supposed to wait as they watch families get lynched, friends be brutalized by police, and their children believe themselves inferior. MLK says within his letter "justice too long delayed is justice denied". This is directed at the Councils and mayor of Birmingham who had given false promises to the black community before, they were done waiting for someone else to fix this. King realized that sometimes you needed constructive nonviolent chaos in order to cause growth. He was labeled an extremist, but he took that title in strides pronouncing, "maybe the south, the nation and the world are in dire need of creative extremists." With just this he is inspiring, but it was due to his actions and many around him that voting rights for African Americans gained some protection due to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as well as the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.With all of this being said I truly believe this was a man whose greatest weapon was his intelligence and his words. He could move thousands of people with his words alone, and I think everyone could benefit from really reading the things he wrote during this time. When it comes to standing up against injustice, he is one of the first people I would look to for guidance in the right way to start.

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Stanislav Petrov was a lieutenant colonel of the Soviet Air Defence Forces that disobeyed orders in 1983 that prevented a possible nuclear war. In 1983, Petrov was on duty when their nuclear missile detection systems went off, warning of an impending nuclear attack from the United States. However, Petrov felt this was odd and thus believed it to be a malfunction and rejected the protocol of immediately retaliating which would have triggered a full on nuclear war. Later investigations found his instinct was correct and that their systems has set off a false alarm. His actions very well saved the world as the two leading nuclear powers along with their allies would have likely annilhated the world. I believe this makes him one of the most important heroes to ever live because his instincts saved billions of lives and possibly the entire world from destruction as tensions remained high during the '80s. I think he's also a wonderful example of trusting your own instincts of what is right even in the face of strict authoirty and oppression due to the geninue risks involved with disobeying orders and what that could do. It is a very brave thing and I respect that a lot.

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Fredrick Allen Hampton Sr. was an American activist and revolutionary socialist. He came to prominence in his late teens and early 20s in Chicago as deputy chairman of the national Black Panther Party and chair of the Illinois chapter.

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Big Abe is a genuine inspiration to me. While I’m not a fan of idolatry, I find strength and willpower in others deeply inspiring. Lincoln fought through the darkest war in American history while enduring struggles within his own family, yet he still found a way to hold the country together. Through sheer determination, he worked to create a Union grounded in justice and moral principles something few leaders could ever achieve.

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Jaime Alfonso Esclante was a Bolivian-American educator known for teaching students calculus from 1974 to 1991 at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles. He became famous after his students became so successful that they were accused of cheating. I see him as a hero because he was teaching a difficult subject for many people, which was calculus. He didn't teach math to ordinary students or an ordinary class. He was teaching math to troubled students in a rundown school known for its violence and drugs. Some had said that the students he taught were "unteachable," But Esclante wanted his students to achieve success and reach their full potential. In 1982, his students took and passed an advanced placement exam in calculus. His students' scores were so high that they were invalidated by the testing company, and the students were accused of cheating. Months later, the same students retook the test and passed, proving that they were, in fact, not cheating. Escalante received many awards for his contributions to the field of education. He was given the presidential medal for excellence. He was also inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame in 1999. Jaime Escalante passed away on March 30, 2010, after a long battle with cancer. His story motivates me because even after being told his students were unteachable, he remained optimistic and was able to turn these "unteachable" students into geniuses. He made me believe that anyone can achieve the impossible if we invest our efforts and dedication.

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Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist who has dedicated her life to fighting for girls rights to an education. At the age 11 she began to speak out publicly against the Taliban's ban on girls going to school in her hometown, even though doing so put her life at risk. She was shot at 15 for her actions but survived and back even stronger, using her voice to advocate for millions of girls around the world. She went on to become the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner and founded the Malala Fund to support education initiatives globally. I see Malala as a hero because of her courage and persistence to speak up and make a change, no matter her age. Her story motivates me to keep pursuing my own education and goals, even when it might be difficult to. She is a reminder that education is a powerful tool and that one person's voice really can make a difference.

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In 1944 at John Hopkins Hospital, Dr. Vivian Thomas performed the first open heart surgery to correct tetralogy of Fallot or “blue baby syndrome.” He worked alongside Dr. Helen Taussig and Dr. Alfred Blalock to create the Bullock-Taussig shunt which joined the subclavian artery to the pulmonary artery to increase blood flow to the lungs. Babies with the condition would usually die within their first two years of life from a lack of oxygen. His efforts revolutionized cardiac surgery, despite the racial barriers that prevented him from even being credited for his work when it was first published. To me, he is a hero because his work paved the way for further cardiac surgery developments and continues to save the lives of infants today. I was born with tetralogy of Fallot and without his efforts, the surgery that saved my life wouldn’t have existed.

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Starting to speak out at the age of 15, with her famous "How dare you" speech to combat climate change in 2019, Greta Thunberg, now 22, (of Sweden) remains one of the most vocal and popular gen Z political activists. What makes her a hero to me is her resilience and how she never backs down, even when in the face of death threats online. Instead, she continues to put herself at the face of Gen Z activism, visiting countries like Palestine to provide aid during the genocide in Gaza, which was incredibly hard to do due to Israel's military forces inhibiting people from providing that aid so desperately needed. She never backs down from threats and hate campaigns from her oppressors and refuses to be silenced in her campaign to stand for what's right. To me, that's what a true hero does, regardless of the consequences.

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"Sometimes people believe in little or nothing, and so they give their lives to little or nothing. One life is all we have, and we live it as we believe in living it . . . and then it’s gone. But to surrender who you are and to live without belief is more terrible than dying – even more terrible than dying young.”

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Jehanne la Pucelle, Jehanne d’Arc, or commonly known today as St. Joan of Arc, served as a military leader during the Hundred Years' War, repulsing the English attempt to conquer France and ensuring the fancy little coronation of King Charles VII; for her efforts, after a corrupt trial, Joan was convicted of heresy and burned alive. For those not familiar of her yet, you can start your Joan of Arc rabbit hole here and here!

To give an abridged history of her, Joan was born around 1412 and was the daughter of a farmer, Jacques d’Arc, and the pious Isabelle Romée, and grew up in the village of Domrémy, in northeastern France. She was illiterate but grew up faithful to God and the Catholic Church. At 13, she began to hear voices and believed them to be those of God and saints, and those voices gave her a mission (her call to adventure): save France and install Charles as its rightful king. While she did not actually fight in the battlefield, Joan served as a military strategist and leader — with cropped hair (thank her for the bob cut) and men’s clothing — and led the French to many victories, most notably fending off the Siege of Orléans in 1429. She led the French and escorted Charles to Reims, took resisting towns, and enabled his coronation in July 1429. In the spring of 1430, by order of the newly coronated King Charles VII, Joan confronted a Burgundian assault on Compiègne, where she was thrown off her horse, left outside the town’s closing gates, and taken as a captive.

She was, in a politically motivated trial, tried for 70 charges conjured up against her — these included heresy, witchcraft, and dressing like a dude — and, after a year in captivity and under the threat of immediate execution, she signed an abjuration in which she denied ever receiving divine guidance, a seeming saving grace that reduced her sentence to perpetual imprisonment. Days later, though, she defied orders by donning men’s clothing once again, which led to her death sentence.

On the morning of May 30, 1431, at the age of 19, Joan was burned at the stake.

King Charles VII made no attempt in negotiating her release.

Twenty years later, when he felt it was safe to do so, Charles VII did eventually clear her name. She was canonized by Pope Benedict XV in 1920 and is now the patron saint of France.

Whether you see her as a dangerously devout follower of God, as a witch with demonic visions, or simply as a psychotic individual, prone to hallucinations and delusions, Joan rarely wavered in her personal convictions. Reared in a strict Catholic household and society, her story was hammered into my head, with the moral lesson, of course, being, “Stay faithful to God.” What I got from it, though, was to find a good green hill to die on. So she is one of my heroes not strictly because of her devotion to God but her devotion to what she believed was a good cause, and because of her willpower to not just see her percieved mission through but hold onto her beliefs after conviction, ostracism, and as she burned at the stake. In a structural sense, she can also fit very well into the Hero’s Journey, as defined by Joseph Campbell: she accepted her call to adventure (though she did do so without much reported debate); she left the familiar (an actual farm, in this case — amazing) and ventured into the unknown, unconscious realm of war; she was captured and imprisoned (her first ordeal, step eight); finally, she passed her final test by recommitting to her beliefs in the cross-dressing that led to her death sentence, she literally died, and she was then resurrected in the clearing of her name and eventual canonization, returning to the world with the elixirs of faith, feminism, and fearless conviction.

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Born in 1812, Clara Barton was the nurse who founded the American Red Cross after teaching herself how to care for patients. Aside from founding the American Red Cross, she is mainly known for helping wounded soldiers during the American Civil War. I find her commitment to providing medical care extremely inspiring, but also the way in which she provided that care. Not only did she help wounded soldiers, she also cared for them in a more personal way, often reading to them, transcribing letters for their families, and talking with them while they were recovering from their injuries. For that reason, I see Clara Barton as a selfless person on the macro (founding the Red Cross) and micro (forming personal relationships with patients) scales.

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In 480 BCE, King Leonidas led an army of 300 Spartan warriors against the Persian army of King Xerxes at narrow pass of Thermopylae. Despite being vastly outnumbered, Leonidas and his men held them off for 3 days, killing thousands of Persian soldiers. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a happy ending. Persians were able to outflank the Greeks and conquer the pass. Leonidas and his men died in their last stand, which allowed the remaining Greek forces to retreat. Their sacrifice wasn't in vain. The following year, the Greek forces defeated the Persians. King Leonidas is a hero to me because he represents bravery, sacrifice, loyalty, courage, honor, resistance against tyranny, and unity. His legacy lives on in modern-day books, art, literature, and films.

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Princess Diana Born July 1, 1961 – Died August 31, 1997

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Princess Diana married King Charles III on July 29, 1981. Despite joining the British royal family, she became known around the world not just for her title, but for her extraordinary empathy, compassion, and courage. As someone under the royal family, she was meant to be under strict rules; however, she used her title not for personal gain but to bring awareness and help the vulnerable and ignored subjects that were often kept hidden or considered taboo. Advocating for the children, helping the sick, and the poor. She was committed to humanitarian causes, such as issues like HIV/AIDS, leprosy, and homelessness, when many people were afraid or ignored these issues. In a powerful moment that shocked the world, she shook hands with AIDS patients without gloves, showing that compassion matters more than fear. Even after divorcing Prince Charles, she continued to use her title to help others. Showing that heroism isn’t about a title but the purpose one serves. Diana is a hero I learned about when I was younger, and her story inspired me to lead with kindness and empathy. Her symbol of courage and compassion continues to influence the world today, especially in the lives of many young boys and girls. "I don't go by the rule book... I lead from the heart, not the head" -Princess Diana.

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In 2012, Miriam's daughter would be held hostage by the cartel and a ransom would be demanded for her daughters return. Despite providing the amount, her daughter was never returned, and it wasn't until her remains were found in 2014 when the mother would receive some form of certainty to her daughter's whereabouts. Such a tragic event would leave anybody feeling defeated, but not Miriam - it would ignite a fire inside her that would not allow her to wallow. With the help of police and locals, she would spend the next couple of years tracking down members of the Cartel responsible for her daughter's disappearance. She was able to locate them which led to the arrest of ten of those members. Unfortunately, on May 10th, 2017 (Mother's day in Mexico) Miriam would suffer 12 gunshot by unidentified gunmen in a home invasion. Her story is a testament of bravery and through her efforts she was able to inspire many - deserving the title of Hero.

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Henrietta Lacks was born in August of 1920, was a standard tobacco farmer throughout most of her life, moving with her husband, Day Lacks, in 1941, to work at a Steel Plant to assist in World War 2. Later, after moving, she found a small knot in her stomach, and, after hemorrhaging when giving birth, discovered she had a previously misdiagnosed strain of cancer, where she received radium tube inserts to treat it. The reason that she is a hero to me, is because of her donation to science, two samples of her cells were extracted from her, one of healthy tissue, and one of cancerous. These became the first immortalized human cell line, and one of the most crucial cell lines in medical history.

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If by the end of this story, you don't love this man, there's probably something wrong with you.

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Robert Smalls was born a slave in South Carolina in the 1830s. Being an enslaved black child, there weren't many opportunities in life for young Robert. His mother made do anyway, convincing their master to send him at the young age of 12 to the big city of Charleston to work as a paid laborer. He drifted between a few jobs as the demand for workers waxed and waned, and eventually found his way to the docks, and then as crew on boats. Although slaves at the time weren't allowed to bear the title of "helmsman", he was regularly given the opportunity to be at the helm of the boats he was assigned to.

When the American Civil War broke out, Robert was put behind the wheel of the CSS Planter, a Confederate transport ship. Now in his 20s and married, Smalls had no interest in helping slavers keep his people in chains, and wanted to get his friends and family up North to freedom. And so, with the help of the other slaves aboard the Planter, he hatched a little scheme. As the white officers left the ship to spend their nights in comfort on dry land, Smalls asked permission to allow the slave crew's families onboard, just for a little while, to boost their morale. The Confederate officers agreed, and so the CSS Planter steamed away from Charleston and to the North, where the Union navy awaited.

It wasn't easy. They had to pretend to send their families home, only to smuggle them back aboard stowing away on a smaller boat that docked with the Planter; then they had to get past several Confederate-controlled forts, which Robert Smalls, having steered the Planter for long enough to know how to get past their checkpoints by giving the right signals, was able to convince to allow them to pass. He even wore the captain's uniform and a hat made of straw that was designed to look like the captain's hat from a distance.

The CSS Planter reached the Union naval lines, raised a white flag, and presented the ship, its enslaved crew, its logbooks, his own knowledge of where the Confederates had laid mines in the waters around Charleston, and the ship's guns and ammunition for the Union to reclaim. And so Robert Smalls, his family, and his compatriots and their families were freed.

Smalls continued to serve as a pilot, now aboard Union ships as a free man, and fought against the South for the remainder of the war. Though he was never officially recorded as a member of the United States Navy, he was eventually granted - after much hand-wringing by his so-called superiors - the same pension as a retired Navy captain.

After the war, Smalls decided being a legend multiple times over wasn't enough, and proceeded to return to South Carolina, buy his former slave master's house, owned and operated a business specifically to service freed slaves, and was even elected to the House of Representatives.

Three times.

Robert Smalls was a national hero, and I wish more people knew his name.

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King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem (1161–1185), known as the Leper King, ruled the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem from 1174 until his death. Diagnosed with leprosy as a child, he was never expected to live long, yet he displayed remarkable courage and leadership. Educated by William of Tyre, Baldwin succeeded his father Amalric I at only 13 years old. I would say he a hero because he demonstrated courage and leadership despite suffering from leprosy, a disease that would have left most incapacitated. Rather than withdrawing, he defended his kingdom with determination, even personally leading troops in battle. Baldwin also prioritized the kingdom’s survival by arranging succession despite internal rivalries. His strength, resilience, and devotion in the face of illness made him a symbol of bravery during the Crusades. Baldwin IV died in 1185 at just 24. Though his reign was short, his courage delayed Jerusalem’s fall to Saladin and left him remembered as one of the most heroic figures of the Crusades.

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Saint Maximillian Kolbe was a Catholic priest during WW2. He lived a life of prayer, humility, and servitude. Something I deeply admire. He founded the Militia of the Immaculate which was a group in order to help spread the word of Christ. He was a publisher and a missionary. The most impactful thing he did to make him someone I deeply revere in every way was his ultimate sacrifice. After being imprisoned in Auschwitz for his resistance of Nazi ideology, he continued to spread the word of God. It was here where he witnessed a fellow prisoner, Franciszek Gajowniczek, sentenced to death. He offered himself to take his place. This complete and utter act of selflessness all for the glory of God is truly what makes him someone I revere with my whole heart. He sacrificed his life, for someone else because he knew he was doing a good thing. That is someone I want to strive to be like.

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Born: April 20, 1916, Pilsen, KS - Died: May 23, 1951 (Age 35 yrs), Pyoktong Country, North Korea.

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Capt. Emil Joseph Kapaun was a Catholic priest and martyr who served as an Army chaplain during World War II and the Korean War. Emil J. Kapaun served as a chaplain in the Burma Theater of World War II and later in the US Army during the Korean War, where he was captured. Father Kapaun demonstrated his courage on the battlefield by helping those who were injured, even when being shot at by the enemy. During the Battle of Unsan in November 1950, facing an onslaught of Chinese and Korean troops, American forces were heavily outnumbered. His commanders ordered an evacuation, but he chose to stay to help the wounded and the dying. Father Kapaun negotiated a deal with an injured Chinese officer for a safe surrender. All US troops were forced to walk to a Korean P.O.W. camp. Father Kapaun inspired the injured and helped carry the wounded. He would always sacrifice his own well-being to help those in need, but he would later die doing what he loved most: providing solace to those fighting and giving aid and comfort to the wounded or dying. Father Kapuan is a heroic figure to me because he did something not many people are willing to do: he was willing to risk his life and die for those in need.

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Out of all the people that could be called heros, I would have to give Frida Kahlo the recognition for the influence shes had on my life and many others. Frida Kahlo was an artist in every sense of the word. She lived a life of great meaning despite her health challenges, and achieved acclaim by harnessing her life's toughest moments into beautiful works of art. She existed in a time and place where it was tough for anyone to exist let alone as a early victim of polio, a communist and mixed race woman. She took those all in stride and saved the way for people that feel like they don't have a place. She didn't need to find a place and proved that she can make her own, doing what she wanted in spite of the people who simply labelled her as " Diego Rivera's wife."

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Li Qingzhao or 李清照, often called the most talented woman of all ages, is a hero to me because she used poetry to express emotions in a society that often dismissed women’s voices. Living in China during the Song dynasty (1084-1155), she went through personal losses such as destruction of her home. However, she transformed her grief into pieces of poetry that are still celebrated for their beauty and depth today. To me, that is heroic because she proved that women’s voices are not only worthy of attention but can also have timeless impact.

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Bass Reeves is a hero to me because he represents courage, resilience, and justice. Born into slavery in 1838, he escaped during the Civil War and went on to make history as one of the first Black deputy U.S. marshals west of the Mississippi. Despite the racism and dangers of his time, Reeves built a legendary career, arresting more than 3,000 criminals and surviving countless gunfights without ever being wounded. He was known for his intelligence that he used often using disguises and strategy to outsmart fugitives as well as for his integrity, treating people fairly no matter who they were. To me, what makes him heroic is not just his skill with the law, but his character. Reeves rose above the barriers of his era to embody strength, justice, and dignity, leaving behind a legacy that still inspires today.

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Desmond Doss was an American soldier remembered for his actions during World War II, becoming a hero for his exceptional bravery and selflessness. As a conscientious objector, he refused to carry or use a weapon due to his religious beliefs, but he still fulfilled his duty as a combat medic. During the Battle of Okinawa, his presence was crucial, as he saved the lives of at least 75 wounded soldiers, carrying them to safety under enemy fire. For this incredible act, he became the first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor. What makes Doss truly heroic was not only his bravery, but also his unwavering commitment to saving lives without taking any.

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Artemisia Gentileschi is a hero to me in the feminist scene. I read a book earlier this year called The Passion of Artemisia by Susan Vreeland. It’s historical fiction, but it followed her life story with considerate accuracy. She was an Italian painter born during the 17th century. Raped by her father’s friend and then humiliated and tortured in court, she marries a man and is forced to flee from her city. She’s a hero by my definition because she does not let society confine her; she pursues painting despite living during a time where female painters were unaccepted. She’s denied multiple times by patrons and clans and her own husband grows jealous of her artistry. Despite her hardships, Artemisia continues to pursue art and without fault she achieves recognition.

Not only does she continue to pursue art, but she’s bold in her choice to depict women in a different light. In my favorite (and arguably her most famous) artwork of hers, Judith Slaying Holofernes (1612-1623), Artemisia captures Judith as strong, determined, and aggressive. Artemisia’s Judith is prepared to slay Holofernes. In other works, such as Caravaggio’s, Judith is dainty, elegant, and seemingly unfit for the job. She looks like she was pasted into the painting for the sake of being a sight to behold.

Artemisia is a hero because not only did she pursue her passion in world of scorn and sexism, she told a story of womanly strength and resilience through her art that many men disregarded. Artemisia stayed true to herself throughout hardships and fought for her internal justice.

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Welles Crowther, only 24 at the time of the 9/11 attacks, helped save as many as 18 people before the South Tower had collapsed. As only a volunteer firefighter, Crowther was able to save multiple lives, guiding people down the stairs to lead rescue efforts. His act of bravery ended up taking his life, as he was found months later underneath the rubble. He had died while assisting emergency workers in an attempt to rescue. What makes Welles Crowther heroic was his bravery to take on rescue efforts while putting himself at risk. His quick thinking and selflessness saved countless lives, making Crowther a lasting symbol of bravery and a hero.

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Esther, named Hadassah at birth, is a biblical figure who was chosen to be the new queen and wife of the Persian king, Ahasuerus, due to her remarkable beauty and grace. Important to note is that she is Jewish, and an incident occurs that leads the king to decree that all Jews are to be executed. Esther has been masquerading as a Persian, hiding her Jewish origin, but her adoptive father, Mordecai, comes to her and pleads for her to save her people. At first she is frightened and hesitant, but she eventually agrees, stating, "if I perish, I perish."

Esther is a hero due to her courage to act even when it feels like she might be able to escape unharmed—her fear could have kept living in secrecy, yet still lavishly as a queen. But she risked her life twice to stop the genocide of the Jewish people in Persia: first, by going to speak to the king without being summoned (an act punishable by death), and secondly by revealing her Jewish origins to him (knowing he had just called for her people to be eliminated). Though her beauty is what initially places her in this position, it is her character that moves her to the status of a hero; Esther seizes agency within her circumstances and thus succeeds in saving both her people and moral standing.

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Simo Häyhä, also known as the White Death, was a Finnish sniper during the Winter War who became a hero for his extraordinary skill and patriotism. Despite being heavily outnumbered and facing brutal winter conditions, he persevered and defended his homeland against overwhelming odds. What makes him heroic is not only his power and effectiveness but also his humility he expressed sorrow about the lives he had to take, showing the weight of his duty. His story embodies courage, sacrifice, and the moral struggles of a true hero.

Simo Häyhä: Reiven Embrador