My hero.......Ahh :)

When most people sit down to ponder who their personal heroes are, most faces that cross their minds are those of much older role models. Most don't realize how peers can sometimes be the biggest heroes of all. My best friend growing up has to be my biggest hero and role model.



It all started on my very first day of 6th grade. I cautiously walked up the steep stairs into the school bus. On the verge of choosing one of the empty seats, a scrawny, freckled, frizzy-headed boy offered me the seat in front of him. At first, I was unsure. The kid seemed a little dorky. At that age, I wasn't the deepest person. This scrawny, freckled, frizzy-headed boy's name was Tanner Heath May. Nevertheless, this day was the beginning of a friendship that would grow into the best relationship I have had with the opposite sex thus far. Remembering back to that day, I am so proud of my little Tanner for coming so far.



He and I lived on the outskirts of our tiny podunk town in southern Indiana within walking distance from each other. Tanner would walk over to my house after school several times during the week. We stuck up for one another and whenever anything interesting happened he always called. We were always together and in some ways, I took this for granted. Now that he is off with the city folk at Franklin College, I realize that I can't ever replace our friendship. However when I start to miss my Tanner, I just remember that true friends are always connected, even when they are apart.



Tanner didn't have the greatest childhood. His relationship with his parents was poor. Growing up, he didn't have the stability of a supportive family. Sometimes I wonder if this is why he pushed himself so hard and kept so busy. I never questioned his seemingly distant relationship with his family. Whenever he was upset about it, I would crack a joke in an attempt to help him forget. Even though Tanner came from a dysfunctional household, he never let it hold him back from becoming everything he wanted to be.



Name any club or sport in our high school and there is a huge chance that Tanner was involved in it in some way. Once he entered high school, our after school "hang out sessions" didn't happen quite so much. To name a few, Tanner was involved in choir, band, Spanish club, B.P.A., graduation committee, prom committee, S.A.D.D., national honor society, yearbook staff, track, swimming, key club, tennis, student government, and the hometown competiveness youth council during high school. I remember the days that he didn't have any meeting, practice, or game after school and he was simply shocked. Thinking back, I don't think he wanted free-time. It meant that he wouldn't have an excusable reason for being away from home. Also, Tanner knew from the beginning that he would not be able to afford college by himself. From the very first day of high school he started preparing to impress colleges and scholarship committees. Constantly worrying about every detail, Tanner was almost obsessive about perfecting his every move in school. I had to calm him down several times when he would frantically run to me, boiling over with emotion about a B+. His ambition, although overwhelming, is something I've always looked up to. A successful person always strives to be their best, and I saw that quality in him very early.



At the end of his senior year, Tanner won the Eli Lily Scholarship. The scholarship awards High School students a full ride to college. When Tanner told me he got the long-awaited phone call, I was so proud that I felt tears start to grip the edges of my eyes. In that moment, I realized what a transformation my scrawny schoolboy friend had made, from a twiggy, auburn-headed boy to a strong, intelligent young man. Put simply, Tanner Heath May is a rags to riches story.



For these reasons, Tanner is truly my personal hero. He inspires me to strive for success and he reminds me to be grateful for everything I have. Altogether, any Hoosier could consider Tanner May a role model. He may not have the wisdom of elderly advice or the power of persuasive politicians but he has the ambition of a young man that will not cave in to failure without a fight.



For a scholarship of $2,000. Leave as is or more background information?