My Father, My Friend, My Hero

As a child, as a teenager, as a young adult and even most recently in a job interview, I have been asked, "Who do you consider to be your hero and why?" As I sit and reflect on the question and the answers I've given over the years, the situation surrounding each inquiry is unclear. But my answer has remained the same, in one variation or the other.

As a child, my answer was solidly, "My Daddy is my hero because he gives me piggy back rides and plays games with me."

As a teenager, my answer was a little less, well, childlike: "My Dad is my hero because he's strong and helps me when I don't know the answer on my homework."

As a young adult, my maturity began to show as I said, "My Pops is my hero because he's in the military and he loves his children and his country even when it doesn't seem like they love him back."

And recently, as I sat in an interview, vying for a position I knew I wasn't qualified for, I was again asked who I consider my hero. Only this time was different; I wasn't quick to answer. It surely wasn't because I didn't know what to say! It was because this time, my heart swelled with pride and I had to choke back the tears before I could confidently give them my answer.

I smiled as I said, "My father is my hero. He always has been, and he always will be. He is the only person that I can trust my heart and soul with, and the only person I can depend on to take away my fear and doubt before they take me away. Beyond putting his own needs aside for my brother and me, he has proudly and honorably served his country for almost 30 years and has sacrificed more for our safety, freedom and daily livelihoods than Hollywood could even try to portray in a two hour feature film. He is a compassionate, yet strong, man that has taught me morals and values that could be surpassed only by the faith he has instilled in me that good people do exist. He has made me who I am today and he is who I can only hope to be in the future."

Answering that question - the same question I had answered many times before - almost felt like an out-of-body experience. I didn't see my interviewers in the room as I spoke. I only saw flashes of memories, a slideshow, of my life; a life that would have been dramatically different without my hero. As I finished speaking, I looked forward and refocused on my immediate surroundings. I saw a woman wiping away tears, a man with his jaw dropped, and a right-out-of-college-know-it-all with bright eyes and a smile on his face. As they stared at me, dumbstruck, the silence became deafening, yet strangely comfortable, and it lasted for what seemed like an eternity. I finally stood up and shook their hands, politely thanking them for their time and the opportunity, and I walked out. They never said a word as I closed the door behind me.

Shortly after my interview, I received three e-mails:

"I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but you gave the best, most honest answer I've ever heard to the hero question. Thank you for sharing that. I can't wait to hug my children a little tighter tonight."

"Interview aside, you are an amazing speaker. I could almost picture you and your father together and I don't even know what he looks like! He truly sounds like an inspiration and I appreciate your candor. Best of luck to you."

"For four years, I've listened to hot air blowing professors try to teach us ethics and values and for four years I felt like something was missing. After hearing you speak today, I know now what it was. Passion. Thank you for believing in what you say."

I didn't get the job. But as a result of the interview, my hero has indirectly touched 3 more lives.

That's enough for me.