My Hero

One of the utmost role models in my life is my dad. He’s hardworking, dedicated, caring, and has always wanted the best for us—my sister Randa and I. In my eyes, he’s practically superman without the cape. Of course he has some weaknesses, but there’s mainly nothing that can bring him down. Personally, I have experienced one of his courageous acts.
It was school vacations and my sister and I were bored to death. We were just flipping through the channels trying to find something interesting. We were finally going to give up when, suddenly, my parents entered the room with a big surprise, “We’re going to Garmisch!” I was so thrilled and couldn’t wait to visit this place I had never been to.

When we arrived, we settled at the campground we were staying and went to this little amusement park. We were going on the last ride, which was like a little rollercoaster--except you rode in your own little cart that you could control with a stick. I wanted to go in the first cart and I kept insisting, but in the end my dad won. So my dad went first, I went second, and Randa went third. We went up the hill and started descending one at a time. When it was my turn, I pushed the stick which sent my cart racing down the tracks. I didn’t really realize that I was the one in control of the cart, and I became kind of nervous. Instead of pulling the stick to slow down, I pushed it even further. The cart was going so fast, and I was freaking out, that I didn’t realize there was a “speed bump” to stop the cart--probably to prevent accidents for people like me who don’t react well in these types of situations. Well, I had to be the exception. My cart slammed against the “speed bump” and I went flying in the air, literally. Thankfully, my dad was at the front. He was the only obstacle that prevented me from smashing into the lot of empty carts that were to follow.

It was a terrifying experience. I remember my mom dropping the camera and running towards me while I was hanging in my dad’s arms, limp and in shock. I know it seems unrealistic, one of those experiences that only happens in movies, but it happened to me. At first I didn’t feel any pain. I actually thought I was unharmed from the incident I had just experienced, but then I moved and proved myself wrong. My whole chest and right arm were red and throbbing in pain. I was laid on the ground, while my mom checked me to see if I had any broken bones. I was sent to the hospital, which coincidently was only 2 minutes away, and was found to have a broken wrist.

I keep thinking how different things would have been if I would have been in the first cart. As I said in my previous essay, things happen for a reason. Thanks to my dad, who was there at the right time, at the right moment, and at the right place, I only broke my wrist and nothing more severe happened to me. It’s funny how so many people say “You are my hero” or “You saved my life” for little favors someone does. But now I can truly say that my dad is my hero.