Striking good looks.  Sturdy, commanding voice. Undeniable knack for adventure. Quick wit. These are a few of the defining qualities attributed to the archetype most people imagine when they think of ‘A Hero’. However, consider the concept of ‘Your Hero’, and the archetype dissolves. This is because real life heroes come in many different forms.  In my experience, it is often not the strong, handsome, daring cadet that captivates your heart and spirit, but rather the middle-aged school teacher, the responsible older brother, or even simply the long time friend. Personal heroes change as you grow, and as your perspectives change. I could ask a hundred children who their personal hero was, and I‘d bet that at least seventy of them would give a response along the lines of Batman. On the other hand, if I asked a hundred adults the same question, I would never hear the same story twice (Although, I may still hear Batman from a few).  As children, we perceive heroes as fantastical caricatures of fundamental virtues, but as we grow, we begin to see that in reality, the heroes are ‘ordinary’ people. The people that effect us and inspire us.

Now for me, things have been a little unorthodox: I’ve been raised in the second floor of a theater owned and run by my father since I was four.  All my life I’ve been surrounded by the extraordinary people who have worked and performed with my father. I grew up with these people as family, but one person in particular always stuck out in my mind. Fritz Grobe has practically been a part of the theater since the very beginning.

My father met Fritz during his time studying at a performing arts hub called the Celebration Barn Theater. They were both pursuing similar performance styles, physical comedy, improvisation, juggling, etc. They became very close friends, and when my father decided he wanted to own a theater, Fritz was right on board with him. When I was young, Fritz was an uncle figure in my eyes.  He seemed to be on a parallel plane with my father, and he was around for the majority of my childhood. As I grew up, I began to realize that Fritz was one of the most extraordinary people I knew. He had won world class juggling competitions numerous times, he had traveled the world with a professional circus troupe, he started the diet Coke and Mentos internet phenomenon, breaking several records around the world in the process, and had accomplished countless other incredible achievements. Whenever Fritz sets out to do something, the way in which he carries it out still awes me. Fritz has a way of carefully considering all elements of a project, and doing so with unwavering determination. Whether he is writing a theatrical piece, or heading up a video project, Fritz always manages to inject passion and  enthusiasm into his work.

I had always held Fritz in reverence, but it wasn’t until I became interested in a career in performance that I started to truly acknowledge his brilliance. I began working with Fritz  in order to develop my performance skills more, and it was with his help I managed to be accepted into the traveling youth circus, Circus Smirkus. It is the intensity with which Fritz critiques my work, and at the same time the comfortable laxness of our writing sessions that make me want to work with him much more in the future.

Of all the people in my life, I consider Fritz’s opinion to be the most valuable, regardless of what topic it concerns. I often feel as though it wouldn’t matter what I was trying to accomplish, Fritz would be able to offer his input, and make the process that much easier, and improve the outcome tenfold. Whenever I succeed, I want Fritz to be the first to know, and his praise holds more weight in my mind than anyone else’s.

I have been extremely lucky to have had Fritz in my life, because I have been able to  learn from him so directly. Having grown up around him, too, has created a bond between us that surpasses all social barriers; Fritz is like a family member, so I can talk with him like a family member. My relations with him do not feel like ordinary altercations between a teenager and an adult; we treat each other as equals, and there is no hierarchy between us. We share many similar interests, from life goals to movies and television, and in this way it seems we are more two good friends, as opposed to mentor and student.

It is because of Fritz that when I delve into a goal, no matter how mundane it may seem, I try to find passion and individuality in the process. As obstacles and challenges present themselves to me in life, I endeavor to persevere in the ways that I have observed in Fritz. I hope that as I transition into adulthood, and throughout my adult life, I am able to go about pursuing my aspirations with conviction and devout ardor, and conquer them in a manner that both represents me as an individual and acts as a model for others.

This essay was submitted Collin Miclon for the December 2010 – Scholarship. See and vote on your favorite essays here.

When asked what he would do with the money, Collin replied: If I were to win the money, I plan to put it towards the tuition cost for my second year of touring with Circus Smirkus Big Top Tour. I plan on becoming a performer when I graduate, and Circus Smirkus is a wonderful place to get a feel for different kinds of performance styles, along with a plethora of invaluable physical skills.