Always one of a kind, Blake Reynolds.

Thinking of you today, as I am about to leave for my culinary internship. I couldn't have asked for more support from this guy, to follow my dreams! Before summer began, I called him up and asked him to help me with my Hero Essay for English. I had to call up three interviewees. I hadn't talked to Blakers forever. I had been in Denver for so long!

"AMY!! WHAT IS UP!!" We just started laughing, catching up, bringing up old times and discussing the hero archetype! And everything he had said a hero was, well....he was! He wished me luck with Disney and was so proud of me! "Disney? That is awesome "Chef Amy"!!" haha! I was like "Blake I am no where near Chef level yet!" Blake- "Well judging by your pictures it looks like you are pretty dang close!" That is just what I needed to hear. As a culinary student, competition is fierce and Chef's can really get to ya!

Austin, Blake, Jozi and I were to go to the movie, "After Earth", this summer. Like old times! Everyone called in busy, however, Blake said he would wait for the late one. But, I had work in the morning and didn't feel like going so late. I was so angry at myself. I held this in for so long. Another reason why I kept crying at night! But, then one day before work, I started laughing and looked up into the sky and said, "Yeah, I know, you wouldn't have liked the movie anyways!" haha! It wasn't that great I sure miss you! And we will get lunch in Heaven. And if we don't eat food in Heaven, we are totally having a campfire! Love ya bud. You still inspire me. I can't wait to spread the laughter and stories wherever I go. My goal is to influence and inspire people all around by sharing friendship, kindness, support, hugs and HIGH FIVES! I will try my best to make you proud up there! I am so nervous for my culinary future, but thinking of you gives me strength!

Last day of Culinary Labs!

Ride on buddy!

Life is short! INSPIRE PEOPLE! BE THERE FOR PEOPLE! LOVE PEOPLE! DON'T BE SHY!!!!!!

Here is the Essay, ( Can you guess the hero, defined by Blake? :P )

Karst1

Amy C. Karst

Professor Denrow

ENG1020

03/19/2013

Defining Heroes

I was able to collect distinctive information from three unique individuals through a survey of similar questions. After researching and reading many scholarly articles over heroes and mythologies, I concluded that a hero travels through similar stages during quests, prevents injustice and imbalance with the help of a mentor, restores society and returns home after discovering fate. So, I decided to ask questions that could give me a different vision as to what defines a hero. I was seeking a unique interpretation out of a box of cliché’s.

First question; If you could define a hero without thinking of the characteristics of the heroes through myths and stories, how would you define a hero? Second question; In modern American society, why is the term hero so widely used and important and can this hero differentiate from the heroes of myths? These questions forced the interviewee to pause and think. One individual stated that a hero must overcome adversity, put others before themselves and inspire others to do the same. In American society the idea of a hero is always changing due to diversity. A hero applies to different backgrounds of individuals.

Another individual stated that a hero is within all of us. A hero can rise to the occasion with or without planning or preparing. For instance, a firefighter will run into a fire, a soldier will make a last minute decision to step up after a leader has died on the battlefield, a young kid can save a friend from drowning and an individual can stand up for what’s right. It takes one brave

Karst2

soul. Americans can either be part of the problem or solution. They can either ignore a situation or stand up to it.

The last interviewee stated that a real hero should not drive on accomplishments but more on characteristics. A hero should help an individual prosper through wise guidance and advice. In modern day America the hero is more important than ever before. A hero can be found in schools, streets, authorities and homes. There is no need for a hero to accomplish each heroic stage, seek power and prizes, or reach out to a mass of people for personal gain.

In conclusion, from myths and stories, a hero was subconsciously implanted in all of us, but in different ways. In America, a hero is someone who stands up for what is right, acts without seeking fame and glory, helps restore and balance society by serving the country and gives back to the community through random acts of kindness, braveness and fearlessness. The hero can be traced back to the very beginning of myths and stories, but as the world changes the hero changes and the American hero will change as America changes.

Karst3

Works Cited

1. Sullivan, Michael P., and Anre Venter. "Defining Heroes Through Deductive and Inductive Investigations." The Journal of Social Psychology (2010): n. pag. Print.

2. Reynolds, Blake