“Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist,” is one of Tony Starks most iconic quotes, but not necessarily his most meaningful at first sight. However, I find great comfort in this quote. It shows that Tony Stark is not a stereotypical hero like perhaps Steve Rogers. Rather he is a normal, well maybe not normal since we are not all billionaires, but a regular person who became a hero when he realized the world needed change, and he had the power to change it for the better. Tony’s biggest accomplishment is becoming a better more selfless person and creating a new goal. I am like that. I’m constantly evolving and finding who I am and what I want to do.
When I was young I wasn’t a big fan of change because I saw it as something negative. Change to me meant leaving my family, moving homes, living in a different country or my mom getting diagnosed with a brain tumor. Moving indicated having to make new friends and learn a new language. It signified not spending as much time with my cousins. My mom’s tumor represented having to leave without my mom or dad for a few months. At the moment where everything in your life is changing, it becomes hard to look on the bright side of things.
However, looking back, I realize I would not be who I am now if none of these things had happened to me. And, honestly, I like who I’ve become. Like Tony, I’ve overcome adversity. While I didn’t have to build my way out of imprisonment, I did have to build my way out of the hardships life threw at me. I had to learn how to be with people who thought differently. I had to grow up faster, become more mature and responsible, so my mom could recuperate from her surgery. Overcoming these challenges influenced who I am today, and it made me realize change can be good.
Now, who am I? How have I changed? I used to be a little more selfish and solely focused on how my grades define me. As I’ve grown up, I’ve started to prioritize doing what I love and following my passions rather than working for others. My mom’s surgery demonstrated how it’s important to do what makes you happy because as cheesy as it sounds, life can change in a second. I now prioritize my mental health. I take “hard” classes because I love studying and I am interested in the subject, not necessarily because I’m expected to.
Furthermore, enduring pain and struggles has led me to be more empathetic. I’m constantly trying to do the right thing. I follow my morals, and most of all, I’m loyal. I’m always there for people. I know the importance of having someone be there for you, of knowing you’re not alone, so I try to be that for people. Something that has continually grown and taken part in my life is my passion for societal issues. It’s one of the reasons I joined HRC during high school, and why I want to become a forensic scientist. I desire to improve this world, make it one where there is justice and where everyone can co-exist. Throughout my life, I’ve grown into a caring, loyal, passionate, responsible, and overall better person.
The wonderful thing about life is that it’s always teaching, and we get to keep learning. We get to learn from mistakes, experiences, books, and as humans, we get to evolve. I was someone who feared change, but I’ve gotten to see the beauty of it. I’ve glimpsed how the unexpected can change you for the better, and nowadays, I value change. It is essential. The world needs change– to improve and be interesting. By enduring challenges and growing from them, Tony Stark became a hero, and I continue to become the best version of myself.
