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Danielle Gratton
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Feb. 19, 2006
Throughout the season an Illinois women's basketball player will post her thoughts on fightingillini.com in a weekly blog. This week freshman Danielle Gratton took time out to talk about the thrilling win over Northwestern and the importance of heroes.
Women's BasketBlog - February 19, 2006 - Danielle Gratton
60-59! Talk about a weekday thriller! Congrats to my teammates and the coaching staff on our "W"!! It was well deserved. Steph stepped up, Wigs did her thing, and J came up big. Of course I can't forget to send out a special congrats to Chelsea for her magnificent 3-point play to seal it. She was the hero of the game.
Hmmm....hero.... seems like a good topic for my blog don't you think? Well you don't quite get a say in the matter so here it goes...
Everyone has a hero. When we were little kids our heroes were simple. For some it was our parents, who could quite possibly do anything in our eyes. For others, it was firemen or policemen. As we grew up our heroes turned in to Superman, Captain Planet, and maybe even for some, Barney (I love you, you love me!) As we came in to our teenage and young adult years we no longer could call people we looked up to our heroes. For the sake of being seen as immature, we started to refer to them as our role models. It is my belief that everyone needs a hero (notice I have no problem using the term hero to this day, does that mean I am immature?) We all, no matter what age, need someone that we look up to, that we strive to be. Now don't take me wrong. I am not saying we should lose our own identity in the process, that is not the goal. Our goal is to have some direction with where we want to go and learn how to get there from people that have already done so.
When people have heroes when they're older there is one big thing that separates them from their heroes of old. When we were younger we thought our parents were perfect and could do no wrong. When we idolized Superman it was because he could do anything. When we wanted to be Captain Planet it was because he could "take pollution down to zero." When we looked up to Barney it was because -- okay I got nothing. My point is all our so-called heroes were people that did no wrong; they were perfect in every sense of the word. However, now, when we are older our heroes are not that of no wrong doing, they are normal humans, more tangible in a sense. I'll openly admit that my hero has flaws, even though it's hard for me to see them. I believe this is because her flaws are hidden by her qualities.
Having a hero close by helps you learn things that otherwise you might not learn for a couple more years. It gives you reason to work harder each and every day. Having a hero makes you do things that you thought never could be done. If you don't have a hero, or for you mature people out there, a role model, why? Do you really think that there is no one out there that can teach you something? Part of growing and maturing is admitting and embracing the fact that there is someone out there that can teach you something. So for that matter I'm not immature, rather I am a mature person who isn't afraid to let the kid in them shine through, much like me hero.
Having a hero gives you knowledge and strength. I have learned so much from my hero. So much, in fact, that if I listed all that I have learned you would no longer be able to see the letters on my keyboard because they'd be so worn from all the typing. My hero is someone that is a perception changer, someone that can spin a negative situation in to a positive. My hero outworks the competition. Her stubbornness and taste for success drives her each and every day. She's my hero. She's my role model, my mentor, someone that has instilled so much in me. For this I am thankful. My only wish is that my hero will look at me one day and know that she is a big part of who I am and for that she should be proud.
So for those people that do have a hero in their life, have you told them how much they have done for you? If you haven't, go do it; after all don't you want them to smile? : )
Don't you love the deep blogs?? haha
Go Illini!!
Danielle Gratton #35
