A Hero Amoung Us

Everyone has their own personal hero, someone that they look up to, and try to follow after. My hero is my Papaw. My papaw has been not only a father figure in my life, but a coach, a provider, and someone who loves me no matter how bad I seem to screw things up. Through out my life my family and I have been in and out of my mamaw and papaws house, always in and out, coming and going. Through the whole time my papaw has always been there, teaching and coaching me throughout the different experiences in my life; he taught me how to drive, and what to do to get a job. He also helped me in managing and taking care of my car. Though the tough championship games, and long nights of homework, he's always been there for me, encouraging and never letting me quit. He taught me alot about myself, and he, himself, is the best role model I believe a young girl can have. He's a rough man on the outside, weather worn skin from years of hard labor, and sand paper hands show the hardships, but they also show the success. On the inside he's a very moral, and well built man. Always teaching me that I need to work, and be responsible. That no matter what I should be able to take care of myself financially; and that education was the most important thing to acheive. He always thought that hard work was the best thing for people, that it makes them humble, and not think that they are too good to make a hard earned living. His inner side wasnt often seen in public, if anything was seen it was usually his temper; but the heart of this man, my papaw, was pure. Through every hardship that he has ever endured, hes kept the same heart. So caring, and passionate. Once he set his mind to something it would take the devil himself to stop him from doing it. He would always make sure to tell me goodnight, and goodmorning. That he loves me before i left of went to bed. His heart, and will, are the best inspirations to me, he has a drive that makes me want to succeed, and to be like him. To follow in his hard working, but successful footsteps.
He was also my coach for both softball and soccer; and just like my through out my life, he built my skills up there, taught me how to play, and to rely on myself instead of others. He taught me to trust yes, but to only truely rely on one person, myself. My papaws not always been just a big box of smiles though, when it came down to it, he was hard on me. Making sure that his lessons were learned, and not just heard. But all of this, his yelling, coaching, and making me go to work even when I felt like my feet would fall off; all of this has made me stronger. It's made me into the moral, hard working person that I feel I am today. It made strive for big dreams, so as to avoid all the financial stress, and to be able to take care of myself. Everything that he has done for me, everything he has taught me, it made me better; and for him, I am forever grateful. Without my papaw in my life I'm sure that I wouldnt be the same person that I am today, I wouldn't have the same values, and morals that I do, I probably wouldn't of played sports or wanted to work as hard. Because of him, his work, and teachings, and even the kind of person that he is himself, makes me better. I love you Papaw, and you are the best Papaw, provider, teacher, coach, and hero, that I could ever have.