My Brother, Chad

Chad playing guitar. (personal photo)

He’s 22 and attends a local community college. He drives a turquoise Pontiac and plays guitar every so often to let loose. You might say he looks like a nerd, and his glasses won’t disprove your beliefs. All the obvious signs point to the typical guy who took a year off from high school, and decided college “wasn’t right” for him. He even lives at home and particularly loves to watch Family Guy.

What you don’t know about him is that he’s my hero, and though he hasn’t found his claim to fame quite yet, he’s the most interesting person I’ve ever met. He doesn’t make miracles happen, and hasn’t found the answer to a complex math problem, but he embodies traits that you wouldn’t find in just anyone. My hero is my brother, Chad Lewis.

It’s strange to have someone as your hero who you really just began to understand in the last year, but it’s true. He really is my hero. When school gets unbearable, he always has something clever to say, whether it’s just encouragement, or his dry humor telling me to stop being so judgmental. His advice isn’t always something you’d want to hear, but what you need to hear, that nobody else would tell you. His insight is brilliant, and it almost makes me jealous.

Chad acting in a play. (personal photo )

Other than being a great brother, Chad acts in local plays with the Westmoreland Players. So far he’s been in five, and I’ve seen every one. And his band shows? I’ve seen those too. I think it’s really neat to watch him on stage, changing from one character to the next, or jumping around with a bass guitar in his hands. I really admire him for it. But what he does isn’t what makes him my hero; it’s the fact that he’s always there for me when I need him the most.

Hanging out with Chad. (personal photo)

At times we go on random drives together, just to get out of the house. Nothing feels so refreshing as to drive down back country roads with the windows down while listening to Elvis Costello, and being able to see the sun flicker through newly green trees, which we do quite often. He picks me up from my school carpool and volunteers to take me places just because he wants to. Once we went to the berry farm together, just to look at the scenery, and then to the gym to work out. It was a lot of fun, especially when I would have been at home by myself all day. He’s a much needed pick-me-up on an awful day.

Sometimes life gets unbearable, and he’s always there for me even if it’s only to vent about simple problems. Chad gives me advice about lots of things, even if I don’t necessarily ask for it. He makes an effort to get to know me, his younger sister, and I really appreciate it. He treats me like an equal, not a bratty little sister. I guess that’s why he’s my hero, the way he acts and carries himself, his humor, his talents, just everything about him.

My brother Chad is everything I could ever want in a hero, much less a brother.