Daniel Rodriguez

(https://www.hmhco.com/bookstore/authors/Daniel-Rod ())

"'He says stuff like that that sparks you. And he makes you appreciate things more -- we complain and make excuses, but he reminds you that there are people out there risking their lives,"' (Clemmons). Daniel's teammate, Tajh Boyd, clearly appreciates and respects him. Daniel's story has not only touched his friends, but moves everyone who hears it. How could one man touch the lives of the many people I have claimed him to?  Daniel is an exemplary human, possessing commendable traits, one being Daniel's modesty. Despite all of his achievements, Daniel remains humble, and never parades in his victories.  Another noteworthy piece of Daniel is his miraculous ability to stay strong through adversity. No matter what the world throws at him, he handles it with strength and grace. These two traits are essential in a hero, and Daniel's heroism allows him to inspire people with his amazing story.

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Daniel Rodriguez was born on January 8th, 1988. Growing up, he had always been interested in sports, and disinterested in school.  Shortly after Daniel graduated from high school, his father passed away from a sudden heart attack. Overcome with grief,  Daniel enlisted in the Army, seeking some form in his life. He then served two tours of duty, one in Iraq, and one in Afghanistan. On October 3, 2009, Daniel and his comrades were caught in the crosshairs of one of the worst firefights in Afghanistan, the Battle of Kamdesh. For continuing to fight with injuries sustained in his neck, his leg, and his arm, he was awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. Resigning from duty and returning home, he soon fell into a deep state of depression. One night, while reflecting on his past on the battlefield, Daniel recalled a promise he made to his best friend, Kevin Thompson, vowing to someday play college football. Desperate to keep his promise, he decided to take back his life. He enrolled in community college classes, exercised everyday, fixed his diet, maintained his grades, and created a recruitment video. Surprisingly, his video went viral, and he was contacted by hundreds of different teams. After sifting through the invitations he received from various football teams, he chose to go to a college in Ohio named Clemson, where he was accepted as a walk-on (Rodriguez). He later graduated in 2014 releasing his bestselling book, Rise. The coach for NFL team, the Rams, was touched by Rodriguez's story and invited him to a pre-season practice; the following weekend, he was signed onto the team (Myles Simmons). For someone to be a hero, they must have an unpretentious nature, and be able to overcome obstacles.  Daniel Rodriguez is humble, and is enduring, effectively making himself a hero.

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One commendable aspect of Daniel is his modest nature. Instead of parading in his accomplishments, he takes the time to relish his friends and his family. In fact, in his book Rise, before he begins with his story, he takes the time to make a total of twenty-nine acknowledgments (Rodriguez). Yes, the people he acknowledged had an impact on who he is today, but he denies to credit himself as well. He worked himself to the bone to overcome his depression and accomplish his dreams. He refuses to realize he would not be where he is today without his own efforts. By withholding recognition from himself, he became the utter definition of humbleness. His self-effacing persona is displayed further through his philosophy towards opportunities; "'I can't be discouraged if the door closes. I've got to look at it as they missed out on an opportunity if that day comes, and just keep moving forward. Stay positive"' (Farmer). Daniel never expects anything from the world, and he accepts that fate is unpredictable. He understands if he is not going to get an opportunity; instead of lashing out or feeling entitled, he works even harder than before, "'What I don't ever get down on is what I can't control. And I can't control what the coaches' decisions are. I can control being the first one out on the field. I can control being the last one here. Taking mental reps on the sideline as if I'm the starter...'" (Farmer). Rodriguez never gets angry when things do not go to plan. He embraces life as it comes and doesn't anticipate any prosperity, greatly regarding every opportunity he receives. He believes his own life holds no less value than any other human. Through being humble, Daniel proves his worth as hero.

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Another part of Daniel that makes him heroic is his ability to endure through tough situations. When Daniel served in the Army, he experienced many occurrences of death. One firefight however, would change his life forever. On October third, 2009, Daniel and his crew were caught in the Battle of Kamdesh. Out of the sixty Americans involved, eight died and twenty-two were injured. Daniel fell among the twenty-two injured, while his best friend, Kevin Thompson, was not so lucky. Daniel watched his best friend die, quite literally, at his feet. To avoid the same fate as his best friend, Rodriguez continued to fight (Rodriguez). "Afterward, Rodriguez was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He was evacuated to a U.S. base in Afghanistan for medical treatment and given the option to go home. But Rodriguez, who achieved the rank of Sergeant during his time in the Army, chose to stay another five months to finish his tour" (Clemmons).  Deciding to go back to the place where he had experienced the most traumatic event in his life is nonsensical. He had already been awarded for his bravery, so a reason to continue his tour was not evident. His strange choice shows his miraculous ability to conquer anything. This pattern continues even after he was discharged. Once he resigned from duty, he soon cascaded into a deep depression. He became an alcoholic, and brooded (Clemmons). One night, as he held a gun to his head, he came to a realization regarding his situation, pronouncing, "'It was just one of those things where I felt that if I had any purpose in life, I needed to make sure that I kept my word to a friend, and live my life in a way that honored those who had died ... I needed to make sure that I represented myself well on behalf of my friends who were killed. And that was just trying to live through a promise.'" (Myles Simmons). His change of heart not only saved his own life, but many others in the process. Armed with his past experiences, he endured through this rough, emotional time and lived on to become who he is today. His enduring nature allowed him to conquer the consequences that came with enrolling in the Army.

Through his humbleness and enduring nature, Daniel exudes heroism. Daniel's denial to put himself on a pedestal and, his knack for overcoming any adversity, have elevated him to a level where he can inspire people around the world. Daniel serves as a light in the darkness for veterans. Going to war can be the most traumatic event that can happen in a person's life. Daniel proves that what happens to a person in the war zone does not determine who the person is after war, demonstrating how life can continue on and off the battlefield. Daniel's influence as a hero can reach the large demographic of scarred veterans through his book, or through the media coverage he has received over the years (Military Suicide Research Consortium). Daniel never expected to be a hero, but his enduring nature and humble attitude make him an inspiration to veterans who struggle with mental health. He is a hero, even away from the war zone.