Matthew Mason

What makes a hero to me is someone who is self-disciplined and someone who loves with all that they have. That is something that my dad, Matt Mason, has. He is my hero because he is an awesome parent because he is so kind, honest, understanding, and self-disciplined.

As a child he lived with his parents and sister in Tennessee. He says his life was fun and exciting. He has told me stories of how he used to jump his bike into the lake off the docks, and how he used to ride his old jon-boat down the Tennessee River. His childhood hero was his grandfather because he did just about everything with him, mainly fishing and golfing. He spent almost everyday of the summer at his grandfather’s house on the lake. He learned most of what he uses today from him.

Now he is 36 years old and lives in North Carolina. He is a wonderful husband and father of two sons and a daughter. He says the scariest part of being a dad is the problems of raising kids, mostly behavioral problems. When asked what is the best part of being a dad he said “I love to watch my kids succeed in everything they do.” He worries about supplying the needs of the family. He says that it is the hardest part of being a father. I asked him what keeps him motivated to help his kids throughout everything in their lives and he replied “God keeps me motivated beyond all other things to help them throughout their entire lives.” He says his kids are very wild and out of control so I asked how can he stay so patient with them. He said “because I know that they are going through life lessons that will hopefully help them later on in life.” He says having children brought much more responsibility to his life that he was not sure that he was ready for, but it actually came natural to him.

Outside of the house he has a job as a production leader at a welding company and he likes it a lot. I asked him what keeps him motivated to work like he does on a shift that last from 10 A.M., to 10 P.M. and he said “my children keep me motivated while I am at work.” He is also a Christian and goes to Pleasant Garden Baptist Church. He tries his best to make sure we are there for every youth event and every service. “My children influence my life, through their relationships with God and what they do at church.”

He cares deeply for those around him and has everything under control when no one else does. If that’s not a hero, then I don’t know what is. Throughout his life he has done what everyone should do, love, work, and live. That is what makes him my hero.