Tom Burns

My hero is Tom Burns, or as I refer to him: Tommy. As a cousin on my mother’s side, I have grown up in his wake. He has been an inspiration to how I live, run, strive academically, and has shown me that despite popular belief with the utmost determination, no dream is too high. Tommy is determined in every aspect of his life, and I have attempted to, as such become equally determined in every facet of my life. He has not just become an inspiration; he emanates as a positive role model who has molded me as a strong, morally sound individual with a dream.

Tommy runs the steeple chase; however, he ran the 1600 and 3200 in high school. Upon his college admission (not initially by scholarship), he obtained a scholarship by running for Indiana University as a walk on. While at cross country camp, the coaches explained that he was too slow in the 1600. Never one to live with bad news, he set his sights on the steeple chase, an endurance track race that consists of hurdles and a water pit. Tommy has even run in the NCAA championships and is currently training for the Olympic trials in the steeple chase. For the 2004 summer Olympics, Tommy just missed making the time trials by hundredths of a second due to a cold; however, he knows that he is beyond capable of breaching that time and has decided to train for the Olympics again. This stamina to keep working has shown me how a good work ethic can propel you through your life. As such, I have met, faced, hurdled (no pun intended), and been broken by running; however, I consistently attempt to improve my speed, endurance, and mental strength throughout my running as well as my life. I would not have this drive if it were not for Tommy, my hero.

In a matter of fact, Tommy just recently, as of September, married his long time girlfriend to whom he kept and maintained a long distance relationship. While most people surrender, he has shown that anything is possible as long as you stay faithful, and determined. It is easy to see that running has become a metaphor for his life as well as mine. With enough determination, and work you can surmount an obstacle of any magnitude; an accomplishment not possible without either of those qualities.

Every year my family and I would journey to “Chicago, Indiana” either by plane or car. My mother’s family resides there, and most of them still do. While visiting, there is always one cousin in particular who I would look up to, observe, and strike inspiration. Tommy is the type of person who no matter how much the world decides to say that something isn’t plausible to smile at the situation and push on through in every aspect of his life. I have taken what I have learned from Tommy and have used it to better my own life. I have become determined in every aspect of my life because of Tommy. Academically, I have strived to get the grades I want by putting forth the effort and realizing that having a dream to work towards will help drive me along. All the while it has helped me to develop a precise, silent presence in my military life and hold myself with a sense of pride and honor; a higher standard. I have never known a person who really could do anything he put his mind to. While in college he became an expert at billiards and at the same time learned the guitar all while juggling academics, sports, and a personal life.

All of the time I have spent with my older cousin, I have never, not even once, seen him get angry with another person. It is almost as if joy emanates from him; it affects everyone around him. I’m not saying that he has never gotten angry before as that is a basic human emotion, but Tommy has never gotten angry in front of me. He has always been there to make others smile rather than frown and has been a positive role model in my life: academically, running, music, personally, etc. Laughter is contagious; ergo, my cousin is contagious. This is a good thing though, because if Tommy was not a cheerful person to be around, then odds are I would have missed something in my own life. Even when the world decides to take a turn for the worst, Tommy is still capable of being upbeat and optimistic; you can’t knock him down and keep him there, because he will just get right back up no matter what. It is this absolute moral integrity to forgive and be happy that has truly made my cousin my hero.