STORIES
Library
DONATE

Tamika Sykes

by Emilie from Pickerington


What is a hero? The dictionary definition of a hero is "A person, typically a man, who is admired for courage or noble qualities." To me a hero is not a person in a cape and tights and defeats all the bad villains. A hero is someone that genuinely tries to work for the greater good. Someone who is honest, trustworthy and good hearted. A hero can also be someone who has overcome difficulties in their life and now uses their knowledge to help others overcome theirs too. A hero is somebody that you look up to in life and want to become just like.

Do I believe it is important to have a hero, yes. Some people may think that they can go through life without heroes however I don't. Heroes are important because heroes that people have show us a better way of living life. Without heroes in your life, it's hard to see the good that can actually be done in this world and the good that we can do also.


In the book The Orange Houses, I was introduced to a character named Tamika Sykes who I believe has many characteristics of a hero. One is that she is a very compassionate person and cares for others, which is proved when she said "Spending that much money on aids is wrong. I'd rather put to helping your sister come over here"(Griffin 64). Another hero characteristic that Tamika portrays is making others feel good about themselves instead of bringing them down, which is what she did when she complimented her friend, Fatima, saying "Your eyes, they're crinkling" (Griffin 79). Also Tamika is a very trustworthy person which is also and important hero characteristic. When she was told " I trust you, I do" (Griffin 81), it proved her trustworthiness to others.

Recently I interviewed Mik, asking her about her perspective on heroes and role models. Here are her responses.
Q: What does being a hero mean to you?
A: I guess being a hero to someone is simply saving them. Either physically or mentally. Someone that either saved you from getting hit by a car or someone that showed you a way out of the crazy drug life.
Q: Who is your personal hero and why?
A: My personal hero will have to be my boy Jimmi Sixes because he literally saved me from being killed by this physco girl and her posse. Not only that but he also took a beating for me too. People think of Jimmi as this crazy ass veteran that is hooked on drugs 24/7, when in reality he's probably the most compassionate person I've met. He didn't let what other people thought of him bring him down. Instead he kept trying to better himself, for his family and to prove everyone else wrong.
Q: Do you think having a good role model is important in life?
A: Oh definitely. Especially where I live, there's not much around here that gives you hope in life. Most people think that they're gonna be stuck in the hood forever. But if you have a good role model, that person can show you that you too can get out of this place and become a better person and be successful. Q: Do you think that there are enough good role models out there?
A: No. A lot of the role models that the kids in my neighborhood look up to, I feel like they cheated they're way to fame and fortune. Celebrities that really got famous because of sex tapes, or reality TV, or scandals, not because of they're talent. But the kids don't see it that way of course. There definitely needs to be some better role models out there.
Q: Who is your celebrity hero?
A: Beethoven. And for the obvious reason too. Even though he was deaf and couldn't hear his music, it didn't stop him from composing music because that was what he loved to do.
Q: What do you think are the three most important characteristics in a hero?
A: Umm I think perseverance, strong-willed, and honesty.
Q: Why do you think heroes are so heavily glorified today?
A: I think they are because they do things that we don't think we can do. So because of that we praise them. I don't think enough heroes get credit for their work though.
Q: Why is that?
A: Because we are so stuck on praising the obvious heroes, someone that saved a person from dying or stopped a plane from catching or a firefighter. But we don't honor those enough who influenced us on doing better in our life or taught us right from wrong. I think they deserve better recognition also.
Q: Some people may consider you to be a hero. Do you consider yourself to be a hero also?
A: Who thinks I'm a hero? I certainly don't think I am. I'm pretty sure I haven't done anything special or influenced anybody in any way, but people believe that I am, then I guess all I can is that I'm honored to be considered one.

Tamika Sykes deserves to be in the Hero Hall of Fame. Even though she is hearing impaired, Mik (as she prefers to be called), did not let that over take her. She uses her amazing murals and paper sculptures to minister to her tough community in Bronx, New York. Every day she is surrounded by drugs and poverty, yet she still kept her eye on her future, her art and getting her education no matter who tried to bring her down. Mik also concentrated on teaching the young children in her neighborhood art, showing then a way stay out of trouble. Mik is not only a hero to her friends and those in her community, but also those who have heard her story and are influenced by it. She may not have swooped down and saved citizens on the brink of death, but she did save people by helping them better their lives.

Page created on 4/11/2011 12:00:00 AM

Last edited 4/11/2011 12:00:00 AM

The beliefs, viewpoints and opinions expressed in this hero submission on the website are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs, viewpoints and opinions of The MY HERO Project and its staff.

Related Links

ASLPro - This relates to my hero because since she is deaf, she must learn sign language in order to help communicate with others.
 

Author Info

When you think of heroes who do you think of? Usually Superman, Spiderman, Batman,or Wonder Woman. But who are the real heroes? I find heroes in my life every day. From those that are fighting for our country, to those that help me when I drop my books. In the book The Orange Houses by Paul Griffin, I was able to meet another hero named Tamika Sykes who exemplifies what it means to be a true hero.