Often, acts of heroism are associated with grand gestures and superhero movies, in which the entire fate of the universe hangs on the actions of a select few. In the real world, however, it’s usually the normal, everyday citizens who are responsible for the most extraordinary acts of selflessness and bravery.
Even though they may not always make national or international news, and though they may not be household names, it’s worth taking a closer look at these everyday acts of heroism. These are the people who serve as good reminders of how even “regular people” are capable of doing extraordinary things.
Aaron Tucker had an interview to get to and very little to spare. Seven days after leaving prison in July 2017, he was living in a Connecticut halfway house and trying to find work.
He put on a donated dress shirt and boarded a bus for an interview at a restaurant. In Westport, he saw a car hit a tree and overturn. Tucker asked to get off, even after the driver told him the bus would not wait.
The interview could have been an important step toward rebuilding his life. He left the bus anyway and ran to the wreck.
Tucker helped free the injured driver and used the shirt he had dressed in that morning to press against the man’s bleeding head. Workers from a nearby auto body shop joined the rescue, including helping with a fire extinguisher. Tucker stayed until emergency help arrived.
By then, he had missed the interview. Explaining his choice afterward, he said another job opportunity could come along, while a person had only one life.
As the story spread, strangers contributed more than $50,000 to a fundraiser and employers contacted him with job offers. The interview he missed was no longer his only chance at work.
That morning, he needed someone to offer him a chance. When he saw someone else in immediate danger, he stopped first.