CW Journal 1 - Heroes

Heroes

Ever since I was a little kid sitting in my Batman-print jammies, in front of the big black box that defined my entire generation better than schooling ever did, I loved superheroes. I still do, I never grew out of that phase. The thing is, I see them in a very different light now.

In the earlier years of my life, when my mathematics homework did not have an illegitimate love-child with my English homework named algebra and I actually understood the words coming out of my teacher’s mouth in class, I watched numerous cartoons with superheroes saving the world. Underwear on the outside, big blankets tied around their necks, muscles that could have been sculpted from titanium, the whole package. My generation was the era of the perfect heroes. They did everything. They saved kittens stuck in trees, they stopped supervillains from casting the world into eternal turmoil, they were the heroes every kid wanted and wished they could be. Arbiters of light, upholders of truth and justice. Protectors of the weak.

But that was it. They were superheroes. They were never human. They were untouchable, no matter what was thrown at them, they overcame it. What everyone in the day saw were the heroes.

But that is not the case today. Today, heroes are viewed very differently. Just look at movies of them in the past and the newer version. Back then, heroes just beat the bad guys and saved the day. Now, heroes are human. They hurt on the inside, they have dark pasts that shaped them into the caped crusaders we keep reading about in comics. They are not as indestructible as they once were. Honestly, that is the part I love most about heroes today. They are flawed. They are human. They are believable. A hero that can deflect bullets off his skin and crush tanks with his fists needs no courage. He has nothing to fear. But a hero that bleeds, a hero that can die but risks himself anyways, now that is a hero. That is bravery, that is sacrifice. That is what makes a hero of today. Human heroes, flawed by design but every bit as perfect in practice as their legendary counterparts.

Now I am not just talking about the heroes in comic books here. The same thing applies to the real world. I grew up loving superheroes, that never changed. But instead of admiring these superhuman beings, I began to see the heroes in everyday life. They don’t always come in the form of a cape-wearing guy running around in tights. Sometimes, they wear a dogtag. Or a badge. A stethoscope. A fireman’s helmet. Heroes come in many forms, and I can admire these heroes because what they do is for real. They were not created by a writer, their deeds and acts of bravery are real. They may not save the world, or battle supervillains, but that is not what being a hero is about, now is it? It is about saving lives and protecting them. It was never about the glory, or the fighting. It is about the lives of people, and these average, ordinary, everyday superheroes save lives every day.

Call me childish or immature for believing in superheroes, but at the age of eighteen I still do. They can’t stop a speeding bullet. Well, maybe once. They can’t leap over tall buildings in a single bound. But they still do the job every hero in the comic books does. I look up to these people, I’m proud to say I’ve even met some. To me, these absolutely normal people that grew up in our very neighbourhoods and went to our schools, they are my heroes.

Short and Simple

My second performance with the Drama Club is now under my belt and I couldn't be happier. Not cuz it's over, oh no. It went so, so well that I was close to tearing up at the end. The tiring week, the 13 hour school days, the repetitive rehearsals, the stress of the sound cues (I was on the soundboard for the performance) all paid off in the most spectacular manner imaginable.

As the lights dimmed and the first of the plays began, I could almost feel the magic in the air, I swear upon my sonic screwdriver. The actors brought their all, the tech crew (me and my friend) did so too and by the end of the night, all we saw were smiles as wide and beautiful as the crescent moon and all we heard were the roar of a well deserved applause. Even in my sound booth, I was clapping my hands and rooting for the amazing people that worked themselves to the bone in the night and studied so hard in the day. The same people that transformed a set of six scripts into one of the most memorable nights of my two years in school so far. The only word that I can think of that was appropriate enough to describe it was: magical.

I don't know how many of you guys read my blog, but I have some stuff to say to all of you.

To our hard working stage manager: You did the hard job, the most difficult job that often left people irritated and hating you. Yet you carried your job out with grace and flare. Being an SM is no easy task, it is both difficult because of the workload and the fact that you often have people disliking you for shouting at them. But yet you undertook in a manner that would make Wonder Woman herself proud. On behalf of everyone in the club, and especially as one of your best friends, thank you. For your OCD-ness, your hard work, your personal sacrifice, for everything.

To my wonderful juniors: You guys keep surprising me time and time again. You're all so talented, I honestly don't know how I'll ever measure up. I hope someday I'll be able to stand on that stage with you all and take that bow as an actor, not as a sound tech. I have grown that little bit closer to you all and you are so amazing. I may be a year older and a year wiser, but I have more to learn from you all than I have to teach you guys. Amazing actors, even more amazing people.

To my fellow seniors: I know I haven't been in it from the start as most of you have, but you guys accepted me into your fold anyways and made me a part of your odd little family. Thanks to you guys, I've made so many new friends since that fateful first day when I said yes and took my first step into the lounge as a drama member. I don't have many people to hang around with nowadays, so the rare times I get to see you guys and hang out with you really means a lot to me and I'm so thankful I had met all of you. You are all so talented, so amazing and I have so much work to do to even come close to the honed skill, poise and flare all of you bring to the stage.

To our trainer: Thank you so much for all your help, everything you've taught us, everything you've taught me. We're gonna miss you while you're away and we're handling the next production.

I love all of you guys, you're all amazing actors. Each and every one of you. And after all the hard work you all put into the show, you guys deserve to shine. And you all did. Brighter than the stars in the night sky.

When we began this journey, I had no place in it. I just showed up to help out. Then as the pieces slowly began to come together, so did I come closer to being a part of it. Finally, I was chosen as the sound man. Why and how, I don't know. But apparently someone had some confidence in my abilities. I had watched all the shows since their conception, I watched them evolve and even helped shape each piece in some small way. Even in the final days of the production, when I practically memorised all the scripts and actions. I knew the pieces inside out after watching them so many times.

But that night. The night of the performance, watching everyone out there, bringing life to what were once just words inked into paper, it was like watching them for the first time. I was awed by their performances, even after watching them so many times. I was still awestruck by them after all the times I watched them, that's just how brilliant they all were. And if I could, I'd do it all again just to watch them put life into that stage and watch them smile brighter than the sun as the audience roared and applauded as they took their final bows.

This is the song we played as the curtain calls were made.



Hearing this song will forever remind me of the how the lights came on, the music came on and then the actors began streaming out for their curtain calls. The smiles on their faces, the joy that was so evident in them, it was intoxicating, contagious... I can't quite describe the feeling, but it was a marvellous feeling. And this song will have memories of one of the best nights in my two years here attached to it. Playing this on the bus will probably make me smile like an idiot as I watched the actors, my friends, became stars for the night.

And the looks on their faces, the joy in their eyes, the love of performing, it was all written on their faces, above the make-up and engrained into them all at the same time. I was close to tears at the joy I felt at that moment, watching all the blood, sweat and tears shed by them and me just suddenly become worth it all.

During the tech runs, I kept messing up and honestly I was so nervous that maybe I wasn't ready for the performance. I think some people may have been angry with me about it as well. But the show went off without a hitch and I was so thankful for that.

That night, one of the people higher up in the chain of command actually said I had grown a lot. When he first met me, I was just a kid. When I stood before him after the show, shaking his hand, he actually said I was a young man. I was so honoured to hear that from him.

I have never regretted joining drama, I doubt I will too. I love all you guys and I can't wait to finally  start acting with you all. I've got a long way to go, but if you guys are willing to let me try, I promise I'll give it my all and maybe next time this song comes on, I'll be taking the bow with all of you on stage.

I can't wait for that.