How can you become a superhero?  I learned the answer from a conversation with a 12 year old girl.

I work for a non-profit organization in Dallas, Texas, called Vogel Alcove. We’re on a mission to help young children and families overcome the lasting and traumatic effects of homelessness. We work to break the cycle of poverty and end homelessness for the children and families we serve.

In 2020 we partnered with DeadSoxy, a premium designer sock company based in Dallas, Texas. We created a fun initiative to raise money for our services by selling Vogel Alcove branded socks. These are not your ordinary dress socks. DeadSoxy asked the children in our program to participate in a sock designing competition with instructions to create a drawing that held special meaning to their lives. Ultimately 3 sock designs created by the Vogel Alcove children were selected and transformed into socks you can purchase today! See the socks here: https://deadsoxy.com/vogel-alcove/

I had the privilege of interviewing the children to learn what inspired their drawings. My favorite picture was a superhero drawn by a 12-year-old girl at Vogel Alcove.

When I asked her why she chose to create this picture, I was amazed by her answer. She quietly stated, “superheroes don’t have to have special powers, they just have to help people.” 

I am forever impacted by her simple and powerful words. After careful consideration, I believe she has accurately defined what it means to be a superhero. Her statement is based on action. Her answer encouraged me to reflect on my life. Do I really care about helping people?  Do I actually prioritize helping people as a natural part of each day? Do I seek out both small and big opportunities to help others, or do I only react when it’s convenient for me? Her definition of a superhero led me to create a written plan with new goals focused on daily, weekly, and yearly actions that I will pursue to serve others in my community.

“It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.” – Batman

How can you become a Superhero? You just have to help people.