Students' Heroes: Who Are They and Why?
Amidst the wide possibilities, from Spiderman to firefighters, students in a recent poll still named their parents as their top pick for the title of "heroes."

When the Associated Press and MTV asked 1,280 students between the ages of 13 and 24 years old to list their heroes, parents got top billing. Mothers were chosen by 29% of those surveyed, fathers were named by 21% and parents (without designation) by 16%.

Perhaps that helps explain why many of today's students have such a connection with their parents — they like and admire them!

Other heroes listed by participants included grandmothers, brothers, friends, God, teachers/professors, military members, coaches and police officers. Among famous people, Martin Luther King, Jr. was mentioned by 4%, with people like Al Gore, Oprah Winfrey, Tiger Woods, President Bush and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) each garnering 1%. Lest we forget superheroes, Spiderman and Superman also won a mention by 1% of those polled.

It looks like many students consider you to be a superhero, too!

Source: The Associated Press, as reported in the Houston Chronicle (8/20/07)