Neil Armstrong Hero Essay
“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”, a famous quote by Neil Armstrong, a NASA astronaut. He was the first person to walk on the moon in human history. On 20 July 1969, millions of people worldwide watched him on live television. His mission and safe return were widely considered as America's greatest accomplishments in the 20th century. Being the first person to walk on the moon makes Armstrong a reader favorite. Neil Armstrong became a world inspiration and hero, whose name became well known throughout history, he became the heroic figure known for pioneering the path for many other astronauts. For his numerous achievements throughout his life, Neil Armstrong has been rewarded, most notable for the Presidential Metal
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for Freedom and the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. However, Neil Armstrong could have never done anything he had accomplished without his personality characteristics. By accomplishing what was thought impossible and making a dream into reality, Armstrong inspired others with his dedication to his work, his courage and bravery, and his humbleness. His personality characteristics are comparable to Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut, who was the first human to journey into outer space.
Armstrong’s dedication to his work makes him a reader favorite. Armstrong showed dedication to his field while preparing to become an astronaut, during his famous career, and after retiring from a long and fulfilling job. At the age of six, Armstrong discovered his interest in flying and dedicated himself to flying, “he learned to fly before he could drive, making his first flight at the age of six and obtaining his pilot’s license on his sixteenth birthday.”(French 81) Armstrong was dedicated to work hard to reach his dream and to satisfy his childhood fascination - flying. Armstrong did everything he could have done at his age to excel in flying. Only because of the extensive time he had invested when he was young to learn was he able to become the illustrious astronaut we all know today. During Armstrong's career as a NASA astronaut, a tragic event impacted his life - the death of his three-year-old daughter, Karen. During an interview at 60 Minutes, Neil said with tears, "I thought the best thing for me to do in that situation was to continue with my work, keep things as normal as I could. And try as hard as I could not to have it affect my ability to do useful things." (Schorn) Even when a tragic event occurred, he stayed positive and tried to contribute to those around him, he was determined to become the best at what he did. He was able to work hard and help others despite facing a hard time in life. Even after his retirement from NASA, he continued to work when he accepted a teaching position at the University of Cincinnati where he spent seven years engaged in teaching and research as a professor of aerospace engineering. He continued to share his passion of his work through teaching others. Dedicated to his work, Armstrong worked hard to change and inspire his students through his desire for astronomy. Throughout his life, Neil Armstrong was passionate and dedicated; he gave his all in everything. He surely deserves to be a reader favorite.
Comparatively, Yuri Gagarin had the courage to believe in himself and to follow his own dream, flying, as well. Gagarin’s father had always wanted him to be a carpenter, “his father had told him that, as soon as he had completed his basic schooling, he was to come along on carpentry jobs.” (French 7) Despite his father had already made Gagarin his own set of carpenter tools, he thought deeply about which career he wished to follow before it was too late and one night, “he announced to his parents that he was not going to stay in the village and settle for being a carpenter; he was going to enroll at a college and try a different career.”(French 7) Gagarin decided not to follow his father’s path, but to leave home and follow his own dream – flying. When he was still a mischievous boy, Gagarin “dreamed of flying a real airplane, just like the Soviet fighter pilots he had met in the war”. (French 6) With the courage and bravery to believe in his childhood dream, Yuri Gagarin made history on April 12, 1961 when he became both the first person in human history to enter space and the first person to orbit the Earth. Both Armstrong and Gagarin strove to reach their own childhood dreams, and they both succeeded in the end. Gagarin decided to follow his own dream despite his father’s objection, while Armstrong worked hard to reach his dream and to satisfy his childhood fascination for flight. Their dedications truly make them similar in personality characteristics. Neil Armstrong’s courage and bravery also make him a reader favorite. In preparation for the space race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, Armstrong underwent four years of intensive training for the Apollo program. During these four years of training, Armstrong came face to face with death twice. One of the Agena rockets had blown up in a test only a few weeks before the launch day of Gemini 8, yet he stayed calm and brave when facing challenges, “As they drew to within eight-seven miles of the Agena, the two astronauts spotted it shining in the sunlight. Drawing ever closer, Armstrong made slight braking maneuvers, trusting his eyes while Scott read the radar readings to him. Eventually, the two spacecraft were moving at the same precise speed and in the same orbit.” (French 84) Representing America, Armstrong eagerly put his life at risk, hoping to bring U.S. glory by getting a man on the moon before the Soviets during the Cold War. He willingly risked anything to fulfill the American dream. Barely surviving, Armstrong gave his all to serve his country and make it proud. Armstrong's courage allowed him to act quickly during dangerous moments, allowing him not only to save his own life but his fellow astronaut's lives as well. He was able to take charge and make crucial decisions during life-and-death situations. He was brave enough to take responsibility for his fellow friends and his actions. Neil Armstrong possessed a trait lacked by others, which made him and his actions stand out from others, shaping him as a reader favorite. Comparatively, Yuri Gagarin was brave enough to put himself at risk for others, just like how Armstrong eagerly put his life at risk, hoping to bring U.S.
glory by getting a man on the moon before the Soviets. When the Nazis used Gagarin’s village as a base, “Yuri and the other village children did what they could to disrupt Nazi war efficiency. They placed nails and broken glasses on the road to burst army vehicle tires, stuffed potatoes and rags in exhaust pipes, and poured soil into tank batteries.” (French 4) Although it was risky, Gagarin did everything he could to annoy the Germans, and to resist the invaders. Gagarin put himself at risk for himself and other villagers. Furthermore, Gagarin risked his own life again by taking up the job of being the first human to fly into space for his own country. Gagarin was also a brave man – “When Korolev invited the group of astronauts to look inside a Vostok spacecraft test vehicle, and asked who wished to go first. None of the cosmonaut team had seen the spacecraft before, and all were doubtless eager to see the interior. Yet Gagarin was the first to climb inside.” (French 13) With so many uncertainties and no prior history of human flying into space, Gagarin was willing to take up his job as the first astronaut to fly into space, his bravery makes him similar to Neil Armstrong, who was willing to risk anything to fulfill the American dream, and was willing to be the first man to walk on the moon. The bravery of both Neil Armstrong and Yuri Gagarin surely make them the reader
favorites. Last but not least, Neil Armstrong’s humbleness makes him a reader favorite.
According to CNN, “What was, in retrospect, most heroic about Neil Alden Armstrong, who died Saturday at age 82, was the manner in which he shied away from the spoils and trappings of heroism itself.” (Seymour) After Armstrong performed the great step in human history, he was approached by political groups from both ends of the spectrum, unlike former astronauts and U.S. Senators John Glenn and Harrison Schmitt, Armstrong declined all offers. Armstrong rejected most opportunities to profit from his fame. He could have chosen to be a popular, heroic star but he chose to avoid the media. “Armstrong, a native of Wapakoneta, Ohio, so steeped in flying that his idea of winding down was piloting gliders in his spare time, wanted exactly none of those options. Having his choice of any possible future after leaving NASA in 1971, he chose to go back to his home state and teach aerospace engineering at the University of Cincinnati. No artifice, no flash, no - well, frankly, no star power to speak of.” (Seymour) Unlike many other astronauts, Armstrong didn’t profit from his fame, instead, he stayed humble, moved his family back to Ohio to accept a position at the University of Cincinnati. Armstrong’s humbleness definitely makes him a reader favorite.
To conclude, Neil Armstrong’s dedication to his work, his courage and bravery, and his humbleness make him a reader favorite. Armstrong showed dedication to his field while preparing to become an astronaut, during his famous career, and after retiring from a long and fulfilling job. Armstrong's courage allowed him to act quickly during dangerous moments, allowing him not only to save his own life but his fellow astronaut's lives as well. He was able to take charge and make crucial decisions during life-and-death situations. He had the bravery to take responsibility for his fellow friends and his actions. Neil Armstrong possessed a trait lacked by others, which made him and his actions stand out from others, shaping him as a reader favorite. Moreover, Armstrong rejected most opportunities to profit from his fame. His personality characteristics are comparable to Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut, who was the first human to journey into outer space. Despite numerous setbacks, he never gave up, his bravery and courage brought him sudden and unprecedented fame. Under the tense political climate between the Soviet Union and the United States, Gagarin volunteered to take up the responsibility of flying into space regardless of the risk of dying. His bravery made him comparable to Neil Armstrong.
for Freedom and the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. However, Neil Armstrong could have never done anything he had accomplished without his personality characteristics. By accomplishing what was thought impossible and making a dream into reality, Armstrong inspired others with his dedication to his work, his courage and bravery, and his humbleness. His personality characteristics are comparable to Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut, who was the first human to journey into outer space.
Armstrong’s dedication to his work makes him a reader favorite. Armstrong showed dedication to his field while preparing to become an astronaut, during his famous career, and after retiring from a long and fulfilling job. At the age of six, Armstrong discovered his interest in flying and dedicated himself to flying, “he learned to fly before he could drive, making his first flight at the age of six and obtaining his pilot’s license on his sixteenth birthday.”(French 81) Armstrong was dedicated to work hard to reach his dream and to satisfy his childhood fascination - flying. Armstrong did everything he could have done at his age to excel in flying. Only because of the extensive time he had invested when he was young to learn was he able to become the illustrious astronaut we all know today. During Armstrong's career as a NASA astronaut, a tragic event impacted his life - the death of his three-year-old daughter, Karen. During an interview at 60 Minutes, Neil said with tears, "I thought the best thing for me to do in that situation was to continue with my work, keep things as normal as I could. And try as hard as I could not to have it affect my ability to do useful things." (Schorn) Even when a tragic event occurred, he stayed positive and tried to contribute to those around him, he was determined to become the best at what he did. He was able to work hard and help others despite facing a hard time in life. Even after his retirement from NASA, he continued to work when he accepted a teaching position at the University of Cincinnati where he spent seven years engaged in teaching and research as a professor of aerospace engineering. He continued to share his passion of his work through teaching others. Dedicated to his work, Armstrong worked hard to change and inspire his students through his desire for astronomy. Throughout his life, Neil Armstrong was passionate and dedicated; he gave his all in everything. He surely deserves to be a reader favorite.
Comparatively, Yuri Gagarin had the courage to believe in himself and to follow his own dream, flying, as well. Gagarin’s father had always wanted him to be a carpenter, “his father had told him that, as soon as he had completed his basic schooling, he was to come along on carpentry jobs.” (French 7) Despite his father had already made Gagarin his own set of carpenter tools, he thought deeply about which career he wished to follow before it was too late and one night, “he announced to his parents that he was not going to stay in the village and settle for being a carpenter; he was going to enroll at a college and try a different career.”(French 7) Gagarin decided not to follow his father’s path, but to leave home and follow his own dream – flying. When he was still a mischievous boy, Gagarin “dreamed of flying a real airplane, just like the Soviet fighter pilots he had met in the war”. (French 6) With the courage and bravery to believe in his childhood dream, Yuri Gagarin made history on April 12, 1961 when he became both the first person in human history to enter space and the first person to orbit the Earth. Both Armstrong and Gagarin strove to reach their own childhood dreams, and they both succeeded in the end. Gagarin decided to follow his own dream despite his father’s objection, while Armstrong worked hard to reach his dream and to satisfy his childhood fascination for flight. Their dedications truly make them similar in personality characteristics. Neil Armstrong’s courage and bravery also make him a reader favorite. In preparation for the space race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, Armstrong underwent four years of intensive training for the Apollo program. During these four years of training, Armstrong came face to face with death twice. One of the Agena rockets had blown up in a test only a few weeks before the launch day of Gemini 8, yet he stayed calm and brave when facing challenges, “As they drew to within eight-seven miles of the Agena, the two astronauts spotted it shining in the sunlight. Drawing ever closer, Armstrong made slight braking maneuvers, trusting his eyes while Scott read the radar readings to him. Eventually, the two spacecraft were moving at the same precise speed and in the same orbit.” (French 84) Representing America, Armstrong eagerly put his life at risk, hoping to bring U.S. glory by getting a man on the moon before the Soviets during the Cold War. He willingly risked anything to fulfill the American dream. Barely surviving, Armstrong gave his all to serve his country and make it proud. Armstrong's courage allowed him to act quickly during dangerous moments, allowing him not only to save his own life but his fellow astronaut's lives as well. He was able to take charge and make crucial decisions during life-and-death situations. He was brave enough to take responsibility for his fellow friends and his actions. Neil Armstrong possessed a trait lacked by others, which made him and his actions stand out from others, shaping him as a reader favorite. Comparatively, Yuri Gagarin was brave enough to put himself at risk for others, just like how Armstrong eagerly put his life at risk, hoping to bring U.S.
glory by getting a man on the moon before the Soviets. When the Nazis used Gagarin’s village as a base, “Yuri and the other village children did what they could to disrupt Nazi war efficiency. They placed nails and broken glasses on the road to burst army vehicle tires, stuffed potatoes and rags in exhaust pipes, and poured soil into tank batteries.” (French 4) Although it was risky, Gagarin did everything he could to annoy the Germans, and to resist the invaders. Gagarin put himself at risk for himself and other villagers. Furthermore, Gagarin risked his own life again by taking up the job of being the first human to fly into space for his own country. Gagarin was also a brave man – “When Korolev invited the group of astronauts to look inside a Vostok spacecraft test vehicle, and asked who wished to go first. None of the cosmonaut team had seen the spacecraft before, and all were doubtless eager to see the interior. Yet Gagarin was the first to climb inside.” (French 13) With so many uncertainties and no prior history of human flying into space, Gagarin was willing to take up his job as the first astronaut to fly into space, his bravery makes him similar to Neil Armstrong, who was willing to risk anything to fulfill the American dream, and was willing to be the first man to walk on the moon. The bravery of both Neil Armstrong and Yuri Gagarin surely make them the reader
favorites. Last but not least, Neil Armstrong’s humbleness makes him a reader favorite.
According to CNN, “What was, in retrospect, most heroic about Neil Alden Armstrong, who died Saturday at age 82, was the manner in which he shied away from the spoils and trappings of heroism itself.” (Seymour) After Armstrong performed the great step in human history, he was approached by political groups from both ends of the spectrum, unlike former astronauts and U.S. Senators John Glenn and Harrison Schmitt, Armstrong declined all offers. Armstrong rejected most opportunities to profit from his fame. He could have chosen to be a popular, heroic star but he chose to avoid the media. “Armstrong, a native of Wapakoneta, Ohio, so steeped in flying that his idea of winding down was piloting gliders in his spare time, wanted exactly none of those options. Having his choice of any possible future after leaving NASA in 1971, he chose to go back to his home state and teach aerospace engineering at the University of Cincinnati. No artifice, no flash, no - well, frankly, no star power to speak of.” (Seymour) Unlike many other astronauts, Armstrong didn’t profit from his fame, instead, he stayed humble, moved his family back to Ohio to accept a position at the University of Cincinnati. Armstrong’s humbleness definitely makes him a reader favorite.
To conclude, Neil Armstrong’s dedication to his work, his courage and bravery, and his humbleness make him a reader favorite. Armstrong showed dedication to his field while preparing to become an astronaut, during his famous career, and after retiring from a long and fulfilling job. Armstrong's courage allowed him to act quickly during dangerous moments, allowing him not only to save his own life but his fellow astronaut's lives as well. He was able to take charge and make crucial decisions during life-and-death situations. He had the bravery to take responsibility for his fellow friends and his actions. Neil Armstrong possessed a trait lacked by others, which made him and his actions stand out from others, shaping him as a reader favorite. Moreover, Armstrong rejected most opportunities to profit from his fame. His personality characteristics are comparable to Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut, who was the first human to journey into outer space. Despite numerous setbacks, he never gave up, his bravery and courage brought him sudden and unprecedented fame. Under the tense political climate between the Soviet Union and the United States, Gagarin volunteered to take up the responsibility of flying into space regardless of the risk of dying. His bravery made him comparable to Neil Armstrong.