Some people say singers can't be heroes, but they're wrong and I will prove it.

 Gerard Way, lead

singer for My Chemical Romance, has three important heroic traits such as optimism,
inspiration, and determination. I will show you how my hero Gerard Way is a hero.

            Way was born April 9, 1977 in Summit, NJ, and raised in Belleville, NJ. His first public
appearance was in a fourth grade musical, Peter Pan. As Way grew older, he had a life-
changing experience at the age of 15 when he was "held-up at gun-point with a .357 magnum
execution style," says Way in a Rolling Stone magazine interview. "No matter how ugly the
world gets or how stupid it shows me it is, I always have faith," says Way. What he said after
such a terrifying experience shows how optimistic he is.

            At the beginning, Way's career wasn't very easy. As teenagers, Way and his
brother Mikey Way, the bassist for My Chemical Romance, were influenced by bands such as
Iron Maiden and The Misfits as well as British artists Pulp, Blur, and Morissey and The Smiths.
Originally, Way wanted to be a guitarist. He played in many short-lived bands like Ray Gun
Jones and Nancy Drew with future bandmate Ray Toro, but when he was not successful (one
band kicked him out due to his lack of skill with the guitar), he chose to concentrate on his art
career. Even though he didn't make his life a success with the guitar, he still made a huge leap
into stardom at a young age with his singing which inspires me and many others to make our
dreams come true as well. That is how Gerard Way is inspirational.

Way has been determined all his life though he has had struggles like everyone else. In the past,
Way has admitted that music turned out to be an effective outlet to deal with his long time battles
against depression, alcoholism, and prescription drug use. The use of music as a way to resolve
personal battles has caused Way to create deeply personal songs such as "Helena."

"Come a time,"

When every star fall brought you to tears again,

We are the very hurt you sold,
And what's the worst you take (worst you take),
From every heart you break (heart you break),
And like the blade you stain (blade you stain),
Well I've been holding on tonight"

Through his struggle he has been sober since August 2004. Gerard Way also showed his
determination when he was working as an intern for Cartoon Network during the September
eleven attack on the World Trade Center and seeing the effects of the attack first-hand prompted
Way to change his outlook on life in the following weeks. He told Spin Magazine, "I literally
said to myself, 'forget art. I've gotta make a difference'". To help deal with the emotional effects
the attacks had on him, Way wrote the song "Skylines and Turnstiles." Gerard Way is my hero
because he showed me that even through the darkest times there is always hope.