I often tell people who my role model is—what he's done for me—and get a chuckle out of them. When I first saw him, I was only seven. He's been the guiding light of my life ever since. He's always there when I need him most, inspiring me to be more confident, giving me hope. He's taught me so much just by being unabashedly him. That genuine nature, the ability to keep a grin on his face no matter how much peril seems to befall the world—that's what keeps me pushing.

He's free as the wind and, in his own words, is "just a guy that loves adventure." He's content with wherever life takes him. He'll pick up whatever skills he can and meet as many people as he can. Yet, opposing that, he spends plenty of time alone. Thanks to him, the world is my oyster—and I've learned to embrace it. He's a positive influence to all those around him, garnering a large group of friends because of it, and I've strived to do the same. I've met so many amazing people and seen what feels like so much of the world, but there's so much more to go. I can't wait to get the chance to do that on my own accord, curating a life of my own as I grow up.

He doesn't just embody freedom, though, as through his own free‐spirited nature he empowers those around him. He's not content with sitting around doing nothing in the face of injustice, and his confidence and cockiness lead him to stick it to anyone in his way. It's very counter‐cultural and rebellious when you get down to it, and that's molded my own personal belief system since I was young. My sense of justice has been shaped over the years through my looking up to him, and it's given me the courage to be there for people even when I myself felt down. If I can help, I will, and that's all thanks to him.

There is wisdom behind his eyes, too. He doesn't operate on a whim, and despite what appearances may lead someone to believe, he's quite smart. Something he once said that's stuck with me throughout my life is that "Every world has its end. I know that's kinda sad, but...that's why we gotta live life to the fullest in the time we have." It's powerful. At times I believed it to be melancholic, but that only came from my own outlook on life. It's all about choice. The choice to take action, the choice to keep moving, to do what you want when you can.

In contrast to many people we look up to, he's unattainable. It's my favorite thing about him. No matter if I'm seventeen or thirty-five, I can never reach the point he's at. The goal was never to become him, but to take him with me in all facets of my life so I can grow into a better version of myself. He's a direction, an ideology, and the embodiment of freedom itself. I can never beat my hero—and that's fine—it just gives me something to keep chasing.

As my high school career comes to a close, I realize that the world I once knew as a child is soon going to be lost, and that's okay. I've done my best in the time I had; the world will continue to grow as I grow with it. Despite everything thrown my way, I will always have him by my side to keep me fighting. The world never stops, he never stops, so I won't stop. My inspiration, my strength—Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog.