Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, commonly known as AOC, is a hero.
I believe that the U.S Representative for New York’s 14 congressional district meets the criteria used to define heros. In the face of adversity, Ocasio-Cortez has faced all challenges, whether personal or in the public sphere, with great courage, ingenuity and strength, therefore we can check off the technical definition of hero. I believe her to transcend the bounds of the stereotypical, mainstream hero and make of herself a modern heroine, without even trying to.
Of Puerto Rican descent, a woman, born in the Bronx to a working-class family, Ocasio-Cortez is not the figure of the hero we see in the stories or the media. However, she has built that for herself thanks to her intellect and charisma. A graduate from Boston University in international relations and economics, a former bartender and waitress, the knowledgeable congresswoman fought her way to win one of the most shocking electoral upset victories of the 2018 midterm elections primaries. She did this by starting a grassroots movement that touched the hearts of her constituents and gave her national attention. Since then, she has been one of the most influential and important voices in the United States congress, and a democratic socialist, badass warrior for human rights, women, people of color and the working-class, amongst many others.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a woman who inspires me. Heroes are moral compasses, people to look up to and strive to be like while maintaining our sense of individuality. Heroes, in their paths, inspire us to do better, to follow our ambitions. AOC has inspired me to believe in myself. If she could do it, why couldn’t I, a person with a similar background, achieve my goals with as much courage and dedication as she? In a world where little brown girls from humble beginnings don’t have anyone to represent them, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has given us the hope necessary for us to use our voice, and that burgeoning hope that swells in our chest will give birth to the strongest generation of women you’ll ever hear. Are you ready to hear us scream?
REFERENCES:
https://ballotpedia.org/Alexandria_Ocasio-Cortez
https://www.insider.com/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-biography-2019-1
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