What does it take to be a hero? My Hero Academia is an anime which reflects on themes of worthiness and self-confidence, among others. Following the journey of the protagonist, Izuku Midoriya, let’s have a look at what it means to “be worthy”.
In a world of “quirks”, where each person has a special ability, Midoriya is one of the few who is born without any quirk. This results in him feeling inadequate compared to his peers, thinking that he will never be able to reach his dreams of being a hero.
Sometimes, comparison becomes the source of our insecurity. In our society, certain things give obvious advantages, like financial status or even looks. These are usually things we are born with, and rarely able to change about ourselves. However, we tend to forget that in the long run, these mean nothing when you don’t have other qualities to back it up – honesty, determination, kindness amidst others.
Look beyond the outside, develop your self-confidence, and discover the qualities which you can hone!
Image Credit: Fiction Horizon
Along the way, Midoriya is gifted a rare and powerful quirk by the No. 1 Hero at the time, All-Might. It’s especially meaningful that All-Might reminds him about the dangers of using the quirk without first preparing your body and mind.
Sometimes, it’s all about the preparation. We may self-sabotage, in fear of what we can achieve. But take the chance and develop yourself, physically and mentally, in anticipation of how your potential can blossom. Overcome yourself to achieve success!
Image credit: My Hero Academia Wiki
To end off, it says a lot that this quirk is called “One For All”- for those of you who have travelled the path, take some time to also support each other. We could all benefit from each others’ experiences after all!