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11-year-old saves two lives in one day

Words by Smiley Team

On a bad day, the everyday hero is the person who smiles at you. It is the war veteran who is fighting for everyone's freedom and equality. Or it's also your friend, parent, or mentor who is sacrificing for your happiness. 

The everyday hero resides within every human being on the planet and manifests itself through simple, everyday actions. Heroes perform simple acts of kindness, bravery, and love – and it is our responsibility to contribute to our communities and bring out the hero within each of us and make the world a better place.

A young hero is defined as an exceptional young person who has excelled in academics, given significantly of themselves through public service, overcome adversity, exhibited extraordinary heroism, or inspired others through their actions and character.

A young boy would soon fit this definition. After saving the lives of a classmate and a woman in a fire, an 11-year-old boy in Oklahoma was hailed a hero.

[Read more: 7-year-old eco warrior]

During a school board meeting, Davyon Johnson was named a hero and honorary sheriff of the Muskogee County Sheriff's Office.

The "dual hero" performed the Heimlich maneuver on a classmate who was choking on a bottle cap.

“He has always indicated that he wants to be an EMT,” Principal Latricia Dawkins told Enid News and Eagle. “So he got to put that desire into action and immediately saved that young man.”

Johnson's bravery did not end there. Later that day, he rescued a disabled woman from a burning house.

"She was sitting on her porch. But, being a good citizen, I decided to cross and assist her in getting into her truck before leaving," Johnson told the Enid News and Eagle.

According to him, the back of the house was on fire, and it eventually spread to the front of the house.

Dayvon's mother, LaToya Johnson, said she was not surprised by her son's actions and that her brother is an emergency medical technician, who Johnson looks up to. “I’m just a proud mom,” she said. 

All of us can activate the hero gene. When we choose to put others ahead of ourselves, we all have the opportunity to be heroes. Johnson's actions served as a reminder that there are good people in the world, no matter their age. He has demonstrated that heroes help make the world a better place, a reminder that is needed during these tough times.

Find out more about Johnson’s heroism by reading his story on Facebook. Does it inspire you to want to give back?

 

 

 

 

This article aligns with the following UN SDGs

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