What makes someone extraordinary? Is it being born with special powers? Having incredible talents? Yes—and no. Rather, the greatest people are those who step up when the going gets tough. Here are eleven moments when ordinary people did extraordinary things—sometimes at the risk of their own lives. Take these stories as a lesson that as long as we believe in ourselves & understand that we all have the power to change the world (or at least someone’s world), we can do anything.
Featured Image Credit: SergeyNivens /Depositphotos.com.
Wesley Autrey’s Subway Rescue
In 2007, Wesley Autrey was waiting for a subway train in New York City when a man suddenly fell onto the tracks. Autrey didn’t think twice. He jumped onto the tracks but soon realized there was no time to get the man out. So, he covered the man’s body in a drainage ditch seconds before a train passed right over them. Somehow, they both walked away without a scratch! Really, we should all aim to be as selfless as he was.
Malala Yousafzai’s Fight for Education
Despite receiving threats from the Taliban, Malala Yousafzai stood up for girls’ education in Pakistan. In 2012, she was shot in the brain for her beliefs—yet she miraculously survived. She didn’t let that stop her. In fact, Malala kept fighting for education rights and became the youngest Nobel Prize laureate in 2014. Her story is clear proof that age doesn’t define your ability to make a difference. Rather, it’s your willingness to create change that matters so go ahead and do what’s right.
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Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger’s Hudson River Landing
A bird strike can be deadly to a plane and unfortunately, that’s what happened to Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger’s craft in 2009. It seemed like the plane was destined to crash—but Sullenberger thought differently. In fact, he landed the plan on the Hudson River! Thanks to his quick thinking & piloting skills, he saved every single one of the 155 people on board. Honestly, we wish that we were able to keep cool under pressure like he did.
James Harrison’s Blood Donations
James Harrison is known as the “Man with the Golden Arm.” Why? Because he has a rare antibody in his blood that’s used to treat Rhesus disease, a condition that can be fatal for babies. Over 60 years, he donated blood nearly every week and helped to save over 2.4 million babies. If he’s not a superhero, then we don’t know what is! Later, he received the Medal of the Order of Australia for his work and rightly so.
Liviu Librescu’s Sacrifice
Liviu Librescu was a Holocaust survivor & Virginia Tech professor who showed unimaginable bravery during a 2007 school shooting. As the shooter went through the school, Librescu held his classroom door shut to allow his students to escape through the windows. Sadly, he sacrificed his life in the process. But because of his courage, only one of his students died on that tragic day and he received the Order of the Star of Romania after his death. He was a hero to many people.
Ann Mahlum’s Running Club for the Homeless
Ann Mahlum saw a way to help homeless people in Philadelphia by starting a running club called Back on My Feet that involved more than getting fit. It helped homeless people build their confidence & a sense of community. Incredibly, while it started as a small group, it has grown into a national organization. It gives them the necessary skills to gain full-time employment as well as housing.
The Chilean Miners’ Survival
In 2010, a mine collapsed and trapped 33 Chilean miners underground for 69 days. They organized themselves by rationing food—and keeping hope alive until they were finally rescued. From this incident, people around the world saw the power of the human spirit & teamwork. We can work together to achieve anything we want. Let this teach you never to give up!
Dan Black’s Fundraising for Others
Giving to others can be the greatest gift of all and this story is clear proof of that. Dan Black was paralyzed in a cycling accident & he raised over $27,000 for his own stem cell treatment. However, when he heard about a disabled boy needing funds for surgery to walk, Dan donated all the money to him instead. His generosity changed the boy’s life forever.
Tilly Smith’s Tsunami Warning
Tilly Smith was only 10 years old when she saved numerous people on a beach in Thailand in 2004. She recognized the signs of an impending tsunami. As such, she convinced her parents and the staff to evacuate the beach—just minutes before the disaster struck. It’s quite incredible to think that someone so young could have so much knowledge. She saved so many lives in doing so.
Aaron Feis’s Heroic Act
During the 2018 Parkland school shooting, assistant football coach Aaron Feis used his body to shield students from gunfire. While he saved many lives, this came at the cost of his own. Sadly, this school shooting became one of the deadliest mass shootings in modern American history. 17 people were brutally murdered including Aaron Feis. He died a true hero.
Darnella Frazier’s Courageous Recording
At age 17, Darnella Frazier recorded the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020. Eventually, her video brought global attention to police brutality and racial injustice. There’s no denying that she was brave since she could’ve easily become another victim of the case. From her story, we see the real impact even one person can have on making change happen.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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