3. The Lady Guadalupe appeared out of nowhere one day. She is a “mestiza” woman (a mix of two cultures) and her mission was to save the newly created mestiza people by representing them and becoming their guide in this way. She is our hero because she saved the mestiza people of Mexico and she performs miracles all the time. She is also a lady of mystery and wonder, she has created situations that man thought impossible. For example, when she first appeared in the 1500`s, she created a painting of herself on a piece of cloth. Scientists have found that the paint isn`t really paint, and its origins are inexplicable. Also, in her pupil there is a second painting, so small that even the most skilled miniaturist artists could not achieve such a reality.

5. Like any police force, the police of Mexico risk their lives every day for the citizens of Mexico. However, their fight against narcotics in Mexico makes them more distinct from other police forces from around the world. Hi, I am Larissa, and I want to tell you a quick story about the police in Xalapa, Mexico. One police officer saved my life! When I was young, I was going to school and I left my house and a taxi driver was about to take me but a policeman told him not to and he took me home. Later I found out the taxi man was a bad person and I wasn`t going to be safe with him. The police officer saved me. I am lucky he was there.

7. San Rafael Guizar y Valencia was a Bishop in the state of Veracruz. During the Mexican Revolution, he disguised himself as a seller so he could help dying soldiers by giving them spiritual assistance from the Church. He was dedicated to saving lives and giving faith. He was also one of the first Mexican priests to be canonized in the Vatican. He was deemed a Saint for his miracles. Only a true hero could make such miracles. This is what Mariu says about San Rafael Guizar y Valencia: “He gives me faith, makes me feel good, confident, secure, when I feel lonely, sad, depressed, or have a problem. Whenever I think of him, I begin to pray. He is a very miraculous for me because he cured my mother of an illness that she had.”

9. She is a hero because she was a strong woman; she gave money to charities, helped poor and sick people, opened hospitals and schools, gave food and clothing to those who needed them. We think she was a good person because she tried to change the world, and is a good example for the people. She used her money for good purposes instead of keeping it for herself.

11. During World War II, Anne was sent to the Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz on (1944 ) and later the concentration camp at Bergen-Belsen. She kept a diary during this time, and she wrote to “Kitty”, the name she gave to her journal. She wrote of the horrible realities of the War, of the events that took place, and what she went through during this time. Despite all of this, she managed to stay positive; she was filled with hope that the war would soon end and the world would once again know peace. She is a hero in so many different ways. Her strength really spoke out to people. We think that she inspired a lot of faith in humankind, and that those who know and read her story were really changed by it! In a good way! Because with her book, she made people read more. And it is often included in elementary school curriculums as reading material, because it teaches history and we think it teaches compassion.

13. Mario Moreno was born into a very poor family. He was humble because his father was a mailman and he didn`t make a lot of money. But Cantinflas wanted to change this and help his father financially, so he woudn`t suffer anymore, so he became an actor. He was also dedicated to helping other humble people in Mexico and he did so by creating comic films that entertained them and made them laugh in financially hard times. Cantinflas was a hero becuase he transformed his life: he went from having nothing, to having everything, all because he had the will to do so. He kept the Mexican people smiling in hard times, and taught them them to have faith, because even if you have nothing, you can MAKE something for yourself. Over time, Mario Moreno (better known as CANTINFLAS), became a symbol of the Mexican population. In our country, everyone knows who he is!

14. From: The CRAFTS English students in Xalapa, Mexico!!!