In the crowded halls of Bellevue East, one student stands out for his choice of a hero. While other students might look up to either athletes or celebrities, sophomore Luke Connell found his modern day hero to be his dad, Ric Connell. For Luke, his father’s dedication to their family and his commitment to doing the right thing makes him a great role model.

Luke, part of a blended family, doesn’t see his dad’s responsibilities as ordinary. He sees them as acts of heroism. His father’s actions inspire him to do better and work harder.

“He takes on all of the jobs that come with being a dad and the struggles of a combined family,” Luke Connell said. “He takes them on really well, and he always gets everything done that needs to be done.”

Luke’s admiration for his dad goes far beyond just daily tasks. His dad has a lot of great traits that give Luke a glimpse into his own promising future. His dad’s work ethic, sense of morals, and talents also inspire him.

“My dad motivates me with a sense of doing the right thing and also a sense of being better than you can be,” Luke Connell said.

Ric Connell defines a hero as someone who does what’s right even when it’s hard. Although he remains humble, admitting he is short-tempered, uses profanity, and makes fun of people, his actions tell a different story. Despite his self-criticism, Luke’s dad strives to teach his children important life lessons.

“I talk to them a lot, try to show them why everyone deserves a right to be happy even when it’s hard to find sometimes,” Ric Connell said.

One of Luke’s favorite memories with his dad happened when a movie he was excited about came out. Even though his dad was super busy, he still made time for the two of them to go to the theater together. Luke was extremely grateful.

“We bought pizza, we had a bunch of snacks, and we watched it together and had a good time,” Luke Connell said. “He made sure that I was happy, even though he was very busy.”

Luke’s mom, Valerie also admires the way her husband prioritizes their family. Both of Luke’s parents work hard to make sure their children are prepared for adulthood.

“Family is always his number one concern,” Valerie Connell said. “We strive to have our kids live a better life than we did, so we try to instill in them to make good decisions and be good humans.”

Ric Connell said while parenting isn’t easy, his main priority is  being there for his kids. He doesn’t always see himself as a hero, but his actions speak louder than words. His children notice his efforts every day.

“I guess the hero part is easy, even when I don’t consider myself one. I just tell them I’m proud of them. And that they are able to feel it,” Ric Connell said.

For Luke, it’s clear that his dad has left his mark on him. His dad’s kindness and commitment to doing what’s right inspires Luke to be the best he can be. 

“The fact that he takes so much pride and care in raising us the way that we should be makes him a hero,” Luke Connell said.