And they would agree with speakers at the Halogen Foundation National Young Leaders' Day (NYLD) in Dunedin yesterday, there just aren't enough heroes in our communities these days.
It was a message shared with more than 800 primary and intermediate pupils from Otago and Southland during the event at the Regent Theatre. Motivational speakers such as Christian Gallen told pupils they did not have to be super to be a hero.
He said it was really as simple as doing good things and being the best you could.
''When you leave school, you should leave it better than you found it. It's what a hero - no, a legend - would do.''
Plenty of support networks were available to help developing heroes, he said.
Parents were a major source of support because they would do anything to see their children succeed.
''If you can keep your parents on side, you can defeat any super villain.''
NYLD events manager Annette Fale said the country was in desperate need of heroes, otherwise known as leaders, and the theme of the event was to get young people to start thinking about being leaders/heroes in their schools, communities and homes.
''You don't have to be famous to be great.
''Heroes are those people who got out of their seats and helped Christchurch in its time of need, instead of sitting around saying it's all over.''
Other speakers included athlete and Carabiner Mentoring Programme founder Cam Calkoen, What Now television presenter Gemma Knight and singer/songwriter Jamie McDell.
