1. HERO NOTES: Dave Pelzer Using Powerpoint to Collect and Organize Your Notes GOAL: minimum 25 or more notes

2. Hero TAG – What kind of a hero is Pelzer according to Barron? “For a hero, what counts is character. For a celebrity, what counts is fame.” (Barron 3) Pelzer - blend of survivor hero and hero within. –Survivor Hero: a person who overcomes a major survival experience such as a plane disaster, accident, or act of terrorism > > > relates to a person’s will to live (Barron 33) –Hero Within: a person who overcomes a major battle within himself/herself > > > relates to a personal challenge such as a physical challenge, illness, addiction, depression (self rescue) (Barron 53)

3. Challenges – What were his challenges in his early life? -physically, mentally, verbally, and emotionally abused by his alcoholic mother - started with small disciplinary consequences (sitting in the corner) and changed to burns and bruises (Pelzer 30) -“Gripping my arm, Mother held it in the orange-blue flame. My skin seemed toe explode from the heat. I could smell the scorched hairs from my burnt arm.” (Pelzer 40)

4. Challenges – What were his challenges in his early life? - abuse gradually came from his brothers also; took advantage of him and viewed him as a family slave with continual bullying (Pelzer 36) - “When they approached me, my heart became hard as tone, and I am sure that they saw the hate etched in my face.” (Pelzer 135)

5. Challenges – What were his challenges in his adult life? - joined the Air Force at age 18; flew plans that refueled the SR-71 Blackbird and f-117 Stealth Fighters, both used in highly secretive military operations in Iraq - continued to deal with the consequences of his abuse as an adult and had a goal of making himself a better person (“All About Dave Pelzer.”)

6. Challenges – How did he overcome his challenges?

7. Challenges – How was his life different after the challenges?

8. Revelations – What did he learn about life?

9. Revelations – How does he pay it forward?

10. Return – How did he return home?

11. Return – What is his life like today?

12. Works Cited "About Dave Pelzer." Dave Pelzer - The Official Site N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Feb. 2013.. Pelzer, David J.. A child called "it": an abused child's journey from victim to victor. Deerfield Beach, Fla.: Health Communications, 1995. Print.