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Heroic Qualities Of Jerome Maier's Life

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After witnessing a child die in your arms because of a fatal car crash, how many weeks would it take for you to eat again? One week? Two? Jerome Maiers, my grandpa, faced similar dilemmas while working in law enforcement, one of his numerous jobs. Jerome showed multiple heroic qualities throughout his life by putting himself in dangerous situations for the greater good of the people on a daily basis. Jerome lived an eventful life and helped people by working multiple jobs in his adulthood. As a child, he watched his dad work hard on their small farm in Earlville, Iowa. After watching his father die trying to save his younger sister from being suffocated in a corn bin, he decided to follow in the footsteps of his own hero, his dad, by helping …show more content…

Research from The Balance suggests that work hours and anxiety contribute to the decline of officers health. Because their occupation already threatens their life, it makes the unknown risks much more stressful. Likewise, their irregular work hours, specifically unplanned shifts, promote unhealthy sleeping schedules which can cause officers to be tired on the job. All of these problems began to produce awful exercise and eating patterns which become hard for deputies to cope with while working (Roufa). Considering the fact that Jerome maintained two other jobs, five children, and other health issues at the same time, these stresses became extremely prevalent for him. In the words of Janet Maiers, “his stresses from work made his life more difficult, but he continued to work for the love of the people.” She provides a first hand account of how Jerome always persevered through his problems to help others. One time being when he had a stroke. Only a few days later and he willingly went to work again. As Verywell noted, the happiness of others is what heroes usually become interested in (Cherry). Janet also added that Jerome would comment on how seeing others joyful simply made him a happier person (Maiers). Jerome demonstrates integrity and persistence by continuing to work in law enforcement for over twenty years, even when times became stressful; all because he …show more content…

When he fully received the farm from his dad, it was nearing the 1970s, and Jerome prepared to help feed the world with the rest of the Iowa farmers. Iowa Public Television states that booming times in terms of agriculture came around the early 1970s in the midwest (“1980s Farm Crisis”). Jerome’s countless acres would become one of those farms. In the words of Janet Maiers, “our family farm thrived in the early 70s.” Although when the 80s came around, they lost a majority of their farm in the farm crisis. According to Iowa Public Television, numerous families were pushed off their farms. Those who depended on farming for part of their income faced financial distress. (“1980s Farm Crisis”). Since Jerome’s family was included in this crisis, he began to face countless issues. As Joyce Kehrli says, his other jobs did not pay well to begin with; therefore, their family relied on the farm for their main source of income.” In the words of Verywell, heroic people embrace clear morals (Cherry). Jerome shows this trait by staying close to his family even when times became rough. He continued to hold them together and try to be a good father. Obviously, Jerome suffered through obstacles while farming, specifically the farm crisis, but he continued to have a clear morals through his

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