You're Never Too Young To Shine

When you think of a hero, what comes to mind? Captain America? Superman? Wonder Woman? Heroes come in all shapes and sizes but often in media they are portrayed as those with extraordinary supernatural (or super science) abilities. In the real world, heroes don't need special abilities or have to be adults- and these fun sized heroes are out inspiration!

Nicholas Lowinger

When Nicolas was a child, he met a brother and sister experiencing homelessness. The siblings took turns going to school because they shared a single pair of shoes. Nicolas gave the boy a pair of basketball sneakers, and from that act kicked off an organization that would come to be known as Gotta Have Sole, through which footwear has been donated to over 99,000 children in homeless shelters.

Jaylen Arnold

After being diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, Tourette's Syndrome and OCD, Jaylen was bullied by his classmates for being different. He found that the anxiety he suffered as result of the bullying worsened the symptoms of his disabilities. That's what led Jaylen to found the Jaylen Challenge Foundation, which has educated more than 100,000 kids on recognizing bullying behavior and understanding each others differences.

Malala Yousafzai

At 17, Yousafzai became the youngest Nobel Prize laureate for her humanitarian efforts. She was shot by the Taliban in Pakistan on her way to school because she was an advocate for women pursuing education. She is currently working towards her bachelor's degree at Oxford's Lady Margaret Hall while continuing her charity work through her organization, The Malala Fund.

Iqbal Masih

Masih was Pakistani boy who escaped child slavery at 10 years old (Every day he worked in a factory, where he and most of the other children were tightly bound with chains to the carpet looms to prevent escape. He would work 120 hours a week, seven days a week, with only a 30-minute break. ) and became a leader in the movement to end it forever. He helped over 3,000 children escape bondage and traveled the globe speaking out against the issue. Masih was tragically assassinated at the young age of 12 and roughly 800 people attended his funeral service. However, his legacy lives on well beyond his death. In 2009, Congress started an annual award in his name given to activists fighting to end child labor. He continues to inspire us even in passing. R.I.P.

Claudette Colvin

Claudette was 15 when she became a major player in the Civil Rights Movement by refusing to give up her bus seat to a Caucasian rider, nine months before Rosa Parks was arrested for the same thing. She was one of the four plaintiffs involved in the Supreme Court case that ultimately outlawed segregation on Alabama buses. Colvin has said about her experience, "I feel very, very proud of what I did. I do feel like what I did was a spark and it caught on."

Anoyara Khatun

At just 12 years old, Anoyara was trafficked to New Delhi until she was rescued by Save the Children. She returned to West Bengal and committed her life to putting an end to the exploitation and trafficking of children. Anoyara has rescued hundreds of children through her efforts and prevented many others from being forced into marriage.

Ann Makosinski

Makosinski was only 15 when she invented a flashlight powered by body heat for the Google Science Fair in 2013. By doing this, she found a way to reduce waste ( (single-use batteries getting dumped in landfills) and provide light to people who can't afford electricity in their homes. She also invented the eDrink, which cools your hot beverage by turning the excess heat into electricity that can charge your devices. Her inventions have gotten her worldwide recognition including an appearance on the "Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon".

No matter where you're from, where you live, what you've been through, or your age-you have the ability to change the world! Everyone has the potential to be a hero-a Nova!