Jake Wood by Robert Scott

    Over time, the definition of a hero has evolved alongside society.  Rewind about one thousand years to the war-hungry medieval period in Europe, and the definition of a hero is someone who risks their life in order to benefit the people of their kingdom, as seen in Beowulf.  Today, while those who display courage and risk their lives are still seen as heroes, the definition of a hero has been slightly amended to include those who help/advocate for others, whether in an act of bravery or not.  People who stand up for others or provide aid are heroes of their own.  These two definitions of heroes sometimes blend together in the form of one person, one of whom being a man by the name of Jake Wood.
    Jake Wood started his hero journey after joining the Marines in 2005, having just graduated from the University of Wisconsin.  He served in two combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, after which he planned on attending business school.  This relates to the first definition of a hero; one who fights for their nation for the benefit of their people.
    Before Wood could attend business school, though, a devastating earthquake struck Haiti in 2010.  The destruction ensued a death toll of anywhere around 85,000 to 300,000 (the numbers were disputed greatly) and a cost of about $14 billion.  Upon seeing pictures of the aftermath on social media, Wood decided that he wanted to help.  Over the next few weeks he assembled a group of over 60 volunteers, mainly of military/medical backgrounds, who dubbed themselves Team Rubicon.  After Team Rubicon left Haiti, it became a nonprofit organization, gaining more and more members over the years and conducting over 14 missions around the globe.  Team Rubicon and Wood continue to work to this day, with Wood even accepting the Pat Tillman Award for Service in 2018.  This relates to the second definition of a hero; someone who helps others even on their own time, bravery involved or not.
    His time in the military and his founding of Team Rubicon both combine for Jake Wood to be the mixture of old and new definitions of a hero.  His bravery and acts of aid for others are something for everyone to look up to. 

If you want more details on Jake Wood:
https://www.cnn.com/2012/03/29/world/cnnheroes-wood-rubicon/index.html