Deku

My Hero Academia, Season 1 episode 7

Some of my friends told me that this character reminded them of me. I didn't know why, when I first looked him up. He's green; I'm pretty well known for loving pastel pink. He didn't look a thing like me--how would he remind them of me? I ended up watching the series to find out... and find out I did.

My Hero Academia Season 1 intro

In the first episode of the series, Izuku Midoriya explains his origin story. He was a bullied kid born without superpowers in a world where almost everyone else was born with them. He wanted to be a hero, but he didn't have the ability to pursue such a career--and in this world, heroism is a career choice.

Season 1, Episode 1 of My Hero Academia

Izuku was weak. He was flighty. His name, in Japanese, was written in such a way that it could be misread as Deku--a word that, in Japanese, means "useless" or "worthless". I could certainly relate to feeling like he did, since I've always known I was imperfect, and always felt like I was never good enough. But seeing him cower in the first episode, I wondered why he would remind my friends of me... Certainly I'm not that spineless? Even if I was often bullied in a similar manner to what he was... even if I admittedly cowered like he did when I was confronted and attacked for being perceived as inferior. As weak. As an easy target.

Season 1, Episode 1 of My Hero Academia

It wasn't until he had his notebook tossed out a window and into a fish pond that I started to see a real glimmer of myself in Deku. He started to show a side of him other than the simpering wallflower that he displayed when attacked. He started to show anger at his mistreatment. He questioned what would happen if he ended everything, the way his bullies told him to do. What would they do if he decided to do it? He called his bullies stupid. It made me feel better about being compared to him, ironic as that might be. I felt angry at my bullies too. I wanted to prove myself, for so long, to show that I wasn't the worthless, useless target they treated me as.

Season 1 episode 1 of My Hero Academia

But that wasn't what truly sparked me to understand the comparisons, or to feel for Deku.

Season 1, Episode 1 of My Hero Academia

What really sparked that feeling was seeing Izuku, after being told that he could never be a hero, and seeing his bully being attacked by a villain... he raced to try and save his bully anyway. Despite the mistreatment. Despite being told he couldn't do anything to help. His own favorite hero had just told him to give up not ten minutes earlier, and Izuku chose to rush in and do everything he could to save his bully anyway, when he saw his bully in trouble.

Season 1, Episode 1 of My Hero Academia

And that's when I understood why my friends said he reminded them of me.

My Hero Academia: Two Heroes (the first My Hero Academia movie)

I look nothing like Deku. I'm not even a guy. I look more like Melissa Shield from the first My Hero Academia movie. But I have Deku's spirit. My friends know me as a person who will race in to help someone in need even if they've been mean to me, because I've done it before. I stand up for people even when it's not popular, because I know it's the right thing to do. I work hard and do my best even when it comes at a personal cost to myself, and I do it all on my own. That's what reminded them of me...

Season 2, episode 3 of My Hero Academia

And so I watched more of the series. It has become one that is very close to my heart. I realized some things about myself when watching. Things that seem stupid to me, but flaws of mine that are hard to recognize until they're pointed out. Like... he once came in first in a race using his intelligence and ingenuity, and then blamed it on luck, putting himself down and not taking any credit for his forethought. It drove me mad! I was like no, Deku, you used quick thinking and came up with a plan and put it into action--that was amazing! And then I realized... I often do that to myself.

Season 1, episode 1 of My Hero Academia

I'll put a ton of effort into something and then be like, nah, that was just a fluke, when it turns out okay. I'm trying to be more accepting of my wins in life after seeing that.

Season 2, episode 16 of My Hero Academia

I also tend to ignore my own pain or push through it to try and help other people. That isn't good for me either. It has lead me to become disabled for a time when I push past my limits. By watching Deku do the same thing, crippling himself, I've learned that I also need to hold back even when it feels more important to accomplish whatever it is I've set my mind to. I have to tell myself that the goal can be met without causing myself harm. I have to work on my patience, and reach out for help when I need it.

Season 1, episode 5 of My Hero Academia

One last thing I'll mention here is, I've learned to try and reframe some of my negative self talk and make it more positive. Another student in Izuku's class told Deku that she liked his nickname, not realizing what it meant when his bully called him that, because it sounded to her like the Japanese phrase Dekiru meaning, "You can do it!"

Season 1, episode 1 of My Hero Academia

That's what reminds my friends of me. Because as much as I've been bullied and put down in my life, and as worthless and useless as I sometimes feel, my friends think I can do it. They think I can accomplish great things. They appreciate me for my attempts to stay positive, do the right thing, and extend a helping hand to people in need... even when those people have actively harmed me in the past.

Season 2 episode 1 of My Hero Academia

That's a comforting thing to be known for.

Season 2 ending theme of My Hero Academia

I hope I can continue inspiring others the way Deku inspires me as a character. And I hope if you haven't given My Hero Academia a chance yet, you'll decide to after reading this. Hopefully I haven't spoiled too much of it in this little autobiographical blurb about it--there's a lot more worth checking out in the story, I assure you!

Anyway, thanks for reading this. I hope you have a great day.

-LadyFoxling