My Hero: Larry Page

Who is Larry Page?

Not many people know who he is, yet we use what he made almost every day: Google, one of the most used websites on the internet. Google is a search engine which, 'organizes the world's information and makes it universally accessible and useful for the user to search anything.' With the help of some investors, and partner Sergey Brin, Larry Page and his ingenuity started the most useful website in the world. Not to mention the helping hand that they have given around the world through their Google Organization which has donated over one billion dollars to help people everywhere. Larry Page is my hero for his ingenuity and determination for solving and organizing the internet and for his kind character of helping mankind around the world.

Larry Page's ingenuity started off as a young boy when his father, Carl Page, 'received a Ph.D. in computer science in 1965.' He once said in an interview that, when he was six, his home 'was usually a mess with computers and Popular Science magazines all over the place'. As you can see he became exposed to computers at an early age. 'I just enjoyed using the stuff. It was sort of lying around, and I got to play with it.

Not many people had computers just lying around the house in 1978'. He had advantages that not many other people had due to his father's work in which he wanted to pursue. His passion for computers was only fueled when his brother taught him how to take things apart, 'It wasn't long before he was taking apart everything in the house to see how it worked. Larry admits his early access to computers and his unique childhood shaped his interests in the invention, technology, and business.

He also realized that he wanted to change the world'. No doubt from the beginning he was to become an intelligent, powerful man, and that one day his ingenuity would change the world in a big way. His determination soon took him to new heights as a student in the University of Michigan, focusing on computer engineering, earning a Bachelor of Science in computer engineering. His path didn't stop there though. He went on to Stanford University in a computer science PhD. program. But who knew that his tour guide was his future partner and cofounder for Google, Inc.

Sergey Brin, a two-year graduate student also earning a Ph.D. in computer science. The two of them befriended each other and became, 'research colleagues at Stanford.' While attending Stanford, Page had many ideas which he wanted to pursue. One of the ideas was to, 'explore the mathematical properties of the World Wide Web, understanding its link structure as a huge graph.' He thought of large and complicated ideas. Larry Page discovered how to do this and the project was nicknamed, 'BackRub,' after some time. They kick-started Google.com in 1998. The rest is history, with the Google empire growing bigger and bigger.

Google Crisis Response

Although his ingenuity isn't the only reason for being my hero, he is also kind-hearted. The Google organization has donated over one billion dollars through technology and help around the world. Some of their current projects include, 'Google Crisis Response, which provides critical information and develops tools to support disaster relief.' This includes the 'Google Crisis Map, Google Person Finder, and Google Public Alerts.

'The Google Crisis Map helps show damage and resources following emergency events. The Google Person Finder allows people to locate someone during a crisis, such as an earthquake. Google Public Alerts shows relevant emergency alerts about what the user searches for or where the user is. This helps families around the world connect with their loved ones during a disaster, and stay alert to prevent being lost from their loved ones before a disaster strikes. Another example of his kind character is his salary, Page's 'annual salary is only $1,' according to Forbes.com, making it leaves room for the company to have the money to help in any way.

By creating Google, he created a helping hand to those in need. They are currently funding many non-profit organizations that are helping in different ways around the world. Such as the Charity: Water organization in whose goal is to bring clean and safe drinking water to people who need it. Creating Google, Page opened the door to support other organizations, like a chain reaction.

Conclusion

Larry Page is a true hero to me - intelligent and kind is what a hero is to me and Page fits that. I have learned that even one small website can turn into a global benefit for all of mankind. The sun never sets on the Google empire. Imagine what Google has done to better the world; they bring us closer to the future every day with their Google Glass, and their funding to all types of businesses. Larry Page made us who we are today and helps us to look toward tomorrow. Imagine, where would we be without Google? Google it.