Susan JessicaIntroduction
I’ve always been the type of person to get really obsessed with fictional characters. Like, deeply. And one day, I decided to give it a shot—really channel Helmeppo from One Piece into my life.
Yeah, it didn’t go as smoothly as I’d hoped. Spoiler alert: It was a disaster. But hey, I learned some things, mostly about my own personal flaws and the fact that I may have misjudged just how hard it is to become a better person. So, buckle up. This is gonna be one wild ride.
Who is Helmeppo, Anyway?
Okay, first things first—before we get into my colossal failures, let’s talk about who Helmeppo even is. You’ve seen him in One Piece, right? He’s this spoiled brat of a guy who starts out being kind of a jerk. But as the show progresses, he goes through this pretty wicked character arc where he starts turning his life around, ditching his privileged, entitled ways.
Some Fun Things About Helmeppo
- Born with a Silver Spoon: At first, the guy is living the dream, probably getting his shoes cleaned by hired help. He’s bratty, obnoxious, and thinks he’s above everyone else.
- Surprising Growth: But fast-forward a few episodes, and Helmeppo actually becomes pretty cool. He’s a Marine, but he earns his place in a way that feels earned—not like he’s just coasting on daddy’s money.
- Redemption Arc: I mean, I can’t help but root for the guy when he starts showing some heart. Watching him go from brat to soldier was like watching a 5-year-old on a scooter learn to ride a bike without training wheels. Growth, y’all.
Helmeppo’s character was, to be honest, a perfect inspiration for me to try and improve myself. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be a little less spoiled and a little more honorable, right?
Attempting to Be Helmeppo (Spoiler: It’s Harder Than It Looks)
Starting Off Strong (Sort of)
I kicked things off by trying to mimic his attitude. You know, the “I’m-not-better-than-you” humility. Turns out? It was a lot harder than I expected.
I tried saying “please” and “thank you” a lot more, actively listening instead of interrupting people in conversations, and basically forcing myself to not be a jerk. I’ll be honest though—my brain kept slipping into bad habits. I’d catch myself rolling my eyes at something I didn’t like and then quickly remember, “Whoa, no, Helmeppo wouldn’t do that.”
Fast forward past three failed attempts to stay humble, and I finally accepted that I wasn’t gonna be a Marine officer anytime soon.
What I Thought Would Happen:
- I’d turn into this super zen, humble, wise individual.
- People would totally notice and appreciate my growth.
What Actually Happened:
- I started over-apologizing. Like, sorry for every little thing: bumping into someone, breathing too loudly, existing in the same room as someone. “Sorry I didn’t water the plants, I’m a failure, I’m sorry!”
Real smooth, right?
What Went Wrong? (Hint: Everything)
You ever try so hard to be someone else that you forget who you are? That’s where I found myself—lost in the abyss of “I’m-not-good-enough” while trying to be Helmeppo, of all people. I was so focused on changing every little thing about myself that I didn’t realize it’s not about becoming someone else. It’s about growing into a better version of yourself. Oops.
Key Realizations (Also Known As “I Should Have Known This”)
- Self-Awareness, Duh: Helmeppo’s growth wasn’t instantaneous. His transformation came after a series of struggles and learning from people like Luffy and Zoro. I wasn’t going to magically transform by just watching a few episodes and taking notes.
- Growth Takes Time: I’m all for self-improvement, but real change? Yeah, it requires a hella lot of time. You can’t just binge-watch 20 episodes of a show and expect to be a Marine in a day.
- Be Yourself: At some point, I had to admit it to myself—trying to be Helmeppo wasn’t going to work. I needed to just chill and focus on improving at my own pace.
The Moment I Got Totally Lost
Big Reality Check
Fast-forward to week three of my Helmeppo experiment. I was trying to give up all my selfish habits, be more respectful, and avoid making quick judgments. But I hit a wall. A massive wall. Like, I spent 30 minutes trying to figure out how to politely tell my neighbor that I didn’t like the smell of her homemade incense, and she could maybe try burning something less toxic.
I know, I know—Helmeppo wouldn’t have freaked out about something so small. But it made me realize, I was trying too hard to fit into this mold that just wasn’t me.
The kicker? I started to feel like I was just going through the motions, like an actor trying to win an Oscar for Best Marine, but everyone knew I was faking it. Ugh.
Oh, and There Was That Time I Lost My Keys
And here’s the fun part: I was so busy trying to emulate Helmeppo’s maturity, I locked myself out of my apartment twice in one week. One of those times, I had to knock on my landlord’s door at 6 AM in my pajamas. So much for the “humble Marine officer” vibe, right?
How This Ends
Eventually, I realized that this whole “be like Helmeppo” thing wasn’t working. But, I also did learn a few things. You can’t change overnight. And sometimes? It’s okay to admit that you’re not going to turn into a fictional character no matter how hard you try.
Helmeppo went through his own process, learning from people around him, especially Zoro and Luffy. He wasn’t trying to be someone else—he was just trying to be a better version of himself. Same goes for me.
And hey, I didn’t have a sword-wielding mentor to slap me into shape like Helmeppo did, but I did learn a little more about myself—and I think that’s progress.
What I Learned (Spoiler: It Wasn’t All About Helmeppo)
- Growth Isn’t Instant: Like, duh, right? But sometimes you gotta learn it the hard way. I was trying to force it, when what I really needed was time.
- It’s Okay to Fail: Like, when I literally forgot the combination to my locker three times in one day. (Helmeppo didn’t fail this often, did he?)
- Embrace Your Own Journey: Trying to be like someone else can be fun for a minute, but at the end of the day, you have to focus on your own path.
Takeaways
I might not be Helmeppo, but I’ve learned that it’s not about pretending to be someone else. It’s about growing into who you’re meant to be, mistakes and all. So, I’m not a Marine officer (yet). But I’m working on becoming someone a little more… me. Maybe I’ll get a cool sword. Maybe not.
Oh, and the next time I try to mimic a character? I’ll probably pick someone who’s a little less dramatic. Maybe a frog.
Conclusion
Anyway, here’s the kicker: The lesson here isn’t to “be” Helmeppo or anyone else. It’s about embracing the mess—the failures, the awkward moments, and the ridiculous mistakes along the way. You gotta give yourself space to grow. And if you’re gonna try and be someone else? Maybe make sure they don’t start off as a spoiled, entitled brat. Just a thought.
Richard Joseph
