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Amelia Earhart

by Macy from San Diego

Amelia Earhart (https://www.radcliffe.harvard.edu/schlesinger-library/collection/amelia-earhart)
Amelia Earhart (https://www.radcliffe.harvard.edu/schlesinger-library/collection/amelia-earhart)

"My message, especially to young people is to have courage to think differently, courage to invent, to travel the unexplored path, courage to discover the impossible and to conquer the problems and succeed. These are great qualities that they must work towards. This is my message to the young people" ("A. P. J. Abdul Kalam." ). Heroes are those who perform life-changing feats with no intentions other than that of effecting the world and the people around them in a positive way. Amelia Earhart left her fears behind while she sought out adventure and pursued her seemingly impossible goals, changing the lives of many while doing so. "Amelia Earhart was born on July 24, 1897, in Atchison, Kansas, the daughter of a lawyer who worked for a railroad company. After seeing wounded servicemen on the streets of Toronto, she volunteered to work as a nurse's aide at a local military hospital. She also visited a local airfield and decided then that she wanted to learn how to fly. Earhart made her first solo flight in 1922 and shortly afterward set a new altitude record of 14,000 feet in her plane...Earhart set herself a new goal, to fly around the world at (or near) the Equator, something never before attempted" ("Amelia Earhart"). Because of Amelia's determination and courage to complete such tasks, she was able to change the way that many people of her time viewed women in various industries. (Pelt) Despite the way that these successes put her into America's spotlight, Amelia's true intentions were truly to prove that women were just as capable to attain such deeds, while simultaneously reaching her own goals. (Pelt) Amelia Earhart is a hero and inspiration to many due to her courage and determination to make a change in the way aviation and women's rights as a whole were viewed across the globe.

Amelia Earhart ( (http://bentcountry.blogspot.com/2012/05/amelia-earhart-prompt-written-for.html))
Amelia Earhart ( (http://bentcountry.blogspot.com/2012/05/amelia-earhart-prompt-written-for.html))

Amelia Earhart is a hero due to her courage, for it kept her chasing her goals when she was fully aware of the dangerous possibilities. As she prepared to make her solo flight across the Atlantic, Amelia wrote a letter to her husband that told him of her outlook on the adventure she was about to embark on; (Worldwide, CMG, Inc.) "Please know I am quite aware of the hazards, I want to do it because I want to do it. Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others" (Worldwide, CMG, Inc.). Amelia knew the danger surrounding her flying was prevalent, but there were many things that kept her heart set on her goals. (Pelt) Doubtful critics often debated whether or not Amelia's flying missions were too ambitious due to the fact that she was a woman. The thought of inspiring others and proving the critics wrong was quite enough to make the dangerous flights worth the risks.  ("Earhart Amelia 1897-1937?") After completing her solo flight across the Atlantic, Amelia became widely known and loved for her steps for women's rights; (Pelt) "...she demonstrated through her own example that opportunities thought to have been reserved for men were available to women as well" (Pelt). Amelia's actions showed that the things that seemed to be only possible for men were just as practical for women. Her actions single-handedly opened endless doors in the world of feminism, and changed the way that both men and women viewed women's rights and opportunities forever (Pelt). The courage that Amelia demonstrated through her daring actions inspired others to face their fears and follow their goals, no matter the danger.

Due to her determination, Earhart completed multiple expeditions when all odds were against her, and was able to inspire many because of it (Pelt). Being a woman, there were many that attempted to prove Amelia wrong, and tell her that she was too ambitious; that her flying skills were not enough ("Earhart Amelia 1897-1937?"). However, Amelia did not let these things affect her confidence; "Although her skills as a pilot had been questioned by some throughout her career, she persevered, seeking the advice of expert fliers when necessary" (Pelt). Although the doubtful demeanor of the people around Amelia was bound to dull her shining outlook, her love for aviation and the pure determination to accomplish her goals pushed her to find the advice she needed. (Pelt) If she was not determined to reach these goals, the trouble of finding a way around the obstacles in her way would have been useless. Hoping that her actions had opened paths for women in "unlikely" industries, Amelia believed her success had been "...something that would give equal "opportunity to both men and women" ("Earhart Amelia 1897-1937?"). Regardless of the boundaries and existing standards holding her back, Amelia was determined to make a difference in the way that others viewed their opportunities ("Earhart Amelia 1897-1937?"). She wanted her success to portray to others that they too had the power to accomplish their goals, just like she did. Amelia's determination helped her achieve the daring feats that shaped her legacy as a successful woman.

Amelia Earhart (http://www.quote-coyote.com/quotes/authors/e/ameli ())
Amelia Earhart (http://www.quote-coyote.com/quotes/authors/e/ameli ())

The independence and ability to show through her actions that others could also accomplish the impossible alone shaped Amelia Earhart's reputation as an American hero. Amelia's husband, George P. Putnam was a well known man during his time, and Amelia's actions only increased his popularity (Pelt); "His triumphant wife had not only achieved her dream of conquering the Atlantic, but had become the only person to fly across the ocean twice and broke the record for the fastest crossing in any direction" (Pelt). The glorification of accomplishing these grand goals could have been somewhat fueled by the self-sufficient mindset that she possessed. Amelia was not only able to accomplish the impossible, but she was able to do it alone (Worldwide, CMG, Inc.). Amelia Earhart was an independent accomplisher without a goal to please others. (Pelt) She wanted to face these challenges and complete them for nothing other than the mere satisfaction of doing so. (Worldwide, CMG, Inc.). A hero does not do things in order to gain fame or fortune, and Amelia follows that code. "I lay no claim to advancing scientific data other than advancing flying knowledge. I can only say that I do it because I want to" (Worldwide, CMG, Inc.). Amelia Earhart's independence was the key to her success, and she demonstrated through her actions that doing things for yourself produces the most satisfying results.

Amelia Earhart was able to inspire so many across the globe with her courage and determination to make a change in the world around her, not only for herself but others as well. (Pelt) Amelia fought hard for what she believed she could accomplish, and did risky things in order to do so. (Worldwide, CMG, Inc.). She was independent and confident, willing to do alone what others thought was impossible to do in the first place, and by taking her own initiative, she proved that women could do all that men could do just as well. (Pelt) "Amelia Earhart's heroic legacy lies within the daring spirit that survives her" (Pelt). The inspirational feats that Amelia Earhart accomplished in her lifetime have made an impact in the lives of many. Amelia's daring acts in aviation not only sparked a fire within many women to recreate the flights that she flew, but have overall been inspired by the things she did. As an activist for women themselves, Amelia proved that with a determined mindset and some courage, one can prove to men that women can do just as much. Amelia Earhart was not intimidated by those aiming to belittle her (Wordwide, CMG, Inc); "Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers.... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do" ("A Quote by Apple Inc.") 


Works Cited


"Amelia Earhart." Explorers & Discoverers of the World. Gale, 1993. Biography in Context. Web.     1 May 2015. .

"Earhart Amelia 1897-1937?" American Decades. Ed. Judith S. Baughman, et al. Vol. 4: 1930-1939. Detroit: Gale, 2001.Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 4 May 2015.

Hoffmann, James J. "Amelia Mary Earhart." Science and Its Times. Ed. Neil Schlager and Josh Lauer. Vol. 6: 1900 to 1949. Detroit: Gale, 2000. 57-58. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 1 May 2015.

Pelt, Lori Van. Amelia Earhart: The Sky's No Limit. New York: Forge, 2005. Print.

Worldwide, CMG, Inc. ""Amelia"" The Official Website of Amelia Earhart. CMG Worldwide, n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.

"A. P. J. Abdul Kalam." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2015. 18 May 2015. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/apjabdu446330.html

"A Quote by Apple Inc." Goodreads. N.p., 2015. Web. 18 May 2015.

Amelia Earhart. Digital image. Schlesinger Library. Harvard University, n.d. Web. 19 May 2015.


"BENT COUNTRY: An Amelia Earhart Prompt Written for a Recent Interview." BENT COUNTRY: An Amelia Earhart Prompt Written for a Recent Interview. Blog Spot, n.d. Web. 19 May 2015.

Amelia Earhart. Digital image. Wikimedia Commons. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 May 2015.

Amelia Earhart Quote. Digital image. Quote Coyote. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 May 2015.




Page created on 5/20/2015 12:00:00 AM

Last edited 5/20/2015 12:00:00 AM

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