Bethany Hamilton

"Life is a lot like surfing... When you get caught in the impact zone, you've got to just get back up. Because you never know what may be over the next wave" (Bethany Hamilton). Recovering in the hospital, Bethany thought positively of what may come out of this, or what is there to come? Already at the age of thirteen, Bethany, was becoming a well- known surfer among the beaches of Hawaii. She lived in swimsuits and tanks, always eager to go to the beach no matter how sore or tired she was. Bethany started competing at the age of five, where she learned how to surf with the help of parents, Cheri and Tom. On October 31^st, 2003 Bethany was surfing in Tunnels, a surf spot in Hawaii with her best friend Alana. She was waiting to catch a wave when suddenly a 14-foot tiger shark appeared out of nowhere, biting a huge chunk of her arm off, immediately turning the ocean a deep red color. Shocked, Bethany quickly called to Alana, "I've gotten bit by a shark!" Alana, her father, and brothers helped Bethany get to shore and to the hospital. Three months after her attack, Bethany had won the National Scholastic Surfing Championships, surprising everyone with her incredible comeback. People believed Bethany was finished with her surfing career, but Bethany went back into the ocean and learned to surf in a whole new way. She kept practicing, staying committed to reaching her goals. A determined, selfless teenage girl, Bethany used her experience as a chance to help motivate and inspire people throughout the world. 

After her devastating shark attack, Bethany Hamilton showed her strong determination, by accepting little assistance in anything involving her arm and maintaining her attitude despite all the attention she was receiving. Bethany's friends and family, all wondered if she was going to be on her feet, riding waves, as she had before: "The main question asked by interviewers in the first weeks after the accident was whether Hamilton would return to surfing. She vowed that she would.'I'm definitely going to get back in the water,' she said. "If I was like a person that just quit surfing after this, I wouldn't be a real surfer. I have to stand up and catch the first wave on my own" ("Bethany Hamilton" Biography Today). People expected Bethany to stop surfing, but her love and dedication toward this sport didn't keep her from trying to surf again. She did not consider herself a true surfer if she gave up or chose not to surf. Bethany's family and friends assumed Bethany needed help to get her surfing again, however, she figured out how to work with her one arm and in no time, was surfing as she was before. Following her shark attack, Bethany became known world-wide, having countless people and media coming all at once, asking her questions, but Bethany learned how to not let all the attention get the best of her: '"I focused on the things that were really important to me at that time--my faith in Jesus Christ, my family, being grateful that I was still alive and that I could survive such a traumatic event"' (Bethany Hamilton "Hey Shark Get Out Of My Wave"). With all the paparazzi and news casters demanding for her answers, receiving numerous amounts of letters, and get well wishes, Bethany maintained her emotions. She would rather spend time with her family and friends, rather than being on television. Anyone receiving the attentiveness Bethany had gotten would have taken for granted all the opportunities of being on TV, instead Bethany did exactly the opposite. It takes strength and will power to not get caught up in all the media and attention, and Bethany shows everyone by being the same girl she was before, down-to-earth. With all the commotion with trying to surf again, Bethany kept her ground and proved to herself that she can do the same sport she has loved, not letting the media, become her whole life. 

A selfless teenage girl, Bethany used her fame to help donate money for disabled children and gave optimism to those around the world. As a strong, faithful Christian, Bethany used her story to help motivate people. As she continued to grow famous, her first thoughts were to help anyone she could: "She has teamed up with the Christian humanitarian agency World Vision to raise money for disabled children all around the world. Hamilton also hopes her story will serve as an inspiration" ("Bethany Hamilton" Biography Today). Instead of keeping the attention on herself, Bethany wanted to help improve disabled children's lives. With these small, caring actions, Bethany impacts the lives of thousands, giving encouragement to anyone believing they couldn't do something. People considered Bethany a true hero for all the time spent for others, however she thought differently: '"The main purpose is... to use her own experience to help others. She wants to talk about women surfing and about her faith. She does not want to be acknowledged as brave or a heroine or anything; she just wants to be natural with people around the world"' (Roy Hofsetter). Her willingness to support others with her experience, Bethany acts humbly showing her enthusiasm to support others with her experience. She wanted everyone to know herself as a girl who learned nothing was impossible, and believed in achieving her dreams. With a positive approach to her shark attack, Bethany donated her time to disabled children proving to people there may be hope in everything. 

Through her determination and selflessness, Bethany encouraged people to have faith in everything they believed in. Although it seemed everything was collapsing in Bethany's world, she kept a positive attitude, got up, and kept trying. Bethany never gave up, she kept her eyes on what she focused on. It seemed no one believed Bethany could do the things she could do, like surfing or donating much of her time to helping children, but she proved them wrong. Through this whole experience Bethany learned:'"Whatever your situation might be, set your mind to whatever you want to do and put a good attitude in it and I believe that you can succeed. You are not going to get anywhere just sitting on your butt and moping around."' (Bethany Hamilton). Discovering that she might not be able to do the same activities she loved to do, and pushing throught the tough times, Bethany shocked the world. She learned to surf again: "In January 2004, less than three months after the attack, Hamilton returned to surfing competition at Kailoa-Kona in Hawaii. In her first outing, she placed fifth" ("Bethany Hamilton" Biography Today). Bethany also hoped to use her learning experience as an encouraging story to others who needed the motivation. Bethany is an inspirational idol, demonstrating that if you put your mind on your dreams and passions, good things will result, if you keep trying.

Works Cited

"Bethany Hamilton." Bethany Hamilton (Biography Today) (2010): 1. Biography Reference Center. Web. 19 Mar. 2013.

"Bethany Hamilton." Gale Biography in Context. Detroit: Gale, 2005. Biography In Context. Web. 19 Mar. 2013.

Hamilton, Bethany, Sheryl Berk, and Rick Bundschuh. "The Road Back." Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board. New York: Pocket ; MTV, 2004. N. pag. Print.

"Hey, shark, get out of my wave." Sunday Times [London, England] 25 Sept. 2011: 6. Global Issues In Context. Web. 20 Mar. 2013.