Bethany Hamilton

A sharp pain suddenly struck her arm and there was a flash of grey. One minute she was enjoying her early morning surf, the next minute she was rushed to the ER, not to realize her life had suddenly changed forever. Many people know Bethany Hamilton as the girl who got her arm bit off by a shark. However, there is much more to her than you may have thought. In fact, Hamilton has shared her inspiring story by publishing her own autobiography titled Soul Surfer. Bethany Hamilton, born on February 8, 1990 on the island of Kauai, Hawaii was the daughter of Tom Hamilton and Cheri (Lynch) Hamilton. Both of her parents were intense surfers for years. As a young girl, Hamilton knew right from the beginning that she wanted to be a professional surfer. Hamilton's parents introduced her to surfing at a young age. In fact, her first ride on a surfboard was at 8 months old. "At the age of eight, Bethany entered her first surf competition, the Rell Sun Menehune event on Oahu, where she won both the short and long board divisions" (Bethany Hamilton Biography). Ever since then, she had become an avid surfer. However, on Friday, October 31, 2003, Bethany was surfing at Tunnels Beach where her arm was torn off by a 15-foot tiger shark. It was all over within seconds, her life had suddenly turned around completely. With and without a left arm Bethany Hamilton has managed to continue to build up an impressive assortment of winnings. Nonetheless, her earnings weren't simple to get, it took years of tedious work. Bethany Hamilton is not solely known for surviving a shark attack, but she is admired for not letting her dreams fall apart in times of adversity. Because of her outstanding accomplishments in and out of the water, Hamilton is a perfect role model for others. Overall, her bravery, determination and optimism are what led her to become a successful individual.

Not long after all of her surgeries, Hamilton expressed her bravery by wanting to attempt to go back in the water. At first, she was a tad hesitant but her thoughts couldn't keep her out of the water. Unsure about her ability, Hamilton didn't let her worries get the best of her. Hamilton said, "'I don't feel differently about the water, but I think of sharks more often" (Bethany Hamilton Biography Today). Though she still has some fears that haunt her, it didn't stop her from pursuing her dream. Her bravery overcame all of the other doubts that were swarming throughout her mind. In reality, it was either give up on her dream or keep going. "Despite her injury, Hamilton wanted to surf again right away. However, she had to recover first, then learn how to balance on a surfboard in a new way" (Bethany Hamilton Biography in Context). Hamilton was willing to find a new way. The bravery within her wasn't going to give up without a fight. Even though some of the horrific images still cross her mind, she wasn't going to let anything hold her back. Through her bravery, she expressed that nothing is too great to recover and bounce back. Her followers admire her compassion for surfing, which has shaped her into the brave person she is today.

Without the level of determination Bethany has, she would not have been the same. As a young and determined child, Hamilton put her all in everything she did. After the attack, it took a while to adjust to her new surroundings. "She learned how to tie her shoes with just one hand and how to peel an orange by holding it between her feet" (Bethany Hamilton Biography Today). Her baby steps eventually built up her confidence.  From then on Hamilton knew things weren't going to come easily with her new body. She had no other option but to adjust to her new life. Everyday activities became a huge struggle. Yet, Hamilton was not afraid to fall down because she knows in order to accomplish her dream she would eventually fall, and then have to get right back up. With her new body, she had to learn how to adapt to the board and the rough waters. Soon Hamilton built up enough courage to participate in competitions. "Hamilton met more success in 2005 when she finished 1st in the NSSA National championships" (Bethany Hamilton Biography Today). Hamilton never left her dream to be forgotten. She was willing to do anything just so she could hold on to the thing she did best. Realizing she was far from her previous level, Hamilton strived to be the best she could be. Throughout her entire experience, she showed others that you have to be the one to turn your life around; others can do it for you.

As much as her fans value her determination and bravery, her positive attitude is what pushed the thought that things would get better. When things didn't go as planned she found a way to make it better. Whenever Hamilton was at a low point in her life, she constantly expressed a positive attitude by looking on the bright side. Hamilton does everything in her power to lighten up people's spirits by creating a positive outlook on life. "Bethany prefers to focus on what god has allowed her to do in picking up the pieces of her old life and adjusting to the new one" (Bethany Hamilton: Shark Attack Victim Still Making Waves). Hamilton saw her loss as an opportunity. Over the years, she had learned to adjust to everything around her. Hamilton looked at her loss as a chance to make a comeback and show that letting go of her dreams simply wasn't an option. She not only improved her life, but she acted as an antidepressant toward the people around her. Her optimism has shown to be a key to overcoming obstacles. "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" (Speed, Marie). Throughout her experience, Hamilton has learned to forget about the past and focus on her future. She learned to keep her head high and move on from negative situations. She has evolved into something greater than what she was before, simply by keeping her priorities straight and staying true to herself. As she has met challenges in her life she believes being positive will result in a successful outcome.

On Friday October 31, 2003, little did she know she would never be the same again, mentally or physically. In the end, Bethany Hamilton did not only serve as a superb hero, but she helped others realize if you love to do something, you should not let anything get in the way. Hamilton isn't afraid to make mistakes because she knows you have to mess up in order to improve. Whether she is in or out of the water, she is constantly striving to be the best person she can be. When by herself or with thousands surrounding her, she remains to stay true to herself. "Her faith in Christ means everything to her. She prefers not to make the shark attack a big soap opera" (Bethany Hamilton: Shark Attack Victim Still Making Waves). She doesn't want fame or fortune; she would rather use her popularity to help others.  Simply by sharing her outstanding story, she does everything in her power to make a selfless, positive atmosphere. Through the battles she has fought and the pain she has suffered, she has become an overall better person. She has made others realize, no matter how major of a setback you face, you should never give up on your dreams. Hamilton's wise words and actions allow others to see how strong they can be. Her desire to help others gives me hope that one day I might be able to the same. Bethany Hamilton is one of the people I turn to when I need a boost of positive energy. She is living proof that if you set your heart to it, you can sincerely accomplish anything.

Works Consulted

"ABOUT BETHANY HAMILTON." Bethany Hamilton. Global Media Outreach, 2011. Web. 27 Mar. 2013.

"Bethany Hamilton." Bethany Hamilton. EBSCO Industries, Inc, 2013. Web. 27 Mar. 2013.

"Bethany Hamilton: Shark Attack Victim Still Making Waves." Bethany Hamilton: Shark Attack Victim Still Making Waves. The 700 Club, 2013. Web. 27 Mar. 2013.

"Biography." Web log post. Bethany Hamilton Soul Surfer Professional Surfer Role Model Inspiration Biography Comments. N.p., 2010. Web. 27 Mar. 2013.

Hamilton, Bethany, Sheryl Berk, and Rick Bundschuh. Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board. N.p.: MTV, 2006. Print.

Rochlin, Margy. "True Grit: Bethany Hamilton's Story." LHJ.com. Ladies' Home Journal, May 2011. Web. 27 Mar. 2013. 

Speed, Marie. "Your Personal Best: Bethany Hamilton Is Back on the Board."SUCCESS Magazine. Success What Achievers Read, 2013. Web. 16 Apr. 2013.