Bethany Hamilton

Bethany Hamilton once said, "Courage doesn't mean you don't get afraid. Courage means you don't let fear stop you."(New Moon Girl Media). Bethany shows this because after her shark attack, she had the courage to surf again. Bethany Hamilton was born on February 8th 1990 in Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii. When she was eight, she entered in her first competition and won. From that moment on, she loved to surf. On October 31st 2003, Bethany was surfing in Kauai when a 14-foot tiger shark attacked her. The attack left her with her left arm absent. One month after her incident, she was back in the water ready to surf again with her goal of becoming a professional surfer in mind. Bethany possesses the traits of a hero because even though she endured the pain of a shark attack, she still proceeded to surf again. Most people would just quit and let fear control their decisions, but Bethany was unlike other people and had the courage to not let fear stop her. Instead, her courage made her overcome fear and to continue on what she loves to do. Bethany Hamilton possesses determination and bravery because she doesn't let an obstacle get in her way of pursuing her dreams and goals.

Bethany before her shark attack

She shows determination because after her attack, she was determined to fulfill her dream of going professional. After her incident, she decided that she wanted to surf again: "Without two arms for balance, Bethany made some changes to her surfing style. She uses a lighter board that's easier to paddle, and she grabs a handle on her board to help her stand."(Mason). Bethany had to change her style of surfing so she could be the best surfer that she can be. Even though she only has one arm, she can still surf to the fullest of her abilities because she is determined to be able to surf again. Once Bethany was able to compete again, she took no easy way out and wanted to prove to everyone that she could still surf with one arm as well as she could surf with both of her arms: "But taking special favors? Unthinkable! During one competition, officials offered Bethany more time to paddle into a wave. She refused." (Mason). In competitions, the judges ask Bethany if she would like extra time but she does not take the offer because she is determined to be a great surfer without the special treatment or advantages. Bethany wants to prove to everyone that she can still surf so she can finally go professional. It was not her surfing before her attack that made her great, but it was the comeback after her attack when she was determined to be even better.

The surf board from the shark attack

She shows bravery because only three weeks after she was attacked by a shark, she returned to the water to surf again. Bethany was on the road to recovery to surf again as soon as possible: "The attack left Bethany with a severed left arm. After losing over 60% of her blood, and making it through several surgeries without infection, Bethany was on her way to recovery with an unbelievably positive attitude."(Collaboration Reverberation). After going through lots of pain and surgeries, Bethany was recovering well with a positive attitude to help get her through the pain. Bethany was brave to be able to know she lost her arm, got attacked by a shark, and was going through lots of pain and yet she was still recovering quickly. Bethany was ready to surf again with the help of her family: "Just four weeks after the attack, she was back in the water. ‘I was a little scared but really excited,' she says. Her supportive family and strong faith helped her focus on living her life--not on the loss of her arm." (Mason). Even though Bethany was scared to get back into the water, she had the courage to not let fear stop her from doing what she loves to do. Bethany's family helped her not focus on the loss of her arm but instead, they helped her focus on her dream of becoming a professional surfer. With surgeries and the support of family, Bethany was back in the water surfing again only four weeks after her attack.

Bethany surfing

As Bethany said: "People can do whatever they want if they just set their heart to it, and just never give up, and just go out there and do it."(Hamilton). When Bethany does things, she does them with heart, skill, but mostly passion. She doesn't need any special treatment because she is the same surfer that she was before the attack, but now she is tougher and better. When things don't go her way, she finds a way to make it work without complaining. Bethany is an inspiration because even though she is busy surfing, she still finds time to tell others her story. When she shares her story with people, it inspires people to be the best that they can be. She inspires me because she proves that you can accomplish your goals no matter what the situation is. She followed her dream of going pro after she realized how much she had been through. She reminds me to not quit on my goals because if I quit, all the time and effort that was put into it would be for nothing. With her determination and bravery, she didn't let anything, especially fear, get in her way of accomplishing her goal for being the best that she could be and inspiring others to be the best that they can be too.

Bethany using the special handle on her surfboard

Bethany. "Collaboration Reverberatoin, n.d. Web. 31 Mar 2011.

Cowley, Jason. "Americans love their little surfer girl, but what about the shark?(sport)." New Statesman (1996). 132. 4671 (Jan 19,2004): 57(1). Student Resource Center - Gold. Gale. DEL NORTE HIGH SCHOOL. 1 Apr. 2011.

Mason, Adrienne. "I survived a shark attack." National Geographic Kids July-Aug. 2004:8. Gale Resource Center In Context . Web. 28 Mar. 2011.

"The last word. (Bethany Hamilton)(Biography)." New Moon Girls . 16. 1 (Sept-Oct 2008): 49(1). Student Resource Center - Gold. Gale. DEL NORTE HIGH SCHOOL. 1 Apr. 2011.