Bethany Meilani Hamilton

Bethany riding a wave. (http://www.google.ca)

Bethany Hamilton is a hero to plenty of people in this world. She influences many and proves that all it takes to overcome adversity is courage and strength. She suffered through the hard times in life, but never stopped fighting, and that is why she is an inspiration to me and many other people.

Bethany was born on February 8, 1990 in Kauai, Hawaii, where she still resides. Her parents are Thomas and Cherilyn Hamilton and she has two brothers, Noah and Timothy. She is now a pro surfer, which was her dream for her entire life. She has now achieved it but not without struggle. On October 31, 2003 at the age of 13, Bethany was bitten by a shark while surfing. The shark attack resulted in the loss of her left arm which many thought would end her surfing career. She proved them all wrong by returning to surfing just one month after the attack.

Bethany Hamilton (http://www.google.ca/search)

Since returning to surfing she has participated in many surf competitions and won a national championship and second place at a world junior competition. Most recently, a movie called Soul Surfer was released and it is based on Bethany Hamilton, her shark attack and her return to surfing. She has made many appearances at events and on TV shows to tell about the attack and her experience overcoming it. She has received 13 awards/ honours for her courage and bravery including a Teen Choice Award for Courage and a Comeback Athlete Of The Year award.

Everything Bethany has accomplished since her attack is truly amazing, but I don’t idolize her for winning awards or for being able to surf with one arm. I find Bethany Hamilton a hero because when she was faced with an almost impossible challenge she rose above and never gave up. Most people in her situation would have given up on surfing and found something else to do with their life, but Bethany had a dream and she wasn’t going to let anyone or anything stop her from reaching it. She has admirable strength and amazing courage.

Bethany (http://www.google.ca/search)

Bethany Hamilton has inspired a nation, no, a world. She has shown people that if you believe in yourself anything is possible, and that with enough strength and courage you can overcome anything life throws your way. She teaches people of all ages that overcoming adversity is as simple as having the right people to support you and having faith in yourself. She is important to me because she has taught me to never give up on my dreams no matter what happens or how hard things may get. She shows me that strength has nothing to do with muscle, and that beauty comes from the things you achieve. She has inspired an entire world and shown everyone that just having faith is enough, and she’s just one young girl.