Clara Barton

A hero is someone who is brave, courageous, and inspires others to be selfless and caring. They would do anything for anyone and think of others first. Clara Barton was a hero who cared for everyone other than herself. She cared for the wounded in the Civil War and founded the first American Red Cross Center. I chose Clara Barton because she shows that caring for others and putting them first pays off. She encourages people to be a hero.

Clara Barton was born December 25, 1821 on Christmas Day. She was the daughter of Sarah and Captain Stephen Barton, the youngest of 5 children. Her mother was emotionally unbalanced, so Clara had to take care of her. She attended a district school, but because of her immaturity she was sent away to school, but came back home soon after. Clara Barton also cared for her brother who was hurt in a construction site accident. This is probably what motivated her to help the injured in the Civil War. Then that led to finding the first American Red Cross Center.

Clara Barton wrote an autobiography about her childhood in 1907. Sadly, she died shortly after in 1912. This was her famous quote: "An institution or reform movement that is not selfish must originate in the recognition of some evil that is adding to the sum of human suffering, or diminishing the sum of happiness. I suppose it is a philanthropic movement to try to reverse the process."

An interesting fact about Clara Barton is that she had 6 biographies written about her by various people. Here are a few important dates in her life: 1852-1854 she establishes first public school in Bordentown, New Jersey. April 14, 1846, her sister Dorothea dies. July 18, 1851, her mother Sarah Barton dies. 1857-1860, she returns to Massachusetts to live with her relatives.

Clara Barton shows that caring for others and being selfless is how you become a true hero. If she had never helped the wounded in the war and founded the American Red Cross, history would be a lot different. She motivates others to be like her and become a hero. She makes it clear to everyone that being selfish and caring for only yourself will never get you anywhere in life. She has motivated me to become a hero, what about you?