Helen Keller

Helen Keller writing the book on her life. (http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/womenenc/keller1.htm ())

'"I was strong, active, and indifferent to consequences. I knew my own mind well enough and always had my own way, even if I had to fight tooth and nail for it"' -Helen Keller ("Helen Keller." Contemporary Heroes). Keller was born June 27, 1880 in Tuscumbia, Alabama. She was eighteen months old when this illness developed, the doctors described it was brain congestion. Helen Keller is a great inspiration to many people nowadays because of her accomplishments. She should be considered a hero because of her strong willed personality throughout her life, bravery and her morally strong attitude.

 In my opinion, Helen Keller is strong willed because of all the things that she has gone through and because of the positive attitude she kept. Helen was a strong willed child and young women. She kept her head on what she wanted and kept it there. She had a one track mind and didn't give up. She kept faith and bravery throughout everything that happened. "'I was strong, active, and indifferent to consequences. I knew my own mind well enough and always had my own way, even if I had to fight tooth and nail for it'" ("Helen Keller." Contemporary Heroes). Helen Keller was a fast learner and the first deaf and blind women to become a teacher. She learned the signs she needed to communicate with other people and learn how to do things as if she was able to see and hear. She may have been the type of kid to always want things her way and if she didn't get it she would throw a tantrum. As a young adult and as she was growing into her adulthood she was strong willed and kept her mind on her dreams and goals and kept them there until she reached them. Helen was a huge help to other children that were deaf and blind. She is a huge inspiration to everybody who is or had ever been ill and followed her lead in being brave, patient, and strong. "Helen Keller overcame both blindness and deafness, providing inspiration to many people around the world. She devoted her life to bettering the education and treatment of the blind, the deaf, and the mute, and was a pioneer in educating the public in the prevention of blindness in newborns" ("Keller, Helen (1880-1968)").She was strong willed by being a fast learner and willing to learn fast and persistent learner. She was a great inspiration to many people by the way she learned so fast and especially just by touching and feeling items. Helen is a huge inspiration to many children nowadays that are ill and that have disadvantages like she did. By accomplishing the things she had, it shows that she got through it and anybody else can if they keep their mind open, free and positive just like her. Helen Keller was very strong willed as a young adult and as she was growing into adulthood.

Helen uses her hand to hear Enrico Caruso talk. (http://www.greatamericanthings.net/people/person-helen-keller/ ())

  In my opinion Helen Keller was a very brave young woman. She kept the confidence and courage she needed to get through everything and continue living life to the fullest. She however had to learn signs so she was able to communicate with others. Helen Keller was a courageous person as she was going through her illness and was eager to learn and live her life true to herself. '"Sometimes I stood between two persons who were conversing and touched their lips. I could not understand, and was vexed. I moved my lips and gesticulated frantically without result. This made me so angry at times that I kicked and screamed until I was exhausted"' ("Helen Keller." Contemporary Heroes). Even though Helen Keller was a hard headed child, she got through those rough times. That eventually paid off for everything she has accomplished in life. Helen was a child that was adventurous especially with her conditions. She wanted to explore and learn more then she already knew.  Helen Keller went through a lot in her childhood with her courageous personality. Along with the help that was offered to her got her to where she ended up in her life, which was as a teacher. '"They called it acute congestion of the stomach and the fever left me as suddenly and mysteriously as it had come. There was great rejoicing in the family that morning, but none, not even the doctor, knew that I should never see or hear again"' ("Helen Keller." Contemporary Heroes). I describe Helen Keller as courageous because what she went through and how she approached the issue was inspiring to many people around the world.  Also by wanting to learn how to speak and communicate as a deaf and blind woman was a big deal. She was very brave and approached the conflict in a very courageous and timely matter. Helen Keller should most definitely be described courageous as a hero because of what she did and how she did it.

 In my opinion Helen Keller should be noticed and known for as a hero because of what she accomplished and what she went through. Being deaf and blind was very good for a special and gifted child like Helen. She was morally strong going through everything she did and had accomplished. She was the first women to learn how to communicate while being deaf and blind. '"We walked down the path to the well-house, attracted by the fragrance of the honeysuckle with which it was covered. Someone was drawing water and my teacher placed my hand under the spout. As the cool stream gushed over one hand she spelled into the other the word `water,' first slowly, then rapidly. I stood still, my whole attention fixed upon the motions of her fingers. Suddenly I felt a misty consciousness as of something forgotten--a thrill of returning thought; and somehow the mystery of language was revealed to me. I knew that that `w-a-t-e-r' meant the wonderful cool something that was flowing over my hand. That living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, joy, set it free! There were barriers still, it is true, but barriers that could in time be swept away"' ("Helen Keller." Contemporary Heroes). That is truly amazing that she was able to put that together that w-a-t-e-r was the liquid that we drink. I was amazed first when I read that, in my opinion. Everything that she has accomplished is truly incredible and unbelievable. And it all took place and happened only because she was had the courage and patience to wait and learn it all. Helen Keller was a strong child and young women. She was extremely brave and patient throughout all of her struggles. 'Helen Keller, the little girl, became one of history's remarkable women. She dedicated her life to improving the conditions of blind and the deaf-blind around the world, lecturing in more than 25 countries on the five major continents.' Helen never gave up on herself or on anything else that she wanted and wanted to accomplish. She was morally strong because she was wanting to learn how to communicate with other people, she wasn't forced to she wanted to earn on her own.

 In conclusion, Helen Keller should be considered a hero because by being morally strong and not giving up. She shows ill children and people just in general that no matter what happens as long as they do not give up. They can make it and get through the conflict by staying positive . Helen Keller should be considered a hero because of the impact she has had on many people around the world, including myself. She was a strong woman that had an adventurous mind and thoughts. She is deserving of this title because of what has happened to her and how she approached the problem she had. She was positive, open minded, joyful, happy, and has a one track mind, which all helped her get through and overcome this illness she was diagnosed with as a newborn. "Her own description of the incident is quite eloquent: "We walked down the path to the well-house, attracted by the fragrance of the honeysuckle with which it was covered. Someone was drawing water and my teacher placed my hand under the spout. As the cool stream gushed over one hand she spelled into the other the word `water,' first slowly, then rapidly. I stood still, my whole attention fixed upon the motions of her fingers. Suddenly I felt a misty consciousness as of something forgotten--a thrill of returning thought; and somehow the mystery of language was revealed to me. I knew that that `w-a-t-e-r' meant the wonderful cool something that was flowing over my hand. That living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, joy, set it free! There were barriers still, it is true, but barriers that could in time be swept away." ("Helen Keller." Contemporary Heroes) CM: It is truly unbelievable how fast she learned how to spell and what water was. She is an inspiration to me and many children who has illnesses, and by knowing about her hopefully it will keep them positive about themselves and that they can get better one day and will never let any obstacle or anything in this case stand in their way of achieving their goals and dream in life because they are normal human beings just in their own way. They are unique just like Helen was. "As a young woman Keller became determined to learn about the world and to improve the lives of others. With insight, energy, and deep devotion to humanity, she lectured throughout the world, worked to forward her ideas in Congress, and wrote thousands of letters asking for contributions to finance efforts to improve the welfare of the blind. She visited hospitals and helped blind soldiers. She taught the blind to be courageous and to make their lives rich, productive, and beautiful for others and for themselves."

("Keller, Helen." UXL Encyclopedia of World Biography) CM: She kept positive with everything that had happened and that was going on in her life.

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