Helen Keller

Helen Keller (http://www.afb.org/info/about-us/helen-keller/biog ())

Shane E. Bryan once said, "I do not have a disability, I have a gift! Others may see it as a disability, but I see it as a challenge. This challenge is a gift because I have to become stronger to get around it, and smarter to figure out how to use it; others should be so lucky"("A Quote by Shane E. Bryan").  Bryan explains how Helen Keller also viewed her own disabilities and disabilities in general.  Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1980 in Tuscumbia, Alabama and at only eighteen months she developed an illness that left her both deaf and blind.  She spent a large majority of her childhood illiterate and unable to fully communicate with her family.  Finally, Keller's father sought out the help of Alexander Graham Bell who appointed Anne Sullivan as Helen's new teacher.  Sullivan taught Keller how to read, write, and speak through diligent practice.  After studying for many years, Helen Keller entered the Cambridge School for Young Ladies in preparation for Radcliffe College, which she later graduated cum laude.  Helen Keller immediately began to fight for the rights of the physically disabled and spent the remainder of her life doing so.  Keller died at age eighty-seven on June 1, 1968 ("Helen Keller." Bio).  Helen Keller is globally remembered for her dedication to helping those with disabilities.  True heroes must be hardworking, selfless, and resilient.  This is because those with each of these attributes have the ability to overcome hardships and help others do the same.  These exemplary figures have also made the world a better place and, therefore, pose as role models.  Owing to her hardworking, selfless, and resilient attributes, Helen Keller is a true hero.

Helen Keller (http://www.afb.org/info/about-us/helen-keller/biography-and-chronology/biography/1235)

Helen Keller is heroic owing to her hardworking qualities.  Keller's childhood was quite a unique experience compared to her peers, and she developed an insatiable curiosity regarding education.  "As a young woman, she became determined to learn about the world, and to improve the lives of others" ("Helen Adams Keller." Dictionary).  Helen Keller is hardworking because in spite of the fact that she faced a multitude of obstacles, she overcame them and decided to help others do the same.  Both of these accomplishments would have taken a large effort on her part, which is a task that only a hardworking person would commit to.  Due to Helen Keller's hardworking attitude, she is known as a hero.  After becoming literate and studying tirelessly, Helen Keller was admitted into college.  "From 1896 to 1897, Keller attended the Cambridge School for Young Ladies, to prepare for Radcliffe College. She also studied for two years with a private tutor before passing the admissions examinations in 1899 and entering Radcliffe in 1900. She graduated in 1904 with a B.A. cum laude" ("Helen Adams Keller." Dictionary).  Despite possessing disabilities herself, Helen Keller persevered and attended the Wright-Humason School in New York City, Cambridge School for Young Ladies, and Radcliffe College.  This displays exactly how hardworking Keller was as a person and how determined she was to change her life for the better.  Helen Keller's hardworking attitude was not stunted by her disability and it, instead, prompted her to make a difference in the world.  "I was strong, active, 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." UXL).  Keller, being unsatisfied with her limited lifestyle, decided to aid in the making of a better world where disabilities were accepted.  This goal is not unique and many with limitations share it.  However, because of Keller's hardworking attitude she made this dream a reality for both herself and many others.  In addition, she was able to overcome barriers, that otherwise, could have prevented her from leading a successful life.  Many whom do not share her diligent attributes remain hindered by their handicaps and are unable to reach their goals.  Helen Keller is a true hero due to her hardworking attitude that prompted her to overcome her own disabilities and help others do the same.

Helen Keller (http://www.afb.org/info/about-us/helen-keller/biog ())

Helen Keller's selflessness made her an icon of heroism.  Helen Keller, being unsatisfied with solving only her problems, decided to give those with disabilities the opportunity to ameliorate their lives.  "After conquering her own limitations, Keller's next battle was the public's indifference to the welfare of the disabled. She devoted the rest of her life to promoting social reforms aimed at bettering the education and treatment of the blind, the deaf, the mute-in effect, many physically challenged people"("Helen Keller." UXL).  Although Helen Keller faced her own disabilities, she managed to overcome them and help others do the same.  She devoted time that could have been spent selfishly to the improvement of the lives of physically challenged people.  Through her own disabilities, she gained insight towards the difficulty of life without assistance and mutual understanding.  In comparison, Keller's teacher and mentor, Anne Sullivan, guided her to success that was unknown before their companionship.  In doing so, she improved the quality of life for these people and gave them an opportunity to conquer their impairments.  Keller's selfless attitude allowed her to pursue these interests in which she could dedicate her life to.  Helen Keller, being an auxiliary woman, used the American Foundation for the Blind to aid others with disabilities.  "In 1924 the American Foundation for the Blind sought Keller's assistance in raising funds for its information and scientific programs. For the next three years, Keller and Sullivan undertook meetings patterned after their vaudeville turn, generating great enthusiasm, raising considerable funds for the foundation, and providing them with modest recompense"("Helen Adams Keller." Dictionary).  Helen Keller not only overcame her own disabilities, she helped others do the same.  Keller's devotion towards helping others and putting the wellness of these people before herself proves that she is a hero.  Through her own limitations, Helen Keller found joy in improving the lives of others.  "With insight, energy, and deep devotion to humanity, she lectured throughout the world, lobbied 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"("Helen Adams Keller." Encyclopedia).  Unlike many, Helen Keller was not satisfied with defeating her own boundaries.  She felt the need to help others instead of only aiding herself.  Because of this desire, she decided to focus on helping other people with handicaps reach their full potential and overcome their personal disabilities.  Helen Keller is a true hero due to her selfless attitude which allowed her to improve the quality of life for a large number of people with physical impairments.

Helen Keller (http://www.afb.org/info/about-us/helen-keller/biog ())

Helen Keller is a hero because of the resiliency she has toward her disabilities.  Helen Keller is globally recognized for her personal accomplishments.  "Hers was a spectacular achievement against formidable odds"("Helen Adams Keller." Dictionary).  Even though Helen Keller faced extremely challenging obstacles throughout her lifetime, she managed to overcome them owing to resilient personality.  Because of this, Helen Keller is recognized as a hero.  Instead of allowing her infirmities to limit her success, Helen Keller persevered and became a symbol of resiliency.  "Though both blind and deaf, Helen Adams Keller (1880-1968), American lecturer and author, traveled the world over, crusading for improvement in the education and life of the physically handicapped."("Helen Adams Keller." Encyclopedia).  Instead of being limited by her disabilities, Helen Keller sought out to make the world a better place for those with handicaps.  She persevered through her own struggles and put even more effort into helping others.  Because of Keller's resilient personality, she is a true hero.  Throughout her life, Helen Keller was faced with a number of obstacles that could have prevented her from reaching her goals.  However, she persevered and has become a symbol for resiliency.  "Keller used her life as a means to tell others that physical handicaps can be overcome and that people with physical differences can live full and meaningful lives"("Helen Keller." UXL).  Helen Keller overcame her own disabilities because of her resilient attitude towards them.  She was determined to become a successful and educated person and was not going to allow any hindrance to take away her future.  Keller could have, instead, allowed herself to become uneducated and illiterate, but was unsatisfied by this way of life.  She decided to work harder than most anybody and, therefore, allowed herself to become successful despite her disadvantages.  Although Helen Keller faced a lot of obstacles in her life, she persevered and helped others.  Helen Keller is a hero due to her resilient attributes which allowed her to bring success to both herself and others.

Helen Keller (http://www.afb.org/info/about-us/helen-keller/biog ())

Due to her hardworking, selfless, and resilient attributes, Helen Keller is globally recognized as a true hero.  Even though she has faced incredible adversities, she still maintains an inspirational view of life.  Helen Keller inspired myself and others to adopt her hardworking and resilient attitude regarding the conquering of personal disabilities.  In addition, she was able to influence a large number of people to fight for the equality of every person no matter their abnormalities.  Sharing her personal story of resiliency inspired many to overcome their own limitations.   Instead of allowing her disabilities to limit her, she used them as way to motivate and inspire others to make a difference in the world.  Helen Keller is forever known as a hero because of her inspirational view of life, even though she has faced incredible adversities.  Helen Keller taught myself and many others that disabilities may, but do not have to limit us.  Only we can limit ourselves by not striving to reach our full potential.

Works Cited

"A Quote by Shane E. Bryan." Goodreads. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2015.

"Helen Adams Keller." Dictionary of American Biography. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons,

1988.Biography in Context. Web. 29 Jan. 2015.

"Helen Adams Keller." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Biography in

Context. Web. 29 Jan. 2015.

"Helen Keller." Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 30 Jan. 2015.

"Helen Keller." UXL Biographies. Detroit: UXL, 2003. Student Resources in Context. Web. 29

Jan. 2015.