Bethany Hamilton

For a very long time, I have always wanted to learn how to surf. I always wanted to learn the basics, nothing fancy. Like how to stand on the board, catch the waves, just simple things. I never knew the dangers that were involved when you’re out in the ocean. Learning about Bethany Hamilton made me realize that if you’re passionate enough about something, you do it no matter what. When Bethany Hamilton was bitten by a fourteen foot tiger shark, she still continued to surf. That had changed her life dramatically. Bethany had to face so many hardships to try to regain her strength and get back into surfing again. Bethany didn’t expect that she was going to surf with one arm, much less live with it for the rest of her life.

My hero, Bethany Hamilton, is ranked 8th in the world of amateur surfers. Bethany Hamilton had recently turned fourteen when the tragedy happened. Bethany was born in Hawaii, specifically North Shore, Kauai. She is still surfing strong as ever and has dealt with her one arm for about four years now. That is truly amazing and she is very committed to surfing. Bethany Hamilton has changed my life because, as an ice-skater, I know the dedication that Bethany must’ve felt with surfing. Learning about Bethany’s tragedy, I now appreciate how hard it would be to skate, if I had only one arm. I know that, by reading about Bethany Hamilton, how hard it would be that if something actually happened to me, I could probably never skate again; it would either be that option or if I were to go back to skating, I would be considered crippled. I think that Bethany’s story has touched other people’s hearts and they now realize that anything could happen to them.

Bethany Hamilton grew up in a family of surfers. Her parents moved to Hawaii before Bethany was born and taught her how to surf as a toddler. Bethany Hamilton was a very quick learner and the reason Bethany’s parents had moved to Hawaii was for surfing opportunities. Bethany is currently 18 years and she is still surfing. Even after Bethany Hamilton lost her arm, she’s still surfing. She is recovering, gradually, and is coming to her full potential for surfing. Hamilton refuses to be treated any different from any other person and I admire her for that. Bethany is very supportive when it comes to publicity and charity work. Bethany Hamilton chose her life experiences to be an inspiration to others and help others overcome anything. For this, I admire Bethany Hamilton very much for what she does.

In the book A Hero’s Trail, by T.A. Barron, I suppose Bethany Hamilton would be considered a survivor hero. I think Bethany would be a survivor hero because when she had her arm bitten off, she still continued with surfing even though Bethany knew how dangerous surfing really was. Bethany loved surfing and she would’ve still done it no matter what. This quality in a person is very admirable because although Bethany only has one arm now, she still continues to surf. At first, it was hard for Bethany to surf because she had to adjust to surfing with one arm, but then it became easier for her gradually. I also consider Bethany Hamilton as a hero within. That’s because Bethany had courage to get better and go out surfing again. Although she knew it was dangerous, Bethany’s commitment to surfing helped her surf with only one arm. When the shark had bitten her, Bethany had almost lost half her blood. If the shark bit any more, it could’ve been fatal. After just a few weeks of recovery, Bethany went back onto a longer surfing board so that she could surf again. This is truly heroic that because of her passion for surfing, Bethany went back onto her surfing board again.

In conclusion, Bethany Hamilton is my hero because she has been through tougher hardships than I ever have been in. Next time when I do an activity, I could think about the hardships that I would’ve had to face if I only had one arm. It would’ve been really hard for me to adjust to that. Bethany Hamilton had changed other people’s lives too because she didn’t complain when she had trouble surfing, she just tried to toughen up and continued surfing to the best of her abilities. Bethany Hamilton is my hero because now I really know the dangers of surfing, or really for any sport. One wrong movement and there could be terrible consequences. Bethany Hamilton can be described as my idol, my role-model, but most of all, my hero.