Laura Ingalls Wilder

"There's no great loss without some small gain." There is no doubt that Laura Ingalls Wilder lost and gained so much during her life. During her tough times she always managed to make something great out of it, just like when she turned her stories into books for future generations to learn about time in the early 1800s. Laura Ingalls Wilder was born on February 7^th 1867, the year before her first big move. Laura's family was really the only thing she had, and were the most important people in her life. With all the traveling and moving they did Laura didn't have much time to make friends. Her big sister Mary was a big influence on Laura, and was her best friend on the road. Laura had a really close relationship with her dad, she grew up a pioneer just like him. She loved traveling, listening to his stories, and hearing him play the fiddle. Laura's family moved so often that they ended up moving nine times within the span of three years! They had to move because of, extreme weather conditions, bug infestations, and lack of supplies and money. She ended up becoming an author and publishing her first book Little House in the Big Woods in 1932. She died on February 10^th 1957 at the age of 90, three days after her birthday. During her life she was a strong and caring women. Who proved herself to be more capable than to just sit around and not do anything with her life. She took control of her life and turned into somebody people, even now, can look up to. Laura Ingalls Wilder possesses responsibility and dedication, therefore she is a hero. Even though Laura caused a whole bunch of mischief when she was younger, somehow she grew up to be a very responsible young lady. A big part of being responsible is being dedicated; Laura was dedicated to her family, work, and accountabilities.

Laura Ingalls was as responsible as little pioneer girls come. She helped her family out with expenses, got a job as a teacher at 15 years old, and watched after a sick women for two weeks while her husband was stuck with work. Laura's attendance was sporadic but she still managed to be an avid student, and become a general education elementary school teacher. "Wilder attended regular school whenever possible. However, because of her family's frequent moves, she was largely self-taught. In 1882, at the age of 15, she received her teaching certificate. For three years, Wilder taught at a small country school a dozen miles from her home in De Smet and boarded with a family who lived nearby. The money she earned was used to help pay for special schooling for her older sister, Mary" (Laura Ingalls). When she taught, she was a generic elementary school teacher. She was also only 15 when she started teaching. Her main reason for teaching was to help pay for her sister Mary's college education. Laura took the responsibility of getting a job and helping her family pay for expenses that were a little out of her family's budget. Laura loved teaching and taught kids all about her life and what it is like being a pioneer girl. Laura seemed to be getting a reputation in the town she lived in of being a very responsible little girl. When somebody in her town got sick, Laura was the first person they looked to for help. "One winter Laura was asked to come live with a family named Hurley. Sadie Hurley was sick, and her husband was too busy with his own work to take care of her. So they hired eleven-year-old Laura to cook and clean and wait on Sadie Hurley day and night" (29 Stine). Although Laura's family was struggling she still took time away from helping them to help a family in need of assistance. Laura aids a family by helping, watching, and waiting on Saide Hurley when she was sick. Laura stayed at their house for two weeks waiting for Saide to get better. Nobody could look after the women who got sick, her husband was too busy with work to stay and watch his wife. So they chose one of the most accountable kids in the town to help out. Laura never formally graduated from her school, but she did complete all of her studies. And was one of the brightest students in her class. Laura also proves to be responsible by getting a reputation in her town of being accountable to everyone. She looks over a very sick women and basically helps her to recover.

Laura was always so dedicated to her family even when times got tough. Every time her family was struggling with money or sickness, she would always do her best to find a way to make things better. Laura couldn't keep her job as a teacher because her husband needed too much help at home with tending their farm. She gave up one of her favorite things to do, to benefit her family. "Almanzo frequently headed out into the country on his sleigh to pick up the young teacher and drop her off at her parents' home for weekend visits. After courting for a little more than two years, they were married on August 25, 1885. Wilder then quit teaching to help her husband farm their homestead" (Laura Ingalls). Laura wasn't always able to keep her job as a teacher; a couple years after she married Almanzo, Laura had to quit her job as a teacher to help him farm their homestead. She quit her job so she could be able to help full time. Laura did so much for her family whenever she had the chance. When she was younger she learned how to sew from her mother, and helped her family bring in money.  "Caroline Ingalls had been a teacher before marrying, and she was an expert seamstress. Later in her life, she and Laura sewed to augment the family income" (Arnold). When Laura learned how to sew she mainly did it just so she could help her family buy supplies to build a new house that their whole family could fit in. Laura was so selfless taking on so many roles as a child. Every job and skill she learned as a child she used to help her family improve on their life. Laura learned how to sew from her mother and helped her family with income. And when she was married to Almanzo she quit her job as a teacher and instead helped him farm their homestead.

Laura is an inspiration to many kids and adults, her responsibility and dedication make her a very inspiring girl and women. Laura loved working in the outdoors and loved her life and loved being hardworking. "Wilder spent her life in hard work. She was a high-spirited woman who loved the outdoors and cherished her life of independence and rigorous labor" (Arnold). Laura spent her whole life working hard and she was still happy. She cherished her life even when times were hard. She inspires people to look at the bright side of things and to be happy. Even in tough times, Laura was a very hard worker dedicated to her work and family. Even when Laura had to give things up for them, she still managed to look to the brighter side and find the light at the end of the tunnel. Laura always tried to face her obstacles and move on, but some of her obstacles affected her whole life, and made living so hard. "In August 1889, Wilder gave birth to a baby boy who died, an event that never appeared in any of her books. Her husband then came down with diphtheria, which left him partially paralyzed. Finally, their house, built by Manly himself, burned to the ground" (Laura Ingalls). Laura went through many obstacles in her life. Even when she got to those difficult points in her life, she held her head up and pushed through them. When her house burned down the family had to make a journey looking for a new home. They took a 55 day trip from South Dakota to Missouri. And when her husband became partially paralyzed, Laura had to take on an even bigger role in her family. She had to spend even more time out on the field along with taking care of her husband and her first child Rose wilder. Laura went through many challenges in her life and certainly didn't have an easy time. When times were hard Laura always made the best of the situation. She was even able to become a published author by turning her story into successful books.

  Because Laura was such a responsible girl when she was younger, she has become somebody that people can look up to, even now. She would sacrifice all her wants and needs to benefit herself and others. Laura Ingalls Wilder inspires me because despite all the negative things that happened to her, and her family, she was still able to act selfless, and care about everybody.  When I was younger I would do anything and everything to avoid chores, and running errands. But Laura was so different than other children, she would do anything to help her family, like work and look after people who were sick. Laura Ingalls Wilder is my hero because when she was a kid times were so much harder, she couldn't keep in touch with her friends every time she moved, and when her family didn't have very much money she couldn't just get a job anywhere she wanted. Whenever tragedies struck her life she found a way to persevere and be strong.