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Bethany Hamilton

by Daniel from Selden, New York


My hero is one of the most aggressive (in a good way) people I've heard of, and is very brave to ever surf again after losing her left arm to a shark attack. Bethany Hamilton is a role model to anyone, surfer or not. She is a courageous person beyond anything I’d ever seen.

Many people think woman surfers are all girlie and afraid to really go big, but that's not Bethany Hamilton, who was attacked by a shark and no longer has a left arm on Oct. 31, 2003. Bethany was in the recovery room in the hospital for around three weeks before she surfed again. Yes, that’s right. Bethany went right back in the water the day before Thanksgiving 2003, with the shark in the back of her mind. When she got on the surfboard, it felt just like old times, she said. Not once was her entire family not with her, helping her to try again in her quest to be the best. I admire Bethany. She has no arm and still surfs, maybe even more than before. Bethany is even more of person by losing an arm. She's been on numerous talk shows and has written a book, "Soul Surfer."

Bethany is a down-to-earth kind of person and still doesn’t hate all sharks, just the man-eating ones in general, she said. She was afraid of those since she was a kid. This is also why Bethany is a role model to me. I don’t surf, but she inspires people to go for it head-on, even as my disabled arm didn’t stop me, she said. I think everyone should be like some form of Bethany and or follow her ways of looking at life because if you do, you can accomplish anything.


Bethany is only 15 and has the best enthusiasm I have ever seen. I think that if you put 100 people in a room, their courage would not match half of what Bethany has. Many people think that courage is the one thing that everyone has, but it’s not. You need to have heart, to have courage, and a lot of it. Courage: the state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger, fear, or vicissitudes with self-possession, confidence, and resolution. Bravery: courage comes from the heart, not your body or head. That is the definition I think many people don't understand completely.

Bethany now is happily with a new friend who is also a one-armed surfer. Bethany helped Logan Aldridge after he lost his arm in a bad boating crash. He now knows how to surf well and wakeboard, thanks to Bethany, who is now a motivational speaker. While going around the world to help people in need, she became friends with him. Bethany is not just a motivational speaker spreading inspiration; she is a walking painting of inspiration.

Bethany will always be my best hero unless you can find another person who can have her bravery, courage and fearlessness. I learned many things by studying Bethany. I learned to never give up and to never stop going in life. Bethany can be an inspiration to anyone.

Page created on 10/22/2005 12:00:00 AM

Last edited 10/22/2005 12:00:00 AM

The beliefs, viewpoints and opinions expressed in this hero submission on the website are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs, viewpoints and opinions of The MY HERO Project and its staff.

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