Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking workinghttps://www.mirror.co.ukDisability does not discriminate against people. Some disabled people accept their fate. Some try to avoid being disabled all their lives. However, when disability hits, it does not spare anyone in its path. Being hit by ALS, my hero, Stephen Hawking loses his ability to speak, walk, and needs help to perform basic daily functions. His only fine motor skill is his ability to control his two fingers, which he uses to type on a keyboard. Stephen Hawking is a British man who studied mathematics and physics in Oxford and Cambridge. He has the ALS, a degenerative illness of the muscles and central nervous system, causing him to suffer from severe physical disability. He never gives up nor does he allow his disability to end his dream, eventually becoming a renowned physicist. A hero must possess determination and optimism to face life challenges and reaches his goals. With determination and optimism, Stephen Hawking overcomes his unexpected physical disabilities to accomplish his life goals of being a world-famous physicist and mathematician.

Stephen Hawking on his high-tech wheelchairhttp://time.com/3531/hawking-myth-or-legend/ Hawking does not give up working after he gets the disease, ALS; instead he changes his work ethics and becomes more determined to achieve his goals.In order to overcome his disability, Hawking believes he has to make changes with his life and work attitude.In his autobiography, Hawking says, “I once calculated that I did about a thousand hours work in the three years I was there, an average of an hour a day. I’m not proud of this lack of work, but at the time I shared my attitude with most of my fellow students. We affected an air of complete boredom and the feelings that nothing was worth making an effort for.”Hawking realizes that his old work ethics of lazing about will not suffice in helping him to be successful. In order to reach the highest peak with his new health condition, he is willing to give all of himself to achieve his planned tasks. Changing one’s habit or ways of life is not easy, but Hawkins willingness to change and stick with his plan shows his determination. Although Hawkins physical conditions become worse, he never gives up or makes excuses for himself. Instead he finds ways to communicate his thoughts and discoveries to his peers and the scientific world. The article states. “Although his body had become very frail and had to use a wheelchair, his mind remained as sharp as ever. Hawking learned to write using a specialized computer attached to his wheelchair and to speak through a machine called a speech synthesizer.” Given the severe impact of his illness, Hawkins does not promote self-pity. Instead he does not  stop working or give up on himself. His will to finish what he sets out to prove in the physics world becomes more powerful. His determination is second to none. Coming up with a plan by using advanced technology via the usage of a highly mobilized wheelchair and a special computer with a speech synthesizer to meet his needs, Hawkins compensates. He does not give up but chooses to use advanced technologies to make his plans work.

Although he was devastated after receiving news of his diagnosis of ALS, Hawkins remains calm and optimistic on his outlook above life and finds ways to overcome his disadvantages. He believes focusing on what he is capable of doing instead of what he cannot, he will be just fine. “I have had a full and satisfying life.  I believe that disabled people should concentrate on things that their handicap doesn’t prevent them from doing and not regret those they can’t do.” (The end of book, Stephen Hawking). Hawking understands fully that there is no point of wishing for something impossible.  By doing so, he will be more frustrated. He tosses aside wishful thinking and dwells only on what he can do with what little physical ability he has. Not many people have that kind of optimism in life especially when the degree of disability is so severe. By setting priorities and placing important values on the abilities that he can perform in life, which is extensive research, Hawkins beats the odds with his optimism.Furthermore, being optimistic gives me Hawkins a lucid outlook in life, despite his disabilities.  He does not feel sorry about his handicapped situation and live a constructive and meaningful life for both the science world and himself. Hawkins strongly believes that he should keep on working. “The victim should have the right to end his life, if he wants. But I think it would be a great mistake. However bad life may seem, there is always something you can do, and succeed at. While there's life, there is hope”.Hawkins does not give up on himself but he treats this disease as a chance to pause and think about how to live the rest of his life. Deciding to focus on his work, he is able to divert the negative effects of his disabilities and channel them into positive energy. Hawkin’s optimistic outlook gives him hope and helps him to keep going instead of ending his life and career. He realizes that people has choices in life when it comes to dealing with harsh trials and tribulations.  Hawkins chooses to be happy and be a winner instead of a loser. He changes his attitude about work ethics and works harder than ever with the help of being an optimistic person. Stephen Hawking shows the world that any challenges in life can be solved, no matter the intensity.

Stephen Hawking is optimistichttp://metro.co.ukStephen Hawking possess both determination and optimism, two key personal traits that have aided him to move forward and achieve all his goals, despite his severe physical disabilities. He never gives up on himself but he works hard, stays being hopeful and optimistic about life to accomplish what he sets out to do. Determination is an important personal trait to strive for in life. Hawkins’s determination has inspired me to reflect about my life and set priorities. I do not foresee that I will have the kind of hardship that Hawkins faces, but I need to practice having determination in all I do in life so when real challenges come, I will have the life skill to move forward. When determination and optimism go hand in hand, there is no problem in life that cannot be solved.

Works Consulted

"Stephen Hawking." Newsmakers, Gale, 1990. Biography in Context

"Stephen Hawking." Astronomy & Space: From the Big Bang to the Big Crunch, Gale, 2008. Biography in Context,

"Stephen Hawking." World of Physics, Gale, 2006. Biography in Context,“Stephen Hawking.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 2 Jan. 2018,