Stephen Hawking

Photo of Stephen Hawkinghttp://time.com/3536998/stephen-hawking-facebook/In the 1960s, the science world was drastically changing, each year massive discoveries were made. The world was changing, and one man was in the center of it all. That man was Stephen Hawking, one of the greatest and influential theoretical physicist in the world. Stephen Hawking was born on January 6th, 1942, in London, he would later move to St. Albans. At the age of 21, he was diagnosed with ALS, which would change his life forever. He is most known for dealing with ALS and make great discoveries, such as proving The Big Bang Theory in 1966, and discovering “Hawking Radiation” in 1974. Hawking became a Theoretical Physicist and also wrote many books explaining the universe. His most famous book, A Brief History of Time, published in 1988, would make science accessible to everyone and make him a household name forever. Stephen Hawking died on March 14, 2018 and will forever ponder the universe. A hero retains their perseverance and courageousness in whatever situation or hardship they may be in. They will never give up in the face of opposition, and will continue on to help others. Heroes are not discouraged by danger or pain, they will use whatever they have to overcome any obstacle. Stephen Hawking uses his overwhelming perseverance to overcome obstacles in his way to inspire others, and his courage to keep continuing his studies and research with the looming threat of immediate death to become a natural born hero.

Profile of Stephen Hawkinghttp://www.hawking.org.uk/Stephen Hawking has had to overcome many obstacles in life that many people could never get through by his innate ability to persevere. His perseverance shows up many times, but never more prominent than in his fight to survive against the disease he had been fighting his entire life, ALS. Stephen’s life was changed forever after the diagnosis, “Initially given two years to live, a diagnosis that threw him into a profound depression, he found the strength to complete his doctorate and rise to the position of Lucasian professor of mathematics at the University of Cambridge, the same post held by Isaac Newton 300 years earlier. Hawking eventually became one of the planet's most renowned science popularizers, and he embraced the attention, traveling the world, meeting with presidents, visiting Antarctica and Easter Island, and flying on a special "zero-gravity" jet whose parabolic flight let Hawking float through the cabin as if he were in outer space” (Achenbach and Rensberger). Stephen Hawking’s capability to overcome this disease that had crippled him for life was extraordinary. Instead of relying on his body, he instead relied on his mind. This disease had seemingly doomed his life, giving him only two years to live. His life was spiraling downward at only the age of 21, but instead of staying down, he pursued his dreams. Hawking would rather push on past the disease, than let himself succumb to it. His ability to persevere with his own body holding him back, led to how he became one of the most distinguished scientists in the world. Without his perseverance, where would he be now?  With everything seemingly against him, life didn't seem to want to back down. While in the hospital, Hawking had a revelation, “The first of these came while Hawking was still in the hospital. There, he shared a room with a boy suffering from leukemia. Relative to what his roommate was going through, Hawking later reflected, his situation seemed more tolerable. Not long after he was released from the hospital, Hawking had a dream that he was going to be executed. He said this dream made him realize that there were still things to do with his life” (“Stephen Hawking Biography”). He realized that although the disease would drastically alter his life, it would never be as bad as the boy with leukemia. He found hope when everyone else only saw darkness. Stephen Hawking would not give up because, as he said, there were things he needed to accomplish. Perseverance pushed hims to success. Without it, Hawking wouldn't be where he is now. Giving up is always an option, but for Steven, no setback would hold him from his dreams. When most people would have never continued on, Hawking found the strength within himself to endure whatever was thrown at him. Stephen Hawking, a genius trapped within a crippled body, always persevered through the toughest of times.

Stephen Hawking at a Lecturehttps://www.newsweek.com/As well as being perseverant, Stephen Hawking used his courageousness to inspire his family and the public. During Stephen Hawking’s life, he wrote many books expanding the knowledge of the universe. His most famous one, was released in 1988. A Brief History of Time, became Stephen’s most acclaimed and well known book, “His decision to write 'A Brief History of Time' was prompted, he said, by a desire to share his excitement about 'the discoveries that have been made about the universe' with 'the public that paid for the research.' He wanted to make the ideas so accessible that the book would be sold in airports. He also hoped to earn enough money to pay for his children's education. He did. The book's extraordinary success made him wealthy, a hero to disabled people everywhere and even more famous” (Overbye). Stephen’s book was an immediate hit with the public, making him famous all around the world. Hawking valiantly wrote this book to show the public the wonders of the universe they live in today. Even though his ALS disease was always looming around him, waiting to strike, he continued to write on. He was not discouraged by his declining health, he courageously inspired the world and taught them about the natures of science. His courageousness helped the world understand science, and achieve his goal of making science accessible. Hawking had many instances of being courageous, but the way he lived his life shows his great amount of courage. Hawking devoted his heart and soul into his work, “He was a man who pushed the limits -- in his intellectual life, to be sure, but also in his professional and personal lives. He traveled the globe to scientific meetings, visiting every continent, including Antarctica; wrote best-selling books about his work; married twice; fathered three children; and was not above appearing on 'The Simpsons,' '’Star Trek: The Next Generation’' or '’The Big Bang Theory’” (Overbye). Stephen Hawking risked his health every time he traveled. His goals were to advance the scientific community and inspire the public. As said in the quote above, his limits on his mind, body, and relationships were often stretched thin. Hawking courageously helped people in the scientific community. His mind and heart were poured into helping others even in his crippled state. Hawking achieved much, using everything he had, to fearlessly understand the world around him and the universe. Hawking faced many challenges in his life, but his devotion to his work and helping others, even when his health was deteriorating, shows his true courage and makes him a hero.

Stephen Hawking once said, ”However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at” (Hawking). Stephen Hawking never seemed to know when to give up, which made him all the more special. His life was always uncertain and full of tragedy, but he used his courageousness to prioritize others rather than himself. No matter what faced Stephen Hawking, he always overcame it. His life spent crippled and relegated to a wheelchair, did not cage him in. He always found something worth surviving for, be it his family, or his need to understand the universe. With disease affecting every aspect of his life, without his courageous spirit, likely he would have failed. Instead, he found the courage to fight and stay alive to learn about the place we all live in. Stephen Hawking inspires everyone around the globe. Displaying, that nothing can contain the human mind and soul. He used his greatest strength, his mind to persevere through any hardship. Hawking has inspired millions, that with courage and bravery, there is always a way forward no matter how dark the situation. He traveled so far in life, while being trapped in a unforgiving body. Nothing can hold back a true hero, as with courage and perseverance, they will forever light up the dark broken path of life.

Works Cited

Achenbach, Joel, and Boyce Rensberger. "Stephen Hawking, physicist who came to symbolize

the power of the human mind, dies at 76." Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2018. Biography In

Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A530883328/BIC?u=powa9245&sid=BIC&xid=16e7df80. Accessed 26 Mar. 2018.

Overbye, Dennis. "Stephen Hawking, Who Examined the Universe and Explained Black Holes,
Dies at 76." New York Times, 14 Mar. 2018, p. NA(L). Biography in Context,

https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A530894889/BIC1?u=powa9245&xid=1a116d75.

Accessed 23 Mar. 2018.

“Stephen Hawking.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 22 Mar. 2018,

www.biography.com/people/stephen-hawking-9331710.