INTRODUCTION
Can
you imagine being blind and deaf at the same time? Not knowing what is
happening around you and having no idea what to do. Well, Helen Keller went
through exactly this and still came out strong. To me, Helen Keller was an
amazing inspirational influence in the lives of so so many, people and that is
why I think everyone should know who she was and what she did-work against all
odds.
CHILDHOOD
She
went through a lot of difficulties and hardships growing up, but despite all
her troubles, she tried her very vest at everything she did.
Born
on June 27th 1880, was a wonderful child named Helen; Helen Keller.
She was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, US. When born, Helen was perfectly able and
a thriving child. However, at the age of 19 months, Helen developed a severe
illness which doctors believe to be either scarlet fever or rubella.
Thankfully, Helen recovered from this illness but the side-effects from the
medication she was on left her blind and deaf!!
In the
year 1886 Helens parents-Arthur Henley Keller and Kate Adams decided in was
time the helpless 6 year old child who was suffering without her sight and
hearing needed immediate help in terms of education. They
decided to reach out to a close friend, Anne Mansfield Sullivan Macy a blind 20
year old who taught at ‘The Perkins school for the Blind ’ to help Helen.
GROWING UP
Up until April 5th, 1887 a year
after Anne had started teaching Helen, Helen had learnt at least 30-50 words if
not more.
Anne had a miraculous way of teaching. For
example for the word ‘water’, Anne took Helen outside to a water pump where she
ran cool water over Helen’s hand and spelled w-a-t-e-r over the other.At first
Helen became very frustrated with the system of learning new words. Once when
Anne was trying to teach Helen the word ‘mug’, out of frustration Helen broke
the mug!!
At the age of 10, Anne took Helen to see
Sarah Fuller who gave Helen exactly 11 classes on how to speak and communicate.
However, even though Helen got the gist of verbal communication shenever used
those skills in life.
When young, Helen always dreamt of going to
college, so in the year 1898 Helen attended ‘The Cambridge school for young to
prepare for Radcliff College’. Helen entered ‘Radcliff College in 1990, where
she published her autobiography ‘The Story of my life’. Helen also received
‘The Bachelor of Arts degree’ and was the first blind-deaf person to do so.
*The Bachelor of Arts degree is awarded for
an undergraduate course or program in the liberal arts, the
sciences or both.
ADULTHOOD
In the year 1936 October 20th to
be exact Anne died.
When Helen realised that Anne was no longer
around, she was devastated but that didn’t stop her from accomplishing
everything she had started. She published her other work… Teacher Anne
Sullivan; My religion; let us have faith; Helen Keller’s journal; peace at
eventide; etc.
Helen kellers’ abilities and skills were
noticed by Alexander graham Bell(the inventor of the first practical
telephone)and Mark Twaine (author and humorist)who said “the 2 most interesting
characters of the 19th century are..Helen Keller and Napoleon! (not
the military leader)
After a wonderful and productive life Helen
died on June 1st 1968.
AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
·
Presidential
medal of freedom
·
Elected
to the women’s hall of fame
·
Helen
Keller hospital (dedicated to Helen)
·
The
Keller’s were listed in Gallup’s most admired
·
Campaigned
for women’s rights to vote
·
Fought
for labour rights
·
Fought
for peace
CONCLUSION
How
many of us with all our senses intact and working are able to claim that we
did, even 1/10th of what Helen Keller accomplished. That goes to
show what a determined and
Persevering
nature she had. If this gives even some of us food for thought and makes us
realize the immense possibility that each one of us has it could surely change
the world!!!
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