Monday, March 2, 2009

How did Helen earn fame through her determination?

Helen Keller became famous later in her life.  Her autobiography, The Story of My Life, covers the time period from her birth until her early twenties.  When Helen was in her early twenties, she was somewhat famous.  She became more well known around the world as time went on.


Helen was not the first deaf and blind person in the world.  There had been others, but they had not accomplished all that Helen did.  Helen was a determined person.  She worked hard and did not give up as she learned to communicate, read, and speak despite being deaf and blind.  She also studied a variety of academic subjects both in school and in college.  It was highly unusual for someone who was deaf and blind to attend a regular university, as Helen did.  As Helen became more well known, people were in awe of all she had accomplished.


Throughout the years, Helen befriended many famous people.  Alexander Graham Bell and Mark Twain were two of those friends.  Helen met many people, and this helped her to gain fame.  She noted, however, that she valued all her friends, be they famous or not.  She mentioned how much she valued the influence of her friends who were not famous:



But their influence, though it escapes fame, shall live immortal in the lives that have been sweetened and ennobled by it (Chapter XXIII). 



Helen wrote what would eventually become her autobiography.  It was published when she was in college, and this also helped her gain fame.  Though she was a hesitant writer because of a past experience, Helen was determined to tell her story.  This story earned her fame.

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