AN ADVOCATE FOR HOPE

By Grace Tran

Heller Keller went from bitter to loving, from disturbed to compassionate, and from hateful to charitable.  At age two, an illness seized her sight and hearing.  Luckily, Helen gained Annie Sullivan as her teacher.  Annie taught Helen words and helped her graduate from Radcliffe College.  Ultimately, Helen journeyed to numberless towns and encouraged and gave hope to those who are disabled.

Helen Keller was only two years old when she became very ill.  The sickness affected her ability to see and hear.  Helen’s father searched and found her a special teacher, Annie Sullivan.  At first, Annie tamed Helen to behave.  One day, Annie pumped water onto Helen’s hand.  Then she spelled the word water on it.  At that moment, Helen understood everything had a name.  She grew persistent in learning.  Helen learned 300 words in a few weeks and also to read Braille.

As Helen grew older, she graduated from Radcliffe College with honors.  She wrote a book, The Story of my Life, which gave Annie and her a comfortable lifestyle.  The majority came to listen to her lectures tours that comforted them.  Helen traveled to every continent except Antarctica, just to encourage people who had disabilities. 

When I grow up, I want to be just like Helen Keller, helping people with disabilities.  Helen is kind and passionate. I see myself overcoming fears, graduating from college, and giving hope to the world.