Soul Surfer

Title: Soul Surfer

Author: Bethany Hamilton

Pages: 264

Genre: Biography 

Persuade us to consider your figure as the “greatest” human being who ever living. Give 3 reasons with evidence

Why is Bethany the Greatest human being ever lived?

Bethany Hamilton is not just another 13 year old girl, she is someone who really knows what life is like. She is a person that inspires and motivates people to tackle any obstacle in their lives, she helps many people around the world, and has had one of the greatest comebacks in history. But why? What makes her so amazing? Bethany is a girl who has only one arm, her passion and will to fight is what keeps her on top. She is living proof that ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way’. Bethany won’t stop anything from reaching her dreams, no matter what it takes, even if a shark attacked her. ‘Bumps, bruises, reef rash…hey, it comes with the territory. I’ll take it all and then some…as long as I can surf’ (Hamilton).

First something happened to her that really affected her life and who she is today. It started on October 31^st Halloween morning 2004, 6:00am. Bethany and her mom got into the ‘Blue Crush’ their Dodge Caravan and headed out to Tunnels beach to catch some waves. Bethany’s best friend Alana Blanchard turned up as well with her dad Holt and Brother Bryon. Her Mom decided to go home since there wasn't much surf. So they all headed out to sea. While lying on her surf board waiting for some good waves, all of a sudden a 14 foot tiger shark came out of the water and took of Bethany’s left arm. She didn't even scream, probably because of the shock or denial. Holt and Alana started to pull her in toward the shore. As she came to the sand she remembers people gathering around to help. Because of the loss of her blood she kept on fading in and out. Bethany also remembers hearing the sound of sirens and being lifted onto the back of Holt’s truck. When she had a flash in my mind; you could die, but stay positive you are in God’s hands. The next thing you know Bethany was in the hospital. Her dad was at the hospital the same morning getting a knee surgery and when he heard about Bethany he just wanted to get the feeling back into his legs so he could come see her. As Bethany lied there in the hospital room she thought, I had made it this far… and I am going to survive this. There was a lot of surgery, and she wasn't in pain but she lost 60% of her blood volume. Bethany went through 7 surgeries and luckily none of them went wrong. But as she lied there in the hospital bed she thought about her future. Bethany was not afraid of the water, she was not afraid of the shark. What she was afraid of was never being able to surf again. ‘Imagine the one thing you love to do the most. Now imagine out of nowhere something happens and you realize you may never be able to do it again’.  She was 13 when this happened.. 13! That changed her whole life, after that everything was different.

               

  Second just because she got bitten by a shark she was not going to let that take her down. She was determined to someday surf again. Bethany set a deadline: Thanksgiving. That was the time she was going to get back into the water and surf again. On Thanksgiving as she got on that board and paddled out into the ocean she knew that she could do it, no matter what. It was hard for her the first few tries but then it finally came, it finally happened. It’s hard for her to describe the joy she felt but it truly just felt amazing. Bethany was ready to fight again; she ran on the beaches, swam laps, just everything she possibly could become a better surfer. She was ready, she was prepared, and she was not going to let anything take her down. In January 2004 she placed 5^th in the Open Women’s Division. And one year later in the Explorer Women’s division of the 2005 NSSA National Championships she took first place, it was her first National title. Bethany had one of the best comebacks in history. She knew that her time to surf was not over. She stayed strong and she fought until she finally got there. She inspired tons of people around the world, some with and some without limbs. She has received thousands of letters from people all over the world saying how she is an inspiration and that makes them feel like they can do anything.

Lastly Bethany has helped so many people around the world. Just because she is famous does not mean she cannot help people. During her life and still today she helps so many people around the world changing their lives in so many ways. Bethany is working with the World Vision Foundation, which is an organization that helps poor children around the world. She can help kids living in poverty, with disabilities and give them care and support. In 2005 Bethany went to Thailand since they had just recently been hit with the tsunami, even though it was almost a year past when it happened, the people still needed lots of help recovering their lives. Adults, but mainly children were terrified of the water. Bethany helped a little boy and other kids get back into the water, they had surf lessons and just had fun playing together in the ocean. She visited people’s homes and an orphanage, and became friends with a little girl Ketsara who lost her mother and brother in the tsunami. World Vision helped people build their traditional Thai fishing boats as well to provide for their families. Bethany has worked with the Make a Wish Foundation, two girls Lauren and Katherine both had chronic illnesses, Lauren had chronic adhesive arachnoiditis, and Katherine had cystic fibrosis and their wish was for Bethany to teach them surfing. Make a Wish Foundation flew them to Hawaii with their families. Bethany felt good to put a smile on their faces, because it’s just terrible to have a bad illness at souch a young age, they are just normal great kids and its wrong that they have to deal with that. Every year Bethany’s church youth group goes to, Tijuana, Mexico. Their goal is to help orphanages, from feeding, bathing, playing, building, or painting, to love and care for them. Bethany was happy because it was cool to do something so simple since they have so little, and they were adorable. They went to the dump where families live and they passed out food, it’s sad to see the conditions that they live in. The experience encourages her to know how blessed she is, and be thankful for what she has. Ever since her attack, her life has changed drastically over the years, from award shows to helping orphans and people around the world. Bethany is a giver; she gave people love, strength, and faith.

Bethany Hamilton is an inspiration to not only people without limbs but for everyone. If Bethany can do it without an arm we can defiantly do it with two. You can’t hold back on life, because if you do then you are not really living. If we take those risks and take those chances, we will believe in ourselves, we will be fearless, and we will have faith.

This is a picture of Bethany's family on the left is Noah and his wife, next to Noah is Tomas Hamilton and Bethany is in the middle with her dog Hana. On the right of Nethany is her mum Cheri and on the end right is Bethany's brother Timmy.