Rosa Louise Parks has been a very courageous person throughout her life who broke through racial barriers. She was born in Tuskegee , Alabama on Feb. 4 , 1913 and passed away on Oct. 24 , 2005. Rosa Parks was born and raised in the south where most of the  african American population was concentrated. Rosa Parks was married at the age of 19 , a full 20 years before she was forced to give up her seat to a white man and refused. This risky and controversial feat led her to go to jail. Rosa Parks’ inspiring , risky , and controversial decisions lrd to one of the biggest boycotts of her time.  Otherwise known as “the queen of the civil rights movement: (Scholastic ) ,Parks is remembered and talked about today as someone who paved a way through the racial oppression for  african americans. 

As Rosa Parks grew older she helped on various occasions  to help african Americans to earn their rights and not be inferior to white people. Parks showed others to be strong when refusing to give up her seat in 1955 showed other black people that they do not have to change where they were sitting and eating because of the color of their skin. Her decision  not to move launched the Montgomery bus boycott that lasted from 1955 to 1956. This courageous act caused a ripple of good and bad reactions. because of the boycott Dr. Martin Luther King Jr helped her find more ways to help black people. This also brought some negative back lash.

Each person in this world can only live once. When we are young we should all take a risk. Like Malala, she did that. She took a big risk and had to suffer the impact. Malala Yousafzai is 22 years old. She was born on july 12, 1997 in Mingora, Pakistani. Her family was supportive of her. Malala had two brothers named Atal Yousafazi and Khushal Yousafzai. She lived in a small house in Mingora with her parents Ziauddin Yousafzai and Toor Pekai Yousafzai.  Her family had many hopes and dreams for Malala. 

    Even though Zamperini was very very successful in life, he had a rough childhood with his actions of being a troublemaker and causing trouble. Zamperini was very troubled when he was younger. He started smoking at the age of five, and started drinking alcohol by the age of eight. Zamperini was very criminal based. He would threaten anyone who dared to challenge or fight him, so nobody ever did. Zamperini would steal anything that came in his path, and he even threw tomatoes at a cop. His parents, his sister, and his brother all thought that he would end up in Juvie, but luckily he didn't. When Zamperini moved up into high school, a flattering group of girls convinced him to join the high school track team, which stopped all of his trouble making. He was so focused on track, he didn't have any time for trouble anymore. His older brother, Pete also encouraged him to join as well.

    Zamperini was always so inspired to do anything, which led him to be very successful in life and succeed at many things. After he joined the high school track team, he was so focused on track. It was his number one sport. After lots and lots of practice, Zamperini set a national high school track record for the mile in only four minutes and 21 seconds. Everyone was very impressed by him. That very special success led him to something great. Later after he won the track record, he had gotten a scholarship for track to a very nice college. It was from the University of Southern California. Zamperini went there for college after he accepted the scholarship. He pursued in track and never quit at what he did. He then went to the Olympic games in 1936. Zamperini was the youngest distance runner to ever compete in them. He won eighth place, which was a very good spot compared to all the runners that ran in the race. 

Although Helen Keller had a stroke in 1960 she did not give up on life. A year later she retired from the public eye before she met her close friend Mark Twain. Mark Twain was an American author who would help Keller with her books she wrote.  Keller's books have been translated into more than 50 languages. She received many awards for all of the books she wrote. She learned how to write all of these books from her “tutor” Anne Mansfield Sullivan as well as Mark Twain. Before Sullivan passed away Keller said this quote, “Blindness cuts people off from things; deafness cuts people off from people.” Keller worked with Sullivan until 1936 when Sullivan passed away and then Keller moved “tutors” to Polly Thomson. (“World Book Online”) 

Therefore Helen Keller started writing books, articles, lectures, and revealed before legislatures. As for writing so many books, she slowly became a lecturer. Keller actually won an award for a documentary film about her life in the 1950’s, as it got published people loved it. After her documentary film, Keller started a fundraiser! The fundraiser she started was called, “The Helen Keller Endowment Fund” Keller asked more wealthy people because they would be the ones to feel bad and then they would give her more money for her fund. Especially being blind and deaf most of your life. She was received in the White House by every single United States president from Grover Cleveland to John F. Kennedy.

Before Rachel Carson, people thought that fertilizer and pesticides were just harmless mixtures to help keep bugs away, but they were wrong! Carson noticed that when animals like birds are around that kind of mixture it does not just shoo them away, but also causes them to lay thin shelled eggs therefore the baby would not hach so the population of birds and/or other insects is decreasing rapidly. Her discovery not only helped the reproduction of animals, it also helped save the environment. The pesticides are also very bad for the environment. Biologist Rachel Carson alerted the world the impact pesticides have on the environment. Carson died of cancer in 1964 and is remembered as an “early activist” Who worked to preserve the world for the future.

Rachel Louise Carson was born on May 27th, 1907. She grew up simply in the rural town of Springfield, Pennsylvania. Her mom, Maria Frazier McLean, lived to her a life-long love of nature and the living world that Rachel expressed first as a writer and later as a student of marine biology. A quiet child who kept to herself, Rachel spent most of her childhood with her mother, learning about nature. Although she didn’t always know what she wanted to be when she grew up, Carson rediscovered her passion for science in college and quickly changed her major to biology. She also wanted to become a writer and wrote six books (Under the Sea Wind, The Sea Around Us, The Edge of the Sea, Silent Spring, The Sense of Wonder, and Lost Woods: The Discovered Writing of Rachel Carson). She also published an article in a children’s magazine when she was ten. She was a good student and her teachers loved her.

     Rachel Carson took a job as an aquatic biologist with the U.S Bureau of Fisheries in 1936 . She remanded there until 1952. In 1937 the first book began to take form. The same book was later published in 1941, “Under The Sea Wind”. In 1951 she wrote her first best seller,” The Sea Around Us”. The book was translated into 31differnt languages. Her 3rd book edge of the sea was published in 1955,”Edge Of The Sea”.Her most popular book of all time came next,”Silent Springs”. Which was published in 1962. Like all of her books, she talked a lot about nature. But this book uncovered what none suspected. The pesticides and fertilizers were quickly decreasing the population of birds. Because of this extraordinary discovery, Carson received many awards.

 

                                                                              

The expectation for someone who is missing a limb is never to become a professional athlete. For Jim Abbott expectations don't mean anything. He has broken all the barriers set for him. Jim Abbott was a baseball player who was an inspiration to all people with differences or disabilities during his career and after it, while always staying humble and dedicated to baseball.

Jim Abbott's childhood and early career have led him to be successful in life. Jim Abbott was born on September 19, 1967, he lived life like any other boy his age, but there was one thing about him that stood out, his right arm ended in between his elbow and wrist. In his early years he wore an artificial limb to overcome this, but at the age of six he stopped wearing it because it was getting to uncomfortable. His parents encouraged him to follow his dreams and not let his disability hold him back. He played basketball and football against his parents wishes to play soccer. Later when those sports became too challenging to play with one arm he turned to baseball. Baseball is where he found his success, in his first start in little league he pitched a no-hitter. He continued to find success and later in 1987 he was given the golden spikes award for the best amatuer baseball player in the country. He was drafted in the first round of the major league draft. In his first season playing for the California Angels he finished fifth in rookie of the year voting. He continued his baseball career for nine more years, along the way playing for the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox. He ended his baseball career in 1999 after being sent to the minor leagues[UXL].

Jim Abbott has shown courage in his life on and off the field. His courage started when he was just a child, he pursued baseball instead of all the other sports that don't require hands. He knew he would have to work hard if he wanted to play baseball. He has represented America in the olympics, in 1987, he led America to the gold medal. He also won silver in the Pan-American games. Outside of baseball he has published a few books that are surely inspirational to anyone with a difference[Gale]. He is currently pursuing motivational speaking, he speaks mostly to children. Jim Abbott’s most important trait is his modesty. He never wants to be known as the player with one arm. He just wants to be known as a normal baseball player. He often declines titles such as hero, for he likes to stay humble. Jim’s courage and dedication has led him to become such an inspiration to kids and adults.

     William Wilberforce had a good childhood, and that might have influenced his decisions later in life. He was born into a prosperous merchant family in Kingston upon Hull, England, also known as Hull, on august 24, 1759. In 1776, he entered Cambridge at 17. He left in 1781 to enter parliament as a member for Hull. In May 1789, he began his campaigns against slavery when he was 30 years old. At 38, he married Barbara Spooner, bearing 6 children. 

       Mae Jemison’s background influenced her career because she worked hard and never gave up. Mae Jemison was very assiduous as a kid growing up. She first lived in Alabama but then moved to Chicago so because her parents wanted a better environment.From kindergarten through senior year Jemison went to public schools around Chicago.In Jemison's childhood she loved building things and making new creations. In her adolescence she won many science fairs and loved helping as many people as she could.Mae Jemison attended Morgan Park High School and Stanford University (where she mastered chemical engineering and African American studies.)Then she attended  Cornell University medical college.

Wilma Rudolph's childhood was hard at points but then at other points it was full of happiness. She was born in 1940 and the twenty child out of the twenty two kids her mother had. When she was born with polio and scarlet fever. When Rudolph was born her one leg did not work properly so at the age of five she started to wear a brace so that she could walk better. Then when she got the brace her parents started taking her for physical therapy four times a day. Then one day when she was eleven she took the brace off and then Rudolph was able to walk down the church aisle because of all that physical therapy.(Wilma Rudolph)

Wilma Rudolph inspired so many people through her courageous actions. During 1956 Wilma Rudolph was only a sophomore when she participated in the Olympics. There she won a bronze medal with her relay team. Then when she participated in the 200 meter dash she lost, later in 1958 she started college in Tennessee State University. Her coach, Ed temple was very influential for Rudolph. He would make her run twenty miles a day. All that work paid off in the 1960 Olympic qualifiers she set a new world record in the Olympic trials. Later she won a gold medal in the one hundred, two hundred and four hundred meter dash. She was the first woman to win three different gold medals in the same Olympic Games. (Wilma Rudolph) 

Bethany Hamilton’s powerful and courageous accomplishments, all began with her childhood. Hamilton’s full name is Bethany Meilani Hamilton. She was born on February 8, 1990 in Lihue, Hawaii and was raised in a surfing family. Her mom, dad, and 2 older brothers, Noah and Tim, all surfed, so she was handling waves at a very early age. (Hamilton, Bethany World Book) She was 9 when she got her first sponsorship and began surfing competitively. “In 2003, age 13, she placed second in the NSSA National Championships in California.” (Bethany Hamilton Biography) But on October 31, 2003, Bethany Hamilton experienced a life changing tragedy. She was surfing just off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii, when a (later determined) 14-foot tiger shark, attacked her and bit off her left arm, just below the shoulder. (Hamilton, Bethany World Book) But Hamilton wasn't going to let that stop her. Although she lost approximately 60 percent of her blood following the attack and underwent several surgeries, she was stabilized and released after a few days. Less than a month after the attack, she returned to her beloved sport of surfing.

Even though Hamilton experienced a life changing tragedy, she refused to give up and went on to pursue her dream. Just two years after the tragedy, in 2005, Bethany Hamilton won an “Explorer Women’s division of the NSSA National Competition and the O’Neill Island Girl Junior Pro tournament in Poipu, Hawaii.” (Hamilton, Bethany World Book) Then in 2007, she achieved her dream of surfing professionally. She went on to win the NSSA Regionals and the Pipeline Women's Pro competition. She also became the first woman to compete in the Rip Curl Cup in 2012. Then, in 2016, Bethany was nominated for a World Surf League Big Wave Award for her exceptional surfing of 40-foot tall waves (Bethany Hamilton Biography)

Most people are born with two legs. However that was not the case for former all-American wrestler Anthony Robles. Mr. Robles was born without his right leg. Despite only having one leg Anthony Robles would go on to achieve his highest goals in wrestling, but also in life. Through his actions of becoming a Wrestling National Champion Anthony Robles has inspired many people with disabilities to achieve their highest goals. 

Due to only having one leg, Anthony Robles had a very troubling childhood and early life compared to most kids. Anthony Robles was born and raised in Mesa, Arizona. His mother abandoned him, after giving birth at 16 years old. He was later adopted by a woman named Judy Robles who would switch his last name to Robles. (“My hero.com”) Anthony Robles started wrestling in the eighth grade. He was the smallest and worst wrestler on the team. He would finish his season with a record of 5-8, taking last at the Mesa City wrestling tournament. (“AnthonyRobles.com.”) Robles would work hard to achieve his goals, and by his junior and senior year he was 48-0 both seasons winning two Arizona state championships. His senior year he would go on to win the USA national wrestling tournament. Anthony Robles was 129-15 in his high school career. (Myhero.com.) Despite all of Mr.Robles accomplishments and being ranked 9th in the country pound for pound he was still overlooked by all division one colleges. The reason was simply that he only had one leg. Anthony would stay close to home and take his talent to Arizona State University.

 

Along Anthony Robles journey he exceeded many people limits that were set on him, by accomplishing many great feets. Walking on at ASU to wrestle would not be easy, but nothing in Robles life ever was. 

     During World War II Adolf Hitler was responsible for the lives of 6,000,000 Jews.

Many horrible things happened  to them but there was one man by the name of Oskar Schindler, Schindler saved the lives of around 1,200 Jews. 

  However Brown didn’t actually board the life boat because she was helping others onto the boat. A crewman made her get in the life boat. After the boat sank she encoBrown has donated to charities. She wanted the whole world to feel loved, and special. She worked hard for those who can't be there for their family and friends. Mrs.Brown had many accomplishments in her life. We all know about her being rich, but she grew up poor. Her parents were Irish Catholic immigrants. Brown lived with her parents and siblings in a two room log cabin! She got a job in a department store and met and married J.J. Brown. They had two children Helen and Lawrence. They worked hard and made their fortune in mining. 

     Molly Brown is a woman who was heroic and a blessing to those who were saved on the Titanic. On April 14, 1912, Browns life became a nightmare when the Titanic struck an iceberg, and began to sink! She was a first class passenger and was able to get on the lifeboat first, uraged the staff and fellow passengers to go back and save more people who were in the water! 

        Although Tegla Loroupe is now a well known peace activist and athlete, she had a relatively uneventful childhood. As a young girl in Kenya, Loroupe did not spend much time training for an athletic career or doing many sports at all. Loroupe’s father had 4 wives, as is acceptable in Kenya, and Loroupe herself had 24 brothers and sisters. Her childhood -instead of playing sports or training for her future career- was spent watching over her siblings, as well as doing field work almost all day. When she started running, her father objected to the idea. Despite her father’s objections, Loroupe continued her training in her athletic career. (Lewis)

     Loroupe’s athletic background supports her in her new peace-seeking activism, later helping her to establish peace through sports. As an Olympic long distance runner, Loroupe had some experience with sports. She had been focusing on her Olympic goals, then changed her focus to a career of attempting to maintain peace among the people and tribes of Northern Africa, specifically Kenya. Tribes in Kenya and other countries had been fighting over disagreements, and the fights had started to get a little concerning and dangerous. Loroupe’s hope was to stop these fights by bringing them together with sports. Her idea had been to create a peaceful yet fun environment to create and maintain peace between tribes. She later founded the Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation in 2003 (Ng’oriarita, 84). Loroupe also helped encourage women in Kenya to pursue a career in athletics (Ng’oriarita, 84).