Helen Keller who has had a significant influence on me Essay

Helen Keller who has had a significant influence on me - Essay Example To this very day, I can still remember how Keller struggled to find a way to overcome her disabilities. Her perseverance and passion truly touched me. I never thought that after another five years since kindergarten, I would be here in the United States, Helen Keller’s homeland. The first sight of the blue, cloudless sky was exhilarating. I am lucky, I thought to myself. This is the land of freedom and opportunity. However, I had not expected the difficulties that were lying ahead of me. My years in elementary and middle school were not so much enjoyable. I often had to take out my pocket-sized dictionary to grasp the meaning of unfamiliar words. Then people often made fun out of me. It was like trying to walk blindly in the dark. My parents on the other hand were very busy trying to make a living while I had to endure the harsh reality on my own. When people talked, I could not understand what they were saying. When I needed something, I could not open my mouth to ask simply because I did not know any English. Periodically, I borrowed short stories and interesting fictions to read so that I could improve my English skills. During that time, I could barely read a single page without spending more than ten minutes on it, trying to figure out each word I did not understand. I knew it would be extremely tedious to finish all the books, but in order to be successful, I had to master all these English phrases and words. Whenever I got bored and lost inspiration, I thought of Helen Keller and how she overcame her difficulties. I would keep going, no matter what it took to finish the book I would be reading. Seven years have passed since my journey to the U.S. Currently, I am enrolled at Stuyvesant High School, one of the most prestigious high schools in the United States. I am grateful that the individual who has had the single highest degree of influence on me is Helen Keller. I realize that I could never be where I am today had it not been