Helen and I | Teen Ink

Helen and I

December 5, 2014
By bethanyjones BRONZE, Olney, Illinois
bethanyjones BRONZE, Olney, Illinois
1 article 0 photos 0 comments

In the wise words of Helen Keller, “Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light” (Keller).  I was going to middle school at the time and I was in Jazz Band, all of us had to do solo’s and it was my turn. It was during a basketball season, playing halftime that I had to play my solo. Much like Helen Keller, I had to overcome an obstacle, my fear of playing my first saxophone solo in front of an audience.
Helen Keller had to overcome the obstacle of not being able to communicate, which caused a lot of problems. When Helen was a baby she got sick and became blind and deaf with a sickness called Meningitis. The Keller's then hired Annie Sullivan to teach Helen in the year 1887. Annie was able to teach Helen trust, obedience, and that words have meanings to overcome Helen’s obstacle of not being able to communicate.
Like Helen Keller, I also had to overcome an obstacle. My obstacle way playing my first saxophone solo in front of a live audience during halftime at a basketball game in middle school. I didn’t like a lot of eyes on me all at one time so it really scared me to have to play in front of a big audience. Being afraid to mess up is one of my weaknesses.  I overcame my obstacle by practicing and having my family there to tell me that they knew I could do it, and I did.
Although Helen and I have totally different obstacles, we share some similarities. One of the similarities is that we both had people who loved us and wanted us to succeed in very different situations. Another one is that it was hard, we did not really like doing what needed to be done, she did not like being told no so many times and I did not like that I needed to bring my saxophone home to practice. So you see, Helen and I have things in common.
Helen Keller and I both overcame obstacles, hers was not being able to communicate and mine was being afraid to play my first saxophone solo during halftime at a basketball game. What I learned from Helen’s experience is that you can do anything if you work hard enough for it. What I learned from my experience was that there really is not that much to be afraid of when you have people there to support you. “I have learned that over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done away with fear.” quote from Rosa Parks (Parks).

Works Cited
Keller, Helen. "Famous Quotes." BrainyQuote. Xplore. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
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Parks, Rosa. "Famous Quotes." BrainyQuote. Xplore. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
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