Anne Sullivan – Teacher of Helen Keller

 

Anne Sullivan is well known as the teacher that helped Helen Keller turn her life around. What many don’t know is that Anne had her own challenges to overcome. When she was 10 years old she was placed in an orphanage, and, at 14 she was able to go to school after pleading with the administrators. At the time she entered school she was unable to read, couldn’t see very well and started as an elementary student. Eventually, however, she was admitted into the Perkins Institute for the Blind and at the age of 20 she graduated as valedictorian of her class.

Because of her early experiences with ridicule she was very sensitive to it and coped by becoming defensive, rebellious, and vocal as she challenged the authority of her teachers. Fortunately, there were a few teachers who recognized her ability and encouraged her to use it to fulfill her potential.

Later in life Anne expressed this thought about her early years. “…I know that gradually I began to accept things as they were, and rebel less and less. The realization came to me that I could not alter anything but myself. I must accept the conventional order of society if I were to succeed in anything. I must bend to the inevitable, and govern my life by experience, not by might-have-beens”.

All children and their families face challenges. Anne Sullivan and her famous student Helen Keller set an example by refusing to let self-pity, discouragement or other adversities stop them from reaching their potential and enjoying life.

It has been said,  “We cannot always control the circumstances in our lives but we can control our attitude towards them.” This is the type of attitude these two remarkable women lived by and it is the attitude we should help our children obtain.

Developing such an outlook on life is a resiliency skill that will help them become stronger as they fight to become what they want to become.

Share This Article:[sgmb id=1]