Below is an interview about Helen Keller. The questions really aren't answered by Helen Keller. Read through this and take the poll down below!
Well if you would have asked me if I was younger and not as wise as I am now, of course I would have. As a child I often through temper tantrums because of my disability. But now, I would never want to change my life. I think that my disability was almost a good thing. I have inspired many people and have learned some moral lessons through my disability.
During my first few months of my life all I remember is roaming around my house as all young babies do. I don’t remember a lot but having sight and hearing helped me know things like colors and sound along with their vibrations. I am grateful for those few months with sight and hearing because they shaped my life today.
Well in my book I said that “The woman paints the child's experiences in her own fantasy. A few impressions stand out vividly from the first years of my life; but "the shadows of the prison-house are on the rest.” In my book all the memories I have may seem like a lot to the average person but of course, I’m not average. Since I can’t see or hear my other senses work a lot better like taste and touch. Because I can only experience taste, touch and smell my memories seem so vivid and descriptive to the average person. Of course my parents and Miss Sullivan, my teacher have told me many things about my childhood that I also used in my book.
Miss Sullivan influenced my life in many ways. “She not only taught me my schoolwork, she taught me friendship.” Miss Sullivan worked to teach me until her fingers went numb. I don’t believe I would be able to communicate without her help and let only make it past age 10. But with her help I made it through college! She was the only one who was there all day everyday through fits and struggles.
The “Frost” incident influenced my life in making me more careful about writing and what I read. The incident did not influence me in a good way, at all. It made me mentally break down and go into panic attacks. But I believe everything happens for a reason, so without this obstacle my life would probably never turned out the way it did. If it never happened, I would of probably kept writing stories.
Most of the time I would have Miss Sullivan sign to me or have the book imprinted. In college I had to mostly read printed books since Miss Sullivan’s hands would cramp up.
The hardest part of daily life was communication when I was younger. Since I couldn’t sign yet I felt alone. Most of the time I was throwing temper tantrum because I felt so useless. The hardest part of daily life is not falling back into those habits and just living happily.
There isn’t one award to show my biggest accomplishment. It’s a lifetime of inspiring everyone to keep going, and to overcome these obstacles.
Alexander was the first person to understand me. He had as deaf wife and mother so he worked tirelessly to make life better for the blind and deaf. I wrote my book to him to show how my life improved with his help and to show him I well… could write a book.
It’s like being inside a silent dark room. Until I learned signing I felt like my mind was my only friend, my thoughts were my only being.
- If you had the choice would you go back and not become blind and deaf?
Well if you would have asked me if I was younger and not as wise as I am now, of course I would have. As a child I often through temper tantrums because of my disability. But now, I would never want to change my life. I think that my disability was almost a good thing. I have inspired many people and have learned some moral lessons through my disability.
- Would you say that the first 18 months of your life where you weren’t blind and deaf affect your life today?
During my first few months of my life all I remember is roaming around my house as all young babies do. I don’t remember a lot but having sight and hearing helped me know things like colors and sound along with their vibrations. I am grateful for those few months with sight and hearing because they shaped my life today.
- How do you remember everything from your childhood so vividly?
Well in my book I said that “The woman paints the child's experiences in her own fantasy. A few impressions stand out vividly from the first years of my life; but "the shadows of the prison-house are on the rest.” In my book all the memories I have may seem like a lot to the average person but of course, I’m not average. Since I can’t see or hear my other senses work a lot better like taste and touch. Because I can only experience taste, touch and smell my memories seem so vivid and descriptive to the average person. Of course my parents and Miss Sullivan, my teacher have told me many things about my childhood that I also used in my book.
- During your book you say that Miss Sullivan was a big part of your life, how did she influence your life?
Miss Sullivan influenced my life in many ways. “She not only taught me my schoolwork, she taught me friendship.” Miss Sullivan worked to teach me until her fingers went numb. I don’t believe I would be able to communicate without her help and let only make it past age 10. But with her help I made it through college! She was the only one who was there all day everyday through fits and struggles.
- I know the “Frost” accident changed your life, how would your life be different if the accident never happened?
The “Frost” incident influenced my life in making me more careful about writing and what I read. The incident did not influence me in a good way, at all. It made me mentally break down and go into panic attacks. But I believe everything happens for a reason, so without this obstacle my life would probably never turned out the way it did. If it never happened, I would of probably kept writing stories.
- Describe how you read books if you are blind.
Most of the time I would have Miss Sullivan sign to me or have the book imprinted. In college I had to mostly read printed books since Miss Sullivan’s hands would cramp up.
- What was the hardest part of your daily life?
The hardest part of daily life was communication when I was younger. Since I couldn’t sign yet I felt alone. Most of the time I was throwing temper tantrum because I felt so useless. The hardest part of daily life is not falling back into those habits and just living happily.
- What was the biggest accomplishment or moment of your life?
There isn’t one award to show my biggest accomplishment. It’s a lifetime of inspiring everyone to keep going, and to overcome these obstacles.
- Why did you dedicate your book to Alexander Graham Bell? How did he influence your life?
Alexander was the first person to understand me. He had as deaf wife and mother so he worked tirelessly to make life better for the blind and deaf. I wrote my book to him to show how my life improved with his help and to show him I well… could write a book.
- If someone were to ask you what it’s like to be blind and deaf, what would you tell them?
It’s like being inside a silent dark room. Until I learned signing I felt like my mind was my only friend, my thoughts were my only being.
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