Clara Barton: A Hero

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“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself” (Joseph Campbell). Clara Barton could be regarded as a hero because she went into several military battles during the civil war with a strong mindset to help the soldiers who were wounded and to provide supplies that were needed but scarce17.She was a woman of many talents who accomplished a lot but became best known for the founding of the Red Cross in America. Her humanitarian contributions and compassionate personality allowed her to connect with many people. As inspiring as Clara Barton was, she wasn’t born a hero but became one with the influence of her younger years. Clara Barton’s family life and personal struggles when she was younger, ultimately shaped …show more content…

David was known to dangerous jobs because of his strength. On one particular occasion he was fixing a barn, and he happened to fall from a great height and at first was proclaimed unhurt.3 For several days, he had a headache which progressively got worse and those several days turned into weeks. Soon he was diagnosed with a fever by a doctor and the only way to cure him was if blood was drawn. This affected Clara greatly because from a young age she had formed a very strong and unbreakable bond with her brother.3 This bond enabled her to remain by her brothers side day and night, and she “learned to take all directions for his medicines from his physician (who had eminent counsel) and to administer them like a genuine nurse.”3 She took care of him for two years until he was sent to a doctor for treatment. During this particular incident, was when she willingly let go of her own needs to meet her brothers needs.3 Caring for her brother gave Clara a purpose and after he was healed “instead of feeling that my freedom gave me time for recreation or play, it seemed to me like time wasted, and I looked anxiously about for some useful occupation”3 this what helped her come to the conclusion that helping others helped her get rid of the shy and timid nature that had held her back for so long. Her shy and timid nature was caused by a speech impediment she had known as a lisp. Her lisp caused her to feel self-conscious and insecure disabling her from talking to people but with the help of her family Clara was able to overcome it. In an attempt to help Clara overcome her fear, her parents sent her to a boarding school, believing that Clara would lose her timid characteristic if thrown amidst strangers.3 After Clara was sent home for not eating was when she realized the importance of overcoming her timid nature as

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