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Arianna Gamblin

Ms.Netherton

College Writing

19 December 2016

A Hero In My Eyes

Nelson Mandela was born in the Madiba clan in the village of Mvezo,Transkei. He was

born on July 18,1918 to the birth name of Rolihlahla Mandela.His father served as a counselor to

tribal chiefs for several years, but he lost both his title and fortune over a dispute with the local

colonial magistrate. As a child growing up, Mandela attended boarding school. When Mandela

was 9 years old, his father died of lung disease causing his life to change dramatically. He was

giving the name Nelson by the elementary school teacher Miss Mdingane due to the tradition of

giving all children Christian names. He grew up in a rural area, and he engaged in activities

such as herding animals. He attended Fort Hare Missionary College. He was later expelled for

organizing a strike against the white rule of the college. He studied law at the University of

Witwatersrand. Later in 1942, he joined the African National Congress. Mandela was a South

African anti-apartheid revolutionary politician and philanthropist who served as a president in

South Africa.

A hero is someone who is brave, strong, and courageous. A hero puts others needs before

their own. A hero have fear but at the same time doesn't let their fear interfere with their need to

help others. A hero is someone who serve and protect others. Who is someone you may consider

a hero?

Nelson Mandela,the South African activist and former president, is a modern day hero.

He sacrificed his life for others and brought an end to the apartheid. Mandela dedicated his life to
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ending segregation. A hero is someone who shows courages in a time of need. Mandela bodies

this trait because during the process of segregation, he put his own life at risk just to help others

and make sure segregation come to an end.

On December 5,1956, Mandela and 155 others were arrested for treason. When he was

released from prison, Mandela illegally attend a conference in Ethiopia. He received military

training in Morocco and Ethiopia. Shortly after he returned, he was arrested for leaving the

country without a permit. As a black political prisoner, he received fewer privileges than other

inmates.While in prison, he was told that if he stopped his acts of violence, he would be allowed

to go free. He did not agree to this provision. Mandela loyalty to South Africa remained the

same while he was in prison.He was finally released on February 11,1990.

A hero is someone who risk the comfort of their own life for others. Mandela

demonstrates this due to him constantly going to prison. He spent 27 years out of his life in

prison. He knew all the repercussions that came with being a black activist but he still took the

risk. He left his family and the comfort of his own life just to make sure others in South Africa

were treated fairly and equally every possibly risk there were. On January 11,1962 he

secretly left South Africa using an adopt name. He travelled around the country illegally to gain

support from others. Eventually, Mandela's mother and eldest son died. His son passed away due

to AIDS. He wasn't allowed to attend his mother nor his son funeral.After returning from prison,

he was diagnosed with tuberculosi. He spent the last four months of his sentenced time of prision

in the hospital.

A hero is someone who dont let their own struggles interfere with protecting others.

Mandela boies this trait because even though he was diagnosed with tuberculosis, he never let

that interfere with his duties to serve and protect others. He also showing embodiment of this
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characteristic because he had all type of obstacle and challenges come his way like not being

able to attend his mother nor his sons funeral, but he didn't let that determine who he was as a

person or he int let that stop him from helping others. He never gave up on others. His

determination to end segregation remained the same through everything face.

He directed a campaign of peaceful, nonviolent defiance against the South African

government and its racist policies. He keep this going for 20 whole years. He was rewarded with

the Noble peace award in 1993. Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the country's first black

president on May 10, 1994, at the age of 77. He also wrote and published his first autobiography

in 1994. He was awarded the Order of Merit. From 1994 until June 1999, Mandela worked to

bring about the transition from minority rule and apartheid to black majority rule. (Nelson

Mandela Biography) He used many strategies to try to put equality into place. He even came up

with the idea of the Rugby World cup to bring more recognition to South Africa. Mandela also

worked to protect South Africa's economy from collapse during his presidency. Through his

Reconstruction and Development Plan, the South African government funded the creation of

jobs, housing and basic health care. Mandela came up with a new law that built a strong central

government based on majority rule, and guaranteeing both the rights of minorities and the

freedom of expression.

A hero will do anything in their power to make sure everyone is protected and treated

equally. Mandela demonstrates this because he came up with so many different plans to make

sure South Africa and its citizens were safe and treated equally. He did everything in his power to

make things happen for South Africa. He put South Africa as one of his top priority. He wrote

books about his self to let others know he went through a struggle but he still manage to be a
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heroic figure and help others. He never gave up and he gave it all his might. He was determined

to make South Africa a better place.

Mandela was diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer in 2001. He died on December

5,2013 at his home. The Modern day hero did so much during his time on earth and impacted so

many people's lives. Nelson Mandela is a big time hero.

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Work Cited

"Biography of Nelson Mandela." The Nelson Mandela Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web.

"Nelson Mandela." Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, 25 May 2016. Web. 21 Dec.

2016.

History.com Staff. "Nelson Mandela." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 21

Dec. 2016.

"Nelson Mandela." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 21 Dec.

2016.