My name is Dotty S. Hero, and I am an historian. My friends call me Dot. I hope we will be friends, so please call me Dot too. You have been nominated by your grandmother to be included among a privileged group of special young women who have been selected to receive exclusive access to History Letters.
In my role as an historian, I have collected letters from many inspiring women throughout history. It was their desire that young girls would be encouraged by their stories and how they used their lives to make the world a better place. Some of them overcame huge obstacles, while others struggled to find and express their gifts. All of them brought more love into the world. My hope is their stories will help you be brave, wise, good, and kind while you live your own life’s story. Who knows? Maybe someday little girls will be reading about you! In the meantime, be inspired! — Dot
These wonderful women lived very long and happy lives. Along the way, they gained some wisdom they want to share with you, so your life can be long and happy too. Here are their challenges for you. Give them a try and be a hero!
HELEN KELLER HERO CHALLENGE
Imagine that the people in your family are blind and can’t see you. They are also deaf and can’t hear you. For each one, find a way to tell them how you feel about them through touch — maybe rub their back, feed them a strawberry, kiss their cheek, or your own idea.
Learn to finger spell.
Eat a meal wearing a blindfold and see what being blind feels like. What do you notice.
Now that you know about how challenged the beginning of my life was and how much I was able to change the world for the better, it’s your turn. Tell your family what you would change about the world if you could and why you want to make this change.
ADA DEER HERO CHALLENGE
Write a letter to your State Senators about an issue that is important to you.
Wear a tee-shirt that that relays an important message that touches your heart.
Try your best to get a good education and learn as much as you can.
Stand up against bullying and racism against Native American tribes.
FRIDA KAHLO HERO CHALLENGE
Try one or do them all if you can.
Take a self-portrait. Use it as the center of a collage about your life or your dreams.
Create your “Frida Kahlo outfit” using color, patterns, flowers, and a headpiece.
Think of a Spanish name for your house (remember mine is Casa Azul).
Find a way to go around or go through one of obstacles in your life. Keep trying.
One of the threads that run through the lives of these women is a deep love of learning. Because you are reading their letters, we think you probably love learning too. There are so many new ways to get information these days, but often books are still a favorite of many people. Here is a little wisdom from these heroic women. It’s on a bookmark to keep you company on your journey.
If you are wondering how History Letters got started, click to read the origin story.
Dear Ada,
My name is Helen Keller and I was born over 100 years ago in1880, in Alabama. When I was one year old, I had a bad illness that left me deaf and blind. As I got a little older, I made friends with Martha, the daughter of our cook. We invented a language using our hands. We could make hand signs for over 60 different words by the time I was seven years old. Martha was a wonderful friend. My family took me to a doctor who sent us to a special place for blind people where I met the woman who was to become my teacher.