An Activist: A Brief Biography Of Mother Teresa

During a time when women weren't known to have power, one woman stood out to me because she made such a huge impact on society. Dorothea Dix was an author, advocate, and reformer and she was known for her efforts to change how the mentally ill and prisoners were treated. She helped create institutions across the United States and Europe that would help change how people analyzed the mentally ill and prisoners. The reason for the creation of the institutes, was because she did research study, and found evidence that showed prisoners were neglected. That was not the only things Dorothea Dix had a desire to change. She also didn’t agree with the saying "people with mental disabilities cannot be cured or healed," but in fact her as individual proved that wrong. Growing up Dorothea had health issues that affected her working career and from her experience she formed a desire to help make a difference in others' lives. I view Dorothea Dix as a role model simply because I can relate to her when it comes to her view on the mentally ill. My brother underwent brain surgery which left him as being known as a person with mental disabilities.In today's society people are treated much different and less likely to be judged all thanks to Dorothea Dix. It amazes me how Dorothea Dix back in the 1860's still has an effect on today's society and how we view and treat the mentally ill. She not only brought awareness to the mentally ill and prisoner's but she also served in the Civil War as

Although there have been several influential people in the world, the person that stood out to me most is Susan B. Anthony. Born in 1820, she was raised in a politically active family and was inspired to fight for women's rights while taking part in the Temperance Movement. Her work helped shape the 19th amendment which gave women the right to vote. Susan b. Anthony’s strong belief in women's rights and how she takes initiative into turning her beliefs into a reality is extremely courageous and should be recognised by more people.

Like her I find great joy in helping other in need. After reading how she fought to provide help for the mistreated laborers I was moved by her humanitarianism.

There are three women who definitely accomplished much in their lives, and had a huge impact on their societies. They are Joan of Arc, Helen Keller and Malala Yousafzai. Joan of Arc was a young French girl from the 1400’s who claimed to have a vision from God which led her to lead the French to victory in a war with the English. Helen Keller became deaf and blind when she was very young, and with the help of a gifted teacher went on to a very accomplished life. During our present day, in Pakistan a teenaged girl named Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by the Taliban because she was an advocate of education for girls; she miraculously recovered from her injuries and went on to become a world renowned advocate for education and human rights.

Jane Addams. She lived with the individuals that she wanted to help and she did not pass judgement. She went to back for what she believed in and fought for the right of many people. She was also a Nobel Prize Winner which speaks volume for her many accomplishments. Along with other great women, they dedicated their life and time to improve the living conditions of many people and to provide education. Child labor was very big in Jane Addams era and she worked hard to eliminate child labor. Her work played a very important part in helping women to grow into careers such as nursing, social work, and civil

St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) was born on October 12, 1891 in Berslau, Germany in a large family.

Another person I look up to is Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Stanton was an activist in the women’s rights movement and “helped organize the world’s first women’s rights convention in 1848” (History.com,

Martin Luther King and Mother Teresa had three major differences that led to impact on society in a local and global way. These two people lived in different countries and centuries. Martin Luther King was born in 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia the center of segregation. He was a hard worker who fought hardly to bring an end to racism. Whereas, Mother Teresa was born in 1910 in Skopje, she lived in a quiet country with peaceful people that led her to be helpful and kind to people.

She also had two siblings what went by the name of Aga Bojaxhiu, Lazar Bojaxhiu. Mother Teresa won 18 awards for being an amazing humanitarian that many aspired to me, and act like. Being a humanitarian means she did actions to help out other people before thinking about herself. Most of her life was fully devoted to helping the poor, the sick, the needy, and the helpless. She grew up in the Roman Catholic Church and decided to devote her life to God at a very early age. When she was 18 she joined the Sisters of Loreto to become a missionary in India even though she needed work hard before hand since she needed to learn English, and the local language where she would be moving. She taught at schools for many years in India and ended up becoming the headmistress at a school in eastern Calcutta. She is best known for sticking up for the rights of the sick and helpless. When She left home for india she never saw her mother, or sister again. Her father died when she was really young, leaving her mother to take care of her and her two siblings all by herself. Despite the challenges her family faced, her mother was one of the greatest people to look up to as she was growing up because she had to sacrifice everything to care for her family after a tragic incident happened and she still managed to care for others as well. Mother Teresa followed her mother

Christie R. Ritter is the Author of three books. Other than writing Mother Teresa: Humanitarian & Advocate for the Poor, she has written three other books, Animal Rights and South Africa (Countries of the World). Ritter went to school at UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Also she received her master’s degree at San Diego State University for Science in Mass Communication. Ritter is a mother of two children and has dedicated the book “Mother Teresa: Humanitarian & Advocate for the Poor” to them. She was a journalist that has researched and written in newspapers and on websites about government, education, science, nature, health and business. She won a writing award from the Society of Professional Journalists. Ritter’s award

One of the most kind-hearted and honorable saint ever to walk the earth, Mother Teresa’s life was dedicated to helping the poor and abused. On August 26, 1910, a baby bearing the name Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu was born a small town located in Macedonia. During her childhood her father passed away, leaving Agnes’ religious mother struggling to support Agnes and her five other siblings. Despite the loss of their father, Agnes still participated in Church and was highly enthusiastic about religion. At the age of eighteen, Agnes left her native home and travelled to the country India where she began her work as a missionary. After six years of training, she took her final vows as a nun, however she was not happy. One day she found the source of her

Mother Teresa left her family in 1928 when she turned 18 and went to Ireland to join the Sisters of Loreto. She trained in Dublin, where the sisters were based and chose her name Sister Teresa. After six weeks with the sisters they went to India. In Darjeeling Mother Teresa saw a man carrying what appeared to be a bundle of rags and two stick poking out. It turned out to be a dying boy which the man intended to leave in the grass. Mother Teresa took in the boy and cared for him until he passed. She said that nothing ever brought her more joy than caring for the boy. Mother Teresa arrived in Calcutta in January, 1929

As Agnes grew up, her relationship with Christ was strengthened and at the age of 12 she heard the Lord call her to give her life to him. Agnes, seeking to do God’s will, at the age of 18 left to join the Loreto Sisters in Dublin, Ireland. When Agnes told her mother she was leaving to become a Sister her mother although very sad because she knew she would probably never see her daughter again gave her one last piece of advice, “Put your hand in his . . . and walk all the way with Him” (Scott 43). Agnes took her first profession on May 1931, where she took the name Teresa after Saint Therese of Lisieux, her final profession would be made on May 24, 1937 (Butler’s 213). This marked the beginning of her life long journey to be a witness of Christ to others and the love she would out pour upon all who encountered her.

In 1948, Mother Teresa came across the first woman she cared for. She found a dying woman that was half eaten by rats and ants lying on the streets of Calcutta. Mother Teresa took the lady to the hospital, but they refused to admit her. She then would not leave the hospital until they accepted the lady, and stayed by her side until she died. From that point on she dedicated the majority of her life to caring for the poor.

Mother Theresa is a good example of a woman who was strong in faith, and who was take-charge, but still humble and selfless.