disabled children during the summer in her backyard. Shriver’s hard work helped to make the Special Olympics what it is today. Another reason I greatly admire Shriver is because of her perseverance. Shriver was a natural born leader. Many told her that starting a camp wasn’t worth it. Many people in her time where ashamed of their disabled family member. In some way I think Shriver was too, but through this camp she showed the world that there was nothing to be ashamed of, and instead there is so much to be proud of. Shriver and her athletes persevered until they were respected and they continue to do that today. Yet another reason why I admire Shriver, is for the change she created. Many people used to be so ashamed of their disabled children that they locked them up, had lobotomy’s preformed on them and destroyed them. They made them feel unhuman. Shriver through the Special Olympics created a change in the way people see disabled people. Disabled people were no longer looked down on and ashamed of, but celebrated and cherished, and loved. Shriver was a key piece is changing the stigma on the way we view the disabled. She helped create better lives for the people living in our world today.
Overall, leaders in history have always fascinated me. I have always loved history and learning about different people and how they created an impact that still last today. The historical figure I admire the most is Eunice Kennedy Shriver. I admire Eunice Kennedy Shriver for several reasons. I admire her hard work, her perseverance and the change she created in the world.