The discovery of a 120-year-old photograph of Helen Keller with her teacher, Ann Sullivan, last week brought back many memories. I have always been fascinated by Helen Keller's life and the tenacity it took to overcome her obstacles of deafness and blindness. It is quite difficult to understand how she could break through such challenges to learn to communicate and to understand the world around her.

Teaching was certainly a primary component. Think of Ann Sullivan's tenacity, her determination to give to this young child some sense of purpose, some awareness that she, too, could contribute to life, some grasp that she was useful, and above all, the understanding that she was loved. Teaching, in the very best of situations, takes much patience and determination. In the case of Ann Sullivan, it demanded much more.

Helen Keller's desire to learn, her hunger to communicate, her thirst to connect with other human beings also contributed greatly to what she was able to achieve. Who can forget the memorable scene in the movies about her where she realizes what water is? The image of her joy is etched forever in my mind - making the connection between the sensations of feeling the cool water and Ann Sullivan spelling the word in her hand. The devoted teacher has helped the committed student to learn.

Helen Keller's challenges made her a stronger person who committed the rest of her life to helping others. She received a college degree from Radcliffe College; with the help of Ann Sullivan, who spelled lectures and books into Helen's hands, she graduated cum laude. During this time, she also began a writing career that spanned the remainder of her life, including 11 books and numerous articles on social issues, women's rights, deafness and blindness.

What has always touched me about Helen Keller is the sheer tenacity she had to rise above her circumstances. She pushed herself to overcome obstacles that the rest of us might find defeating. She left us with memorable words and images of the meaning of perseverance and hope.

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it."

I think of the late actor Christopher Reeve. When I was a child, people paralyzed as he was were given a life sentence of being confined to bed. Reeve showed us that though his body stopped working, his mind did not; he pursued new passions with dedication and determination.

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired and success achieved."

These are words we all need to repeat when we face our own trials. They are the means of building meaningful character. If we open ourselves to their teaching, we will be changed.

"Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn whatever state I am in, therein to be content."

She extends the teaching of the apostle Paul to her own state of existence. In our minds, she might have had so little; but for Helen Keller, she counted even her darkness and silence as meaningful.

"Many persons have the wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose."

Helen's purpose was to show that physical challenges do not have to limit our minds; she demonstrated that with her life and with her devotion to causes that made a difference in people's lives.

At Helen Keller's funeral, one speaker said, "She will live on, one of the few, immortal names not born to die. Her spirit will endure as long as man can read and stories can be told of the woman who showed the world there are no boundaries to courage and faith."

The discovery of the new picture is retelling her story to new generations. That they learn to live with no boundaries to courage and faith would be Helen Keller's prayer for them.

Harris Murray is director of library services at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College. She can be reached by e-mail at writeharris55@yahoo.com.

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