Selma Phillips: A Model of Courageous Generosity

As world boxing champion Muhammad Ali once said, “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life” (“Courage”). Helping people around you is courageous. Helping them when you are going through life altering struggles is heroic. Selma Phillips has demonstrated these lessons throughout her life with a good attitude, strong motivation, sacrifices and by volunteering for countless hours in the face of adversity.
Growing up in Duluth, Minnesota, Selma learned the importance of being generous and courageous. Selma’s father died helping our country in World War II while on duty as a prison guard in Washington. This showed her that being courageous was an important trait. While Selma’s dad was gone, her mother took care of the family; she even protected them from a black bear on their front porch. The bear came up to the front porch one time and left. The next time the malicious bear came up to

the porch, Selma’s mom shot it. Selma’s parents growing up influenced her to be the heroic person she is.
Throughout her life, Selma has endured many obstacles. She is a survivor of brain cancer. In the words of Atif Haque in “Brain Cancer Survivors Show Strength Through Struggles,” a neurosurgeon in Fort Worth Brain and Spine Institute, a brain cancer remedy is doubtful for most people but is attempted to be controlled and identified by the doctors. Despite the difficulty of surviving brain cancer, Selma has done it with a smile on her face. Selma also struggled when many of her sons wanted to join the military. This was burdensome for her after her dad died while active in the military. One of her sons was supposed to be at the pentagon on September 11, 2000 for a meeting and didn’t end up going. Selma proceeds to make it through these obstacles while helping others and having a smile on her face
Selma has experienced these barriers with the right attitude.

She is a survivor of many diverse obstacles. Selma believes maintaining a “never giving up” attitude has given her the strength to push through her difficulties. Along with never giving up, Selma has pushed through her struggles with hard work.
Selma helps others because it is what she believes in. In the words of Kendra Cherry, “[Heroes] live by their values and are willing to endure personal risks to protect those values.” Selma volunteers through her church because it is “what God would want her to do” (Phillips). Selma is very loyal to her “moral compass” as Kendra Cherry calls it; she feels good to assist people with what she is able to.
Selma’s life has shaped her into being who she is today. Her brain cancer has made her more appreciative of her family, her friends who she plays cards with, and for her parents who taught her the valuable life lessons of being courageous and generous. The struggles in her life have made her want to help others who are having difficulties in their

life.
Selma’s heroic traits include persistence, compassion and having a strong moral compass. She never stops trying to help other people despite challenges. Selma also feels compassion for those who go through struggles that she did, and tries to help them out. Another heroic quality Selma has is her strong moral compass. She tries to help others because it is the right thing to do.
Selma Phillips’ good attitude, sacrifices, strong motivation and willingness to help others in the face of adversity is heroic. Helping people is courageous, but doing so when you are in just as much trouble as them is heroic. Like boxer Muhammed Ali, Selma Phillips has devoted her life to bettering herself and the people around her while courageously fighting obstacles in life.