Bethany Hamilton was thirteen years old and one of the most promising young surfers in Hawaii when a tiger shark bit off her left arm while she was surfing at Tunnels Beach on Kauai in October 2003. She lost sixty percent of her blood. The doctors were not sure she would survive.
Walking Back Through the School Gates
Bethany survived, and within weeks she was talking about getting back in the water. But before the waves came school — returning to class at Hanalei Elementary and then Kauai High School with one arm, facing stares, questions, and the brutal social pressure that comes with being a teenager who looks different. She later described her faith as the only thing that kept her grounded during those months.
Competing Again
Twenty-six days after the attack, Bethany entered a surf competition. She had to relearn everything — paddling, popping up, balancing — with one arm. She finished fifth. Within two years, she was winning national titles. She did not just return to competitive surfing — she became better than she was before the shark.
Faith as the Foundation
Bethany has always been direct about the role faith played in her recovery. She has said that she does not understand why the attack happened, but she trusts that God has a purpose for her life that is bigger than surfing. Her story, told in the autobiography "Soul Surfer" and the film of the same name, has reached millions of young people worldwide.
What This Means for You
Bethany walked back into school when everything in her life had changed. She did not hide. She did not wait until she was ready. She showed up. If you are facing something at school that feels impossible — a loss, a disability, an identity that sets you apart — you have more strength than you think. And you do not have to figure it all out before you walk through the door.
