“It always seems impossible until it’s done” (Nelson
Mandela). A hero is someone who puts others before themselves. A thinking hero
on the other hand, is someone who not only has a unique way of thinking, but
also has the ability to act upon those thoughts. Nelson Mandela was a South
African activist who recently passed away at the age of ninety-five. He was an intellectual who always saw the
bigger picture and managed to persevere in the face of adversity. He attended
the University of Witwatersrand where he earned his law degree and connected
with key individuals who would join him in his fight against inequality in
South Africa. His mindset drove him to become a powerful leader of the ANC, the
African National Congress. Nelson Mandela became a global advocate for human
rights as he peacefully protested against the apartheid, a system where
non-white citizens did not have equal rights. He thought that following the
non-violent ways of Mohandas Gandhi would result in a more accepting community.
Nelson Mandela was sent to prison for his protests and was released due to
international pressure a grueling twenty-seven years later in the year of 1990.
Finally in 1994, people of all colors had the opportunity to vote. Nelson
Mandela ran in the South African Presidential election in 1994 and despite the
odds, was victorious. Although hostility and hatred continues to persist in
South Africa despite his efforts, he was able to prevent a major civil war. As discussed in class, thinking critically is goal
oriented, broken down into steps and focused. Nelson Mandela is the epitome of
a critical thinker. Everything that he did from protesting, to running for
office had an ending goal. Nelson Mandela’s years in jail served a bigger
purpose, as he dedicated his entire life to the fight for equality. After being
jailed twenty seven years he forgave those who jailed him and showed nothing but
love and compassion. He gained civil rights for the majority of the people of
South Africa by sacrificing his own freedom. Nelson Mandela is my thinking hero
because he was a successful and persistent man who used his mind to better the
lives of others.