REMARKABLE
AND RESILENT
BY JOY CHANG
Terry Fox
If you are Canadian, you are most likely familiar with Terry Fox. When Terry was only 18 years old, he lost his leg to osteogenic sarcoma, a cancerous tumor in the bone. As Terry began visiting the hospital cancer ward for treatments, he also witnessed many others in distress. This is how he was inspired to run across Canada to raise funds for cancer research, marking the Marathon of Hope. Terry would run despite harsh weather, fatigue, or lack of funds. He would start his run at 4:30 a.m. in the morning and finish around 7 p.m. in the evening. As Terry made his way across Canada, he was forced to stop just outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario, after 143 days of running. Regrettably, cancer also appeared in Terry’s lungs. Terry Fox passed away when he was 22 years old, but his legacy continues to raise funds for cancer research, establishing the annual Terry Fox Run.
Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo is a Mexican artist who is recognized for her self-portraits, bold, colourful paintings with themes such as pain and passion. She is also revered for representing Mexican and Indigenous culture and feminism. As a child, Frida Kahlo suffered polio and was in a life-threatening bus accident when she was eighteen years old. Due to the accident, she had multiple bone fractures, a shattered pelvis, broken foot and a dislocated shoulder. During her recovery, Frida started painting despite being in pain and finished her first self-portrait, Self Portrait in a Velvet Dress (1926). Frida continued painting while struggling with her physical health and mental health. Although Frida Kahlo was only moderately famous during her lifetime, she is one of the most influential and celebrated artists of today.
Nina Simone
Nina Simone is an acclaimed artist known for her musical talents and a powerful figure in the civil rights movement. Throughout her career, she faced many barriers to achieve her dreams. From an early age, Nina Simone was able to play the piano by ear. She continued to pursue her dreams of being the first African American classical pianist. Unfortunately, her application to the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia was denied. Nina Simone continued to pursue her passions and when she was hired to play piano at the Midtown Bar & Grill on Pacific Avenue in New Jersey, she started to sing as well. As a skilled pianist with beautiful, rich vocals, Nina started to attract an audience and eventually signed record deals. She is remembered as one of the greatest American singers and artists whose work has had a significant impact on arts and culture.
Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic is a renowned Serbian tennis player who has a record of 24 Grand Slam Titles in men’s singles titles. Born in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1987, during a time of war and political unrest. As he built his career as a professional tennis player, Novak and his family were afflicted by the Yugoslav Wars and the Kosovo War. The Djokovic family had to follow emergency protocols and hide in their basement for safety. Despite the hardships of war, Novak remained devoted to becoming a great tennis player, training with prestigious coaches and academies, and later achieving historic tournament wins at Wimbledon.
Malala Yousafzai
When Malala Yousafzai was 11 years old, the Taliban took control of Swat Valley, the town she lived in with her family. The Taliban imposed prohibitions on things such as television, music, and education for girls. The girls’ school in the village where her father taught was forced to close, and Malala had to part ways with her fellow classmates. In 2012, Malala became a target for speaking out publicly for girls’ rights to learn and was shot on the left side of her head by a gunman. But that did not stop the Malala from advocating for the right to education. She established Malala Fund, a charity dedicated to providing girls with the opportunity to have independence over their future. Malala received the Nobel Peace Prize in December 2014 and became the youngest-ever Nobel laureate for her work in advocating for girls’ education.
