Transcendentalism In 'The Eighty-Dollar Champion'

How many times has someone doubted if they will ever reach their full potential? This is a common epidemic for many people in today’s society, but there are some true stories, such as The Eighty-Dollar Champion, Soul Surfer, and 42, that show what it means to trust yourself and reach your full potential. Being a true transcendentalist today is challenging, but always rewarding. The transcendentalist way of thinking heavily influences the world to strive for greatness on your own and to create a path for yourself.
The first example of transcendentalism in today’s society is The Eighty-Dollar Champion by Elizabeth Letts. The novel tells the true story of a former plow-horse, Snowman, who is sold for auction and has no potential to be anything but a companion. Shockingly, he proves everyone wrong by competing and winning national titles …show more content…
In her autobiography, Bethany reveals when she tragically got her arm bitten off by a shark while surfing. Her whole family and friends were devastated, knowing that her life would never be the same and that she may never surf again. Determined to keep pursuing her passion, Bethany learned how to surf and balance with only one arm, something that has never successfully been done before. This burst of confidence helps her to rise above her competitors and learn to live with a disability as if nothing had ever happened. A second principle of transcendentalism in Bethany’s story is self-reliance. Since this tragedy had never occurred to anyone she knew, Bethany had to learn how to surf without an arm all on her own. She faced many challenges and was on the brink of giving up until she realized that she can do it if she keeps trying. Eventually, Bethany overcame each struggle and was back to surfing and competing like she always used to do.Her story still encourages people today to rise above challenges that life throws at you and use them to make you