# College explained — The Story of My Life

> Chapter companion for The Story of My Life by Helen Keller.

## What happens

Helen Keller describes her long-awaited entrance into Radcliffe College in the fall of 1900, the challenges of studying as a deaf-blind student, the loss of romantic ideals about college life, and the valuable lessons in patience and perseverance she gains through her struggles.

## Themes in this chapter

### Education and Knowledge

Helen reflects on the nature of true learning, the value of patience, and the difference between acquiring knowledge and understanding.

### Overcoming Adversity

Helen describes the physical and mental challenges of college as a deaf-blind student, including the need for books spelled into her hand and the use of a typewriter.

### Language and Communication

Helen details the process of having lectures spelled into her hand and the difficulties of note-taking and studying without sight or hearing.

## Character check-ins

### Helen Keller

Narrates her first day at Radcliffe, her studies, and her reflections on college life.

### Merton S. Keith

Helen studied under Mr. Keith for another year before entering Radcliffe.

### William Wade

Helped Helen obtain books in raised print for her studies.

### Charles T. Copeland

Instructor in English composition at Radcliffe, praised for bringing literature to life.

### Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Helen studied his works in her German course.

### Friedrich Schiller

Helen studied his works in her German course.

### William Shakespeare

Studied under Professor Kittredge in her second year.

## Key lines

> I remember my first day at Radcliffe. It was a day full of interest for me. I had looked forward to it for years.

Helen recalls her first day at Radcliffe as a momentous occasion she had anticipated for a long time.

_Describes the emotional significance of beginning college._

> But I soon discovered that college was not quite the romantic lyceum I had imagined.

Helen quickly realized that college was not the idealized place she had dreamed of.

_Highlights the contrast between expectation and reality._

> Every struggle is a victory. One more effort and I reach the luminous cloud, the blue depths of the sky, the uplands of my desire.

Each challenge overcome is a triumph, and with continued effort she approaches her goals.

_Expresses Helen's philosophy of perseverance._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters/xx
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_my_life_se/chapters