On an average day on the beaches of Kauai’s North Shore in Hawaii, the water is a deep, mesmerizing blue, and majestic waves enrapture surfers beneath clear skies. The setting is nothing but tranquil. 
However, on Oct. 31, 2003, 13-year-old Bethany Hamilton was attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark in this serene setting, and her life was changed forever. 
 Almost 11 years since the incident, Hamilton, now a 23-year-old surfer and role model, has experienced more in her life than many in their late 70s have faced. Despite losing her left arm to the shark attack, Hamilton astonishingly returned to the waters after only one-month in recovery to chase her dreams of one day becoming a professional surfer. 
As stated in her official website, Hamilton said her inspiration for getting back on the surfboard after her attack stemmed from her zeal for surfing, and she was not terrified of the water as much as she was afraid she would not be able to practice the sport anymore.
“I think my motivation came from my passion for the sport, for the ocean and from the hope that my lifestyle would not have to dramatically change,” she said. “I was more scared that I wouldn’t be able to surf again causing my life to turn upside down.”
Mississippi State University’s Dorothy Garrett Martin Lectureship in Values and Ethics will present Hamilton as this year’s guest speaker to share her inspirational story. The lectureship, sponsored by MSU’s Delta Gamma sorority, is Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Humphrey Coliseum.