Laura Dekker: A Force To Be Reckoned with

I have been following the incredibly inspiring story of Laura Dekker, the 16-year old girl who travelled solo around the world making her the youngest-ever solo circumnavigator, although Guinness book has refused to certify this record in an attempt to stop young person’s putting themselves at risk by trying to break ‘dangerous’ records.

Laura doesn’t seem bothered with the fame or money; clothes and luxury apparently means nothing to Laura.  All she wants is to live her dream on her boat, a dream that stems for her heart and soul.

Laura’s story is one of tremendous self-will-power and determination, a quest for freedom, stoicism, independence, discipline, and a certain zest to uphold her inner wishes regardless of whether the world understand and accepts it or not. I can align with that.

Faced with several court cases from as young as 13 when she announced her intentions to sail around the world, Laura battled with Government organizations concerned about her safety and won. These authorities tried to use the court system to deter her from making the trip and complained that at her age her place should be in the classroom instead. Miss Dekker is “seriously thinking about not returning to the Netherlands” because of the controversy in Holland surrounding her voyage.

It is not surprising that Laura has become rather wary of authorities who claim to be acting in ones best interest. Who wouldn’t be?

Laura was born on a boat on 20^th September 1995, and spent the first four years of her life at sea. After her parent’s divorce in 2002, she went to live with her Dad and has lived on a boat most of her life. Naturally, this kind of existence is not the norm hence the Dutch authorities difficulties to accept Laura’s plans of sailing the world at her age. What they failed to appreciate was how normal and important this was to Laura.

Under the guise of ‘working in her best interest’ they tried to shape her up into a ‘normal’ teenager. On the contrary, Laura is understandably not interested in what the ‘normal’ sixteen year old focusses on. Instead, she is content to cope with weeks of solitude, ocean storms, threat of whales and pirates. She says, “For me it’s really normal.”

For me, I can only marvel at how a person as young as she is can have so much of her wits about her. Here’s some special girl. I am so happy for her that she met her goal of circumnavigating the world despite all the negativity from the authorities, and others.

Comments

[Daniel Milstein]

Thanks Margaret for sharing such an inspirational and encouraging story. Laura is really a special child who showed her courage and determination so easily. As an author and a businessman, one thing I know is that where there is a will, there is a way out. This is really a great post.

[Daniel Milstein]

Good Share.I hope more people discover your blog because you really know what you're talking about. Can't wait to read more from you!

[MargaretN]

Thanks, Daniel. I am intrigued at what led you here? How did you find my blog? Margaret