The character Forrest Gump inspires me.

Rating: 9/10 (17 February 2012)

The character Forrest Gump inspires me to push my limits and to do my best.
Forrest has many limitations that would normally hold him back his whole life long. He has trouble walking and has to use leg braces and crutches. But when he has to run away from a gang of bullies, his braces unexpectedly fall away and he finds himself outrunning the bullies. This is the first time he has ever run. Forrest understands he has special abilities and that he must use them wisely. Jenny screams, "Run, Forrest, run." This admonition echoes at other crucial moments in Forrest's life.
Forrest has a low IQ. He is nearly turned away from public school because his entry exam score is so much lower than that of any of the other students. He only manages to enter after his mother "befriends" the director of the school. He struggles throughout school, but to everyone's surprise, he is accepted into a famous university on an American football scholarship because he easily outruns the opposing players as he carries the football to score a touchdown. While in the army, Forrest is considered a genius by his superiors because he works well under pressure, follows orders and doesn't complain.
Forrest deeply cares about the people in his life. While in the army, he constantly remembers his mom and Jenny and writes to them regularly. Another recruit in the army, a big black man named Bubba, becomes Forrest's first best friend and Forrest looks out for Bubba until the end.
Forrest Gump is determined to succeed in his life despite tremendous odds. As I watch Forrest Gump struggle to overcome his limits, I feel hopeful that I, too, can overcome the obstacles that come up in my own life.