10. Freddy Adu
Freddy Adu has had a notable career in professional soccer but some people feel he did not live up to his hype…
9. Vergil Ortiz Jr.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. had a celebrated amateur career and has made a name for himself as the probable future of boxing…
8. Mary Lou Retton
Mary Lou Retton competed in the Olympics in her mid-teens and left an indelible mark on sports history…
7. Ryan White
As questions and concerns about HIV and AIDS spread throughout the US in the 1980s, the story of Ryan White gained national attention…
6. Samantha Smith
In the early 1980s, American elementary student Samantha Smith wrote a letter to the leader of the Soviet Union in a side note to the Cold War…
5. John Clem
John Clem enlisted in the US Army at an extremely age, served during several conflicts, and rose to a very high rank…
4. Harriet Jacobs
Harriet Jacobs was born into slavery and experienced inexplicable incidences that empowered her to share her story…
3. Shirley Temple
Shirly Temple was a childhood actor at the beginning of American cinema, as cinema changed her life was transformed…
2. Malala Yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai has gained notoriety for her advocacy for education, particularly for women….
1. Ruby Bridges
Ruby Bridges has become one of the most well-known stories of desegregation and schools…