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Oprah Winfrey: An inspirational role model Many people find someone in his/her life to look up to, a role model. There are many different kinds of role models; they can be singers, public speakers, a parent, or even a friend. Role models also are not determined by certain criteria. A role model can be a role model just because they are a leader or have a great talent. Oprah Winfrey is considered a role model to many individuals because of her tough childhood, wonderful charity work, her schools, and the true relationships with her fans. Oprah stands out among many people on her ability to feel others’ pain and help those people get through their troubling times. For most people growing up is filled with memories of joy and happiness. A childhood should be filled with affection and care, but Oprah did not always feel those things. Oprah did not have such a great upbringing, but despite the odds she rose up and became who she had wanted to be. Oprah had dealt with many accounts of sexual abuse, the lack of attention from her mother, and moving from place-to-place for most of her early years (Fry, web). Not only was Oprah faced sexual abuse, but she also became pregnant from one of the instances (Fry, web). This made things even more difficult for the young Oprah. Despite all of her troubles, Oprah is now very successful. Although when she was young Oprah was faced with many difficult problems, she stuck to her school-work and pursued her love of teaching (Fry, web). One thing that Oprah is known for is her love of reading, teaching, and learning. This passion has helped her move forward and help others that are less fortunate than herself (Fry, web). These troubling things that Oprah was faced with turned her i... ... middle of paper ... ... Fans respect her honesty and that she is so caring towards others. Although Oprah has experienced excruciating periods of her life, she still has proved that anyone can make a difference no matter what his/her background may be. Oprah is living proof that anything is possible, and dreams do come true. Oprah has proved to people everywhere that true joy in life comes from giving to those who are in need. “I define Joy as a sustained sense of well-being and internal piece – a connection to what matters” (Oprah Winfrey). REFERENCES Fry, Elizabeth. “A Childhood Biography of Oprah Winfrey.” About.com, a part of The New York Times Company, 2010. Web. 3 April 2010. Oprah’sAngelNetwork.org. Oprah’s Angel Network, 2010. Web. 3 April 2010. Miller, Megan. “The Queen of Charity.” The Herald Sun (Melbourne), 13 August 2008. Web. 3 April 2010.
Oprah Winfrey is a name that needs no introduction to most people in the world. Starting her journey with nothing, today , she has everything anybody could wish for and more. She has the money, the friends, the fame, the respect and as she repeatedly has pointed out as a comical comment, the shoes.
Oprah Winfrey is an African-American woman who suffered and persevered through many challenges in her life. She was born on January 29, 1954, in Kosciusko, Mississippi to a single mother (World Biography). However, as soon as Oprah was born, she moved in with her grandmother and lived with her until she was 6 years old. At 6 years old, she went to live with her mother in a rundown section of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which was an extremely poor and dangerous area to live in, and Oprah was new to the area. “I
Oprah Gail Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954 in Kosciusko, Mississippi living with a poor Baptist family (Wikipedia). Her parents, Vernon Winfrey and Vernita Lee were unmarried and still teenagers during the time she was born (Wikipedia). She lived with her grandmother where she would learn how to read aloud and recite sermons by the young age of 3 (America's Beloved Best Friend). At the age of 13 she would move to Milwaukee with her mother and that's when the trouble would start (America's Beloved Best Friend). She would face sexual abuse and molestation from her family relatives as a teenager, by her cousin, family friends, and her uncle (Victoria Walker). Oprah would keep this a secret and would bottle up her anger, which lead to trouble (Victoria Walker). She would repeatedly run away from home and was sent to juvenile detention, but her admission would be denied because the detention's overcrowded area (America's Beloved Best Friend). At the age of 14 she was impregnated by one of her abusers, but the baby would become stillborn, and this would devastate Oprah (Victoria Walker). Her mother would send her to live with her father as a last resort. She vowed to change her life (Victoria Walker).
Those girls will appreciate Oprah for the rest of their lives because she gave them an opportunity they originally would not have had. Now more and more girls are going to school and getting the education they deserve. Without the help of Oprah, the school system would still be down and many girls would be at home doing the chores. Oprah did not make the education system perfect. There is still room for improvement. However, she gave hundreds of children a life changing opportunity. Oprah remembers her rough childhood, but the one thing she loved the most was how she was able to go to school. She understands what those children in Africa are going through and that is why she is so compelled to
At the age of six her mother, Vernita Lee, decided that she could care for her daughter and Oprah was sent to live with her mother in Milwaukee. From the age of six to thirteen, Oprah stayed with her mother. During this time a cousin raped her when she was nine years old and later she was molested by a male friend of her mother’s and by an uncle. She never told anyone about the abuse that she was suffering. Instead, she held her angry and pain inside and she rebelled. She repeatedly ran away and got into trouble.
Oprah Winfrey grew up in abuse and poverty, but that did not stop her in being the women she is today. Oprah is one of the richest women on Earth, but not without her struggles. On top of that, Oprah is a capitalist pragmatist (Lofton, 2006). Oprah believes in a spiritual path, but one that does not concern religion (Lofton, 2006). Her religion is more about perfecting herself and trying to be the perfect human being (Lofton, 2006). Her family and past, her career, the nature of how she sees God, and the influence she has on people all influence Oprah and her worldview.
First obstacle that had happened to her in her childhood was that she was abused plus raped. Oprah was raped at the age of nine later was abused between 10-14. Her nineteen-year-old cousin, who was baby-sitting her, was who raped her. Her cousin, a family friend, her mother’s boyfriend, and her uncle also sexually abused Oprah. Later Oprah had a series
Her story is amazing and she sheds light on dreams that we all may have, even if we have started off wrong or even fell off. Oprah’s life is proof that, with hard work and dedication, anything is possible. For a child as young as Oprah was, she endured many hardships, yet she didn't let her past stop her from becoming a great woman. There is no one who does not know that Oprah stands for “ reaching out a hand on behalf of others”(Kirkwood).
“I honestly don't know. Someone has to show you the light in order to survive, the light of love, and I truly don't know who showed me mine. Except, perhaps God. I always felt He was there” (“Oprah Winfrey.” 536). Winfrey did not always have a good life, much of her adolescent years were spent struggling to keep her self confidence and make the right choices. Growing up on a farm in the middle of nowhere, Winfrey was forced to move up north with her mother to a different urban environment. There she encountered several hardships and was faced with an ultimatum that could change her life. Winfrey struggled with sexual abuse, poverty, racial problems, and numerous other issues. Winfrey took all these hardships and turned them into power, changing her life around and earning power and respect worldwide. As a result of Oprah Winfrey's rough past, amazing personality, determination, and generosity, she became an inspiration to many young women, and one of the most powerful people in the world.
Consideration, sympathy, then consolation are few words that strike a chord when one considers Oprah Winfrey. As a good example to all individuals of any race, sexual orientation, or gathering, she has caught the hearts of a great many viewers. With her quality, excellence, and insight, Oprah has defeat various troubles that have come in her direction. Not just is she a well-known TV symbol, she is a companion to mankind. Oprah winfrey says “I don’t believe in failure” (kniffel n.d.) she is a positive person and never let negativity comes her. She uses the media to educate young people about so many things in life.
As noted previously, Oprah Winfrey was born into poverty, was being moved from her grandmother to her mother, and was next moved to her father. Then too, Oprah was then called back by her mother and lived in a dangerous neighborhood, which had its negative effects on Winfrey, was being sexually abused by many of the family members at the age of nine, and was finally sent back to her father, which gave her to discipline and guidance to success. Lastly, Oprah was given many jobs in being on radio stations and being the first Native-American co-anchor, she soon moved on to the Oprah Winfrey show and won many awards, and later founded Harpo, Inc., and made generous contributions to many
She was born Oprah Gail Winfrey in Kosciusko, Mississippi. In her youth, she was the victim if molestation from several family members including an uncle, cousin and her mother’s boyfriend. She began acting out as a teen and was sent to live with her father. Her mom gave birth to another daughter, and Oprah was sent back to live with her mom and grandmother. Oprah ran away from home and
Oprah was born on January 29, 1954 to Vernita Lee, an unwed teenager at the time (NNDB, n.d.). She first lived with her grandmother in Kosciusko, Mississippi while her mother was searching elsewhere for jobs. Despite having grown up in poverty as a minority, Oprah was proficient in her academic studies. At the age of six, she moved to Milwaukee to live with her mother who found a job as a housemaid. As a teen, Oprah was repeatedly sexually abused. (Academy of Achievement, 2013). This abuse had an emotional effect on her. It later compelled her to support the “The Oprah Bill”, which established a national database of convicted child abusers (NNDB, n.d.). At age 14, Oprah moved to Nashville, Tennessee to live with her father, Vernon Winfrey. With his strict disciplinary rules, Oprah prospered becoming an honor student and winning awards in oratory and dramatic performances (Academy of Achievement, 2013). At age 19, she was offered a job at WVOL, a radio station aimed primarily towards African American liste...
Oprah has done some amazing achievement and many more; she had to build her way to success throughout her whole life. She started giving her first speech at her church when she was just two years old. This was a huge start for Oprah due to that she was shy and had no friends. She had then got tired of living the hard life with her mother, so she decided to run away but did not make it far. Oprah later moved with her father; he placed her into a detention home. She settled down for a while until she was in high school. This is when Oprah got her first job at the radio station and she loved what she did. Although, this continued for many years until she furthered her options. Oprah continued to make movies once she relocated to Baltimore and
Oprah Winfrey had an arduous life growing up. She lived alone with her single mother, who was perpetually working aspiring to provide for her kids, for a number of years and