Oprah Winfrey: My Inspiration

“When they go low, we go high,” I remember that quote from Michelle Obama, which reminds me of a mighty woman of history. Oprah Winfrey, the woman who changed everything. In all of her life, in every circumstance, she always finds ways to go up and pass through all the challenges. And now, Oprah is one of the most influential people in the world. 

Source: American Academy of Arts and Science

Oprah Winfrey was born in 1954 in Mississippi. Since she was a little child, Oprah had lived with her grandmother in terrible conditions and only made friends with animals. When Oprah was nine, she was raped by her nineteen-year-old cousin, who was babysitting her. Later, she was also abused by her cousin, a family friend, her mother's boyfriend, and her uncle. As a result, Oprah got pregnant at 14, but her son died shortly after birth. She lived with her father after that. The opportunity came to her, and her career began when Oprah went to Nashville East High School. Although she didn’t know what major she would choose, she knew it would be about drama and speaking. Her time came when a local radio station, WVOL, offered her a radio reader job while Oprah was rehearsing with her drama class. Her first job was reading the news on the radio.

Oprah attended Tennessee State University, majoring in Speech Communications and Performing Arts. Soon after, Oprah's boss set her up as a talk show host on a morning talk show called “People Are Talking”. Immediately after the first show, Oprah knew that was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. Later on, Oprah launched the talk show for 25 years. The Oprah Winfrey Show was the highest-ranking show in the U.S.

Oprah is a wonderful woman, and she changed society forever. Since the first Oprah Winfrey Show was on the air, Oprah Winfrey has become a household name. Each show was a lesson about life, success, failure, love, and many more. Oprah has inspired many people around her. She helped them step out from the dark, revive from the deep hole to the highest position and believe in life again. Overall, Oprah has made a significant change in society. Oprah changed people’s perspectives on race relations. For people who used to be suffered from racism during Civil Rights or even nowadays, Oprah allowed them to express their feelings and listen to people who used to treat badly on them. Through each show, the audiences could understand what happened and empathize with mistreated people. Oprah also did a greater thing that she brought an experiment to audiences by separating their eyes color so that they could understand more about segregation. Oprah showed people that everyone could do anything with courage and determination. Oprah started her career with failure. When she started her career, she was blamed by her colleagues because of the show’s failure. From that, she only did a normal job at the studio. But from her failure, she stood up again and started to make her mark. Oprah always stands for women in all circumstances. Women around the world are being mistreated, and some of them are being harassed terribly. They don’t have a voice, and now one will speak out for them, but Oprah is there; she inspired all the women in the world to stand up and fight back. She stated how women have suffered and overcome those challenges. They dare to speak out the truth. They’re maybe ordinary people, but they have a dream, they can pursue them and have a voice, and their voices matter to everyone in society. 

What Oprah did significantly impacted society and the world, and what she did is undeniable. Oprah Winfrey has embodied transformational leadership such that she has been credited as being among the most influential women in the world. Oprah has used her incredible influence for the best many times and has changed the world. People had different past perspectives about African Americans, called “racism.” After her shows about race, people could understand more about African American. How they had suffered, how they had been treated, how they lost their lives. Remembering back to her first season in Forsyth County, where white people protested against African Americans, it had significantly impacted America. Nowadays, more African Americans come to that county to live. Not only in America, but Oprah has also changed the courses around the world about racism. One of her most significant accomplishments is how she changed the different perspectives about women.

Oprah always stands for women in all circumstances because right now, in the world, some countries still do not recognize feminism. Oprah acted on her belief that other people, young women in particular, should not be stopped from leaving their mark on this world through their own individual contributions, despite their surroundings or circumstances. Oprah also speaks out for those who are voiceless. Oprah’s own life story typifies what overcoming struggle and adversity is all about. Oprah is inspiring a shared vision for young women – she is guiding their futures by shaping their thoughts about the positive outcomes that each young woman should have every right to take advantage of in life.

Oprah Winfrey is everyone’s inspiration. She is always there for people, she helps people, and she gives people hope again. Oprah helps to change the world to be better and more robust. Oprah will always be an idol in everyone’s heart. Happy Women's Day.