Eleanor Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt was one who did things not solely to benefit her own desires, but for the betterment of others. She faced obstacles in her life just like everybody else, but she learned that if you believe in yourself and persevere you can accomplish many things. She had a great understanding of what regular people needed to flourish.

Eleanor was born in New York City in 1884. Sadly, both of her parents passed away when she was a child and she went to live with her grandmother. At age 15, she went to Allenswood, a girl’s school in England. She was greatly influenced there by her professor and developed self confidence. She then went back to New York and worked as a teacher.

In 1905 she married Franklin Roosevelt, her fifth cousin and the New York governor. Between 1906 and 1916 she had six children. Her family was happy and healthy until her husband was stricken with polio in 1921. As a result, Eleanor decided to work in politics so she joined The League of Women Voters and The Women’s Division of New York State. She also founded Va-Kill which was a company that gave furniture and clothing to people in need.

In 1933, Franklin Roosevelt was elected The President of the United States. As First Lady, Eleanor charmed thousands with her friendliness. Unlike other first ladies, she held press conferences and traveled to all parts of the country. She expressed herself candidly in her daily newspaper column "My Day," which allowed her to reach millions of people with her thoughts. She visited relief projects and then surveyed the working and living conditions of the people and later reported them to the President. Since Franklin Roosevelt was handicapped in his mobility, Eleanor was his eyes and ears in places that he could not easily go.

Sadly, Franklin Roosevelt died in 1945. The loss made a huge difference in his wife's life because she no longer had her companion to fall back on.

This was the beginning of her new life. Her first task after Franklin's death was working at the U.S. Delegation until 1953. During that time she became a real stateswoman! President Truman appointed her to the United Nations human rights commission. "She was neither a scholar nor an expert at international law, but her faith and persistence was just as good or even better!” After she worked there for some time she was promoted as The Chairperson of Commission on Human Rights.

Eleanor had a strong passion for many causes. She wanted as many nations as possible to accept the fact that people should have equal rights and opportunities to succeed in whatever they wanted to do! One of the reasons that we stand here today living in a free nation and having the rights we have is because of Eleanor Roosevelt. She was not one who sat back and allowed injustices where she saw them; she fought for what she believed in. She wanted to make a difference in the world and she did!

One of Eleanor’s greatest accomplishments was The Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was published on December 10, 1948. As support for this declaration abounded, she had the respect and adoration as a superior and intellectual woman who pursued what she dreamed and made a change in our nation.

Eleanor Roosevelt lived in the twentieth century. Her life was brimming with prominent events like the Great Depression, World War II, the establishment of the United Nations and the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She said, “Hate and force cannot be in just one part of the world without having an effect on the rest of it.” She was an inspiration to the nation. She remains a dynamic inspiration to all around the world. Sadly, she passed away on November 7, 1962.

Eleanor Roosevelt had a dream to make a difference in the world. She was one who confronted obstacles with optimism, faith and perseverance. “The future belongs to the people who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” She is and will always be MY HERO!