Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey as a young child (http://www.mswritersandmusicians.com/writers/winfrey/oprah-girl.jpg)

A wise person once said, “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles” (Christopher Reeve). Oprah Winfrey touches many people hearts in unimaginable ways. Her selfless giving of her time and money to those in need inspires countless people. Oprah was born January 29, 1954, on a small farm in Kosciusko, Mississippi to parents who were unwilling and unprepared to raise a child. Working as a housemaid, Oprah’s 18 year old mother remained preoccupied as did her father who was away in the army. Because her parents were unable to dedicate the time to raise a child, Oprah's grandmother became responsible for Oprah's upbringing. She remained with her grandmother until the age of six. While living with her grandma, she discovered a new-found passion for reading and speaking, learning to do both at an early age. At six, Oprah was sent back to her mother; unfortunately, her life took a turn for the worst. Young Winfrey was raped at the innocent age of nine by a cousin and then molested by her mother’s friend. Oprah kept all of her hideous secrets buried. However with the weight of emotional and physical abuse bearing down on her shoulders, she had to find a way to express her pain. This began a rebellious stage. Often spending her time running away from home, something always dragged Oprah back to her horrid home life. Growing weary of constant delinquencies Winfrey’s mother decided to once and for all send her away. Oprah was sent to a detention home. Fortunately, Oprah was saved from this fate because the detention home but was completely occupied. So, she had no choice but to go and live with her father in Nashville. This was the third move for Winfrey in her painful adolescence. Following her move, Winfrey gave birth at age 14, and her baby died shortly after. This tragedy changed her life’s direction. The death of her newborn child impacted Oprah strongly; she decided to strive to be someone admirable. Through the guidance and support of her father, Winfrey’s life progressed, and she used the challenges she faced to shape the woman she has become. A driven, generous, and compassionate woman, who puts the needs of others before herself. Oprah Winfrey continually acts with the greater good in mind; she never gives up hope and perseveres through life's challenges.

Oprah Winfrey had many ordeals as a child but grew to overcome them all and become one of the wealthiest women in America. Many people run into obstacles in life and unfortunately let go of the issues dear to them, but Oprah Winfrey is a great example of the contrary. When faced with a hurdle, Winfrey does anything and everything in her power to conquer it, trying to the best of her abilities in everything that she attempts. “When Winfrey was just nine years old, she was raped by a teenage cousin, starting a cycle of several years of abuse. In response to her abuse and in an attempt to get her mother's attention, Winfrey became rebellious and somewhat delinquent. When her mother tried to put her in a detention center, the institution didn't have enough beds” (Victoria Walker). This is an example of how Winfrey faced many problems. Big problems that helped her to be the loving caring person she is today. Oprah Winfrey never gave up hope; she never stopped fighting for the morals she believes in, and she overlooked her troubles at home and worked through them at work. Oprah Winfrey has a great deal of competition, but still comes out on top with her devoted and considerate approach to others, working daily to help people get through the personal struggles they face. “She turned the focus from the experts to ordinary people talking about personal issues," and divulged her own secrets, making the show more immediate, confessional, and personal. Her show became a medium, then, not only to inform and entertain but also to empower” (Shaw, Susan M). Oprah Winfrey helps others endure and eliminate their troubles all the while connecting to her dedicated audience. With an attitude that allows confessions and reassures safety, Oprah lets the audience know that she understands what they are going through. However in all truth Ms. Winfrey justly understands the hardships that characterize her viewers, fulfilling the purpose she set out to achieve as a young girl. Reversing the negatives that she tolerated as a child to help others with their own plights remains a constant noble reminder of the heroic quality of Winfrey. Oprah Winfrey works relentlessly to better a community in need despite the scarring events she has lived through day in and day out. Through all the obstacles that she has faced, each has only made her more tenacious today. When she faces a problem she works through it to only end up stronger, more persistent and accepting than she was before she began.

Oprah at her school for underprivileged girls. (http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/01/OprahWinfreyEPA_450x302.jpg)

Some people help others because they think they will get something out of it, but someone like Oprah Winfrey does it to help others, to help them succeed in life. This is what a hero is. Oprah Winfrey does all she can to help someone out. It does not matter who you are if you are in need Oprah can help you. “Oprah gave 300 members of her audience $1000 each to donate to a charity of their choice” Purcell, Steve & Myrlia). I think that this shows caring because Oprah gives back in so many ways. She not only helps others but she also gives other people the chance to give back and help. She does all that she can to help others in any way shape or form. She is a very kind person who is truly a hero. Oprah Winfrey is a caring person who gives back to this community with everything she does, even the little things count. “Winfrey helped design and signed a pair of shoes for the Stuart Weitzman charity shoe auction benefiting ovarian cancer awareness and research” (Purcell, Steve & Myrlia). Oprah Winfrey does everything but think of herself. She inspires so many people to do the right thing and help others and this is what a true hero does. A true hero is someone who will get the joy by helping someone else, by seeing that smile on that person’s face. Oprah Winfrey is a true inspiration. You could never catch Oprah doing the wrong thing, she does everything right always helping out the world with every little thing she does.

Oprah Winfrey (http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/Entertainment/images-3/oprah-winfrey.jpg)

Oprah Winfrey can do the right thing without thinking twice; she never gives up hope and keeps on trying until the end. Oprah is a woman who has had a rough life, having many problems as a kid, but overcoming them to be the inspirational lady that she is today. She is an inspiration for what she does for others; giving people what she never had, helping them out in anyway shape or form. She helps others believe in themselves and gives them enough courage to reach their dreams and encourages them to never stop trying. She knows that everything will be okay in the end. You just have to not give up hope. This is what a hero is. Someone who does the right thing when no one is there to guide them, or tell them what to do. A hero helps others from the kindness of their heart, putting others before themselves. Fear never gets in their way. Oprah Winfrey shows all the traits of a hero, a determined, generous, caring hero.

Works Consulted

Baker-Robins, Cris J. "Winfrey, Oprah Gail (1954-)." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Ed. Suzanne M. Bourgoin. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale Research, 1998. 17 vols.Student Resource Center - Gold. Gale. DEL NORTE HIGH SCHOOL. 7 May. 2010

Bower, Charles D, James W. Hipp and Karen L. Rood. "Winfrey, Oprah (1954-)." American Decades. Ed. McConnell, Tandy. Online ed. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Student Resource Center - Gold. Gale. DEL NORTE HIGH SCHOOL. 5 May. 2010

Shaw, Susan M. "Winfrey, Oprah (1954-)." American Decades 1990-1999. Ed. McConnell. Detroit: Gale Group, 2001. Student Resource Center - Gold. Gale. DEL NORTE HIGH SCHOOL. 5 May. 2010

Shelton Sonya. "Winfrey, Oprah (1954-)." Newsmakers. Ed. Sean R. Pollock. Detroit: Gale Research, 1997. Student Resource Center - Gold. Gale. DEL NORTE HIGH SCHOOL. 7 May. 2010

Purcell, Steve & Myrlia. "Oprah." Look to the Stars the World of Celebrity Giving. Look to the Stars, 21/05/2010. Web. 21 May 2010. http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/103-oprah.