Oprah Winfrey

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"It doesn't matter who you are, or where you come from. The ability to triumph begins with you. Always" (Oprah Winfrey Biography). Of all people, Oprah would understand how it is to come from nothing and make her way to the top. Oprah shows determination in her everyday life and is just one reason why she is my hero. An important person is Oprah's life, was her grandmother who not only raised her, but also taught her discipline and love for her future life. She believed that both were essential in the everyday life and Oprah still thanks her for that today. Oprah is an amazing host on her television show that millions tuned into, and also an actress in an award winning movie (The Color Purple). After all the hardships of being abused as a child by her family members on her mother's side, Oprah lives a glamorous life with a boyfriend and pets who adore her. She is known for her popular television show, many awards that she has worked her whole life for, and the amazing life story of how it all began(Oprah Winfrey). Courage is doing something that pushes one to get to a better time in their life where they are controlling their own destiny and not someone else. To be caring is when one has a choice to help someone and takes the right path by changing that person's life for the better. To be determined is not stopping when one has a goal and striving through thick and thin to get what they were trying to achieve. Oprah Winfrey is my hero, not because she is famous and has a lot of money, but because of how courageous she is for fighting through the hardships, for how caring she is to have a goal of helping others, and for how determined she is to meet that goal and help people around the world.

Oprah Winfrey is my hero because she has the courage to push forward even when times are hard in her life and never gives up for what she believes in. Winfrey's tough childhood gave her courage to strive for her goals and stop at nothing. "After a troubled adolescence in a small farming community, where she was sexually abused by a number of male relatives and friends of her mother,...She entered Tennessee State University in 1971 and began working in radio and television broadcasting in Nashville"(Oprah Winfrey Biography. bio.com). Oprah believed that the hardships that she had when she was younger should not determine who she will be in the future, so she kept striving for the top and to be the best that she can be. She also believed that her heritage should not limit her achievements in life and that nothing should stop her success. Much of Winfrey's life was of her trying to act more like an adult and started working at an early age to get ahead. "Oprah began her broadcasting career at WVOL radio in Nashville while still in high school" (Oprah Winfrey's Official Biography - oprah.com). Oprah was not only going through the difficulties of every high schoolers life, but she also already had a job in the radio business. She didn't have much of a childhood because she mostly had to care for herself when she wasn't with her grandmother. At a young age, Oprah had problems with family and was constantly being held back because of her background, but eventually she got out of it and went on her way to becoming famous.

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  Another reason that Oprah Winfrey is my hero is that she is caring when it comes to the less fortunate because she has had first hand experience with the hardships of millions around the world. She understands how it is to be abused as a child and she felt that she had a responsibility to do something when she could. "Motivated in part by her own memories of childhood abuse, she initiated a campaign to establish a national database of convicted child abusers, and testified before a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on behalf of a National Child Protection Act" (Oprah Winfrey Biography). Oprah went through a lot as a child, but moved on to continue with her life. Later, when she was able to do something so children wouldn't have to go through what she had to, she started at the first chance she got and continued with it until a law was passed to convict child abusers. Oprah does not waste money and choses to spend it by helping children and families in need of education, money and shelter. "Through her private charity, The Oprah Winfrey Foundation, she has awarded hundreds of grants to organizations that support the education and empowerment of women, children and families in the United States and around the world" (Oprah Winfrey's Official Biography - oprah.com). This is one of the many charities Oprah has contributed to over her lifetime and many would agree that she will never stop giving for as long as she is alive. Oprah is very generous when charities for families and children that need someone to tell them that they have a future. Oprah Winfrey cares for all people in need and helps in any way possible.

Oprah shows how determined she is by choosing a goal and never stopping until it is achieved. Coming from nothing, Oprah's first big job was a hit and helped her become the woman she is today. "Within several months, Winfrey's open, warm-hearted personal style had won her 100,000 more viewers than Donahue and had taken her show from last place to first in the ratings"(Oprah Winfrey Biography. bio.com). Winfrey wanted to prove to herself and others around her that she would not be limited to her surroundings growing up. She decided that she was going to reach the top if it took everything in her. Oprah found a goal to reach for and was going to do everything possible to achieve it. Oprah's determination gained her many awards that just added to the fame and fortune in her life. "Oprah Winfrey was named one of the "100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century" by Time magazine, and in 1998 received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences" (Oprah Winfrey Biography). It took everything Oprah had to get on television and to become known world-wide. When that happened, she didn't stop there, and won numerous awards. She wasn't looking for the awards, but it was just a bonus to the goal that she accomplished. Oprah Winfrey is an amazing person to look up to because of her determination that pushed her to reach the goal of becoming famous and helping people all around the world.

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  Fame and fortune is not why Oprah is loved by millions around the world, her courage from when she was young, her care for people in need, and her determination for achieving her goals are what won over America's hearts. The courage Oprah has from being abused as a child has encouraged her to accomplish her goals in any way possible. The care that her grandmother gave her to make up for her mother and father has taught her how to give other people the care they need. The determination she has comes from her background where everyone believed the children would amount to nothing, but Oprah proved them wrong and strived for what she wanted to be. Oprah Winfrey has pushed through all the abuse, the insults, and the discouragement to work toward her goal. She ignored the people telling her that she wouldn't go anywhere in her life. Winfrey inspires me because she has been through so much, continues to care for others before herself and doesn't settle for anything less than the best. In the words of Oprah Winfrey, "The whole point of being alive is to evolve into the complete person you were intended to be" (Oprah Winfrey Biography. bio.com). Meaning, no one should settle for less than what they believe they are able to achieve.