Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey

Have you ever looked into the eyes of a child who has been abused? Children should never feel the hurt that abuse brings. My hero suffered from abuse as a child and went on to stop others from experiencing what she had. My hero is someone who is focused, compassionate and persistent, my hero is Oprah Winfrey.

Oprah Winfrey was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi on January 29th 1954. When Oprah was six years old she kept on moving back and forth to her mom’s house to her dad’s house. Life was difficult in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her mom and her half sister. This didn’t work out so she moved to Nashville to live with her dad and stepmother, Zelma. A year later she moved back to her mom's. Life became hard here; they lived in a two bedroom apartment. During this time Oprah was a lonely child as she grew up. Oprah was bullied at school and she was abused when she was a child by her father.

Years had passed and her schools had changed. At her new school there were mainly wealthy white families. Oprah felt out of place in that school so she decided to steal from her mom. One report said that she was going to a house for problem children but the house was full. Another report said she went to a Juvenile Detention Home, a center for children who had made bad choices in their lives.

Cutting the ribbon at a new school

In January of 2007, it was the opening of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy. (The school that Oprah Winfrey built for the girls in South Africa) Oprah breaks ground for the school in 2002.

I admire Oprah Winfrey because she helps kids that are getting abused and tries to stop kids from the pain that abuse brings. Oprah helped kids in South Africa that can’t go to school by building a school. She donates food, clothing, athletic shoes, school supplies, books and toys to orphans and rural schools. Oprah thinks about other people first. Here is an amazing quote Oprah said, “It doesn’t matter who you are, or where you come from. The ability to triumph begins with you, always.”

Oprah Winfrey is someone who is focused, compassionate, and persistent. With those traits she had made millions of adults and kids joyful. From all that she has suffered from, Oprah has taught me to be loving, compassionate, and caring. That is why Oprah Winfrey is my hero.