Oprah Winfrey - America's Beloved best Friend

Recently, I recall about my childhood past where during one night, I was browsing through the channels on TV as I had nothing to do that night and was trying to look for some good shows to spend my time. While I was browsing, I came across this talk show and was intensively listened to the speech by this lady who is giving advise to a pregnant woman who was abused and abandoned by her husband. She advised and comfort the lady till tears started to break out and she hugged her and thanked her for making her feel better. The show I was talking about is the “Oprah Winfrey Show”.

Now, let me share with you all a brief chronological of Oprah’s life. Sexually abused at the age of 9, ran away from home at 13, pregnant at 14, beauty queen at 17, abused drugs in her 20’s, first black American woman on National T.V. in America and millionaire at 32. Sounds bizarre? But true !

Oprah was born on 29^th of January, 1958 in Kosciusko, Mississippi by an unwed mother because her mother was raped. Oprah was brought up by her grandmother where she live in poverty. At the age of 9, she was raped by her cousin and uncle and was sexually abused since then. After suffering years of abuse, at age of 13 she ran away from home. However, the sad and ironic experience is she was raped and gave birth at 14 but unfortunately the infant died. At age 17, Oprah won the Miss Black Tennessee beauty pagent and also a scholarship to Tennessee State University majoring in Speech Communication and Performing Arts. At age 19, she caught the attention of a local radio station, WVOL to do news part time. In 1983, she was invited to Chicago to host a talk show which is AM Chicago. The show attracts huge viewers and soon become the hottest show in town. In 1985, the show was then renamed “The Oprah Winfrey Show” which we can still watch till today.

When she started her talk show 27 years ago, she was a nobody and there was a lot of racism because she was a black woman. For her first talk show, do you know who she interviewed, to my amaze, she interviewed people who have been raped, who went through emotional trauma, who are divorced, who attempted suicide and many more who faces many downs and devasting challenges in their lives. Despite having a bad childhood experience herself, she is strong to overcome her own trauma and would inspire and counsel the people in her talk show.

The people who attended her talk show would say, “ My life is better after talking to her and I will conquer the world”.

And those who also watch her show will get inspired as well and began to change their life’s into a better one. Oprah is truly an amazing and inspiring woman to everyone. She can change lives. There is once when someone interviewed her and question her how did she have the ability to do what she do today? She answered its because of what happened to her last time. She had a tough childhood and endures the many pains that had made her a strong woman. When she look at the difficult issue of the society and people suffering, she can connect to them. She also dedicated her life to be a role modal to change other people’s life.

Oprah Winfrey founded Harpo Studio and this become Oprah’s production facility that provides help and inspiration to woman all aover the world. Harpo Studio also known as Harpo Inc. is a company that excels in film production, magazine publication and online media. Oprah is also the first African-American to become a billionaire. 

Let us all remember, it’s not what happen to us that defines what we become. It’s what we choose to do about it. Whatever happens to us, it happened for a reason. Do you believe things happen for a reason? I’m not sure about you but I always believe that whatever happens in life have a reason. It’s all happen because of God’s plans for us. I believe that Oprah’s life is really motivating and inspiring to everyone to take more actions in your life. She has contributed so much to the world and help many people to have a better life. She donates millions of dollar for charity. I do feel that the world need more people like Oprah Winfrey. She truly deserves the success that she is enjoying now.

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Here, I would like you to listen to one of Oprah's incredible and inspiring speech for the Spelman graduate.

Oprah Winfrey Delivers Commencement Address to Class of 2012