Oprah Winfrey is without a doubt, one of my inspiring role models. Not only was she an African-American growing up in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement, but she is also a woman, and women face adversity even today. Like me, Winfrey had a struggling childhood but overcame her obstacles to achieve a better life for herself. One of my prominent goals in life is to help others and to better humanity: Winfrey has helps others through the Oprah Winfrey Foundations, which provide opportunity for low-income women, children, and families around the world. For me, a leading action that stood out above the rest was in 2007, when Winfrey opened a school for disadvantaged girls in South Africa. At a news conference, Winfrey said, “I wanted to give this opportunity to girls who had a light so bright that not even poverty could dim that light.” This particularly affected me because of my financial limitations; I realized that no matter how difficult it may be sometimes, education always provides opportunity.
Nelson Mandela is also one of my great role models and he attended the ceremony for the school for girls as well: “It is my hope that this school will become the dream of every South African girl and they will study hard and qualify for the school one day.”
