Commencement Speech : Ode I. 11

Oprah Winfrey, the first African-American television correspondent in Nashville, Tennessee, was born into poverty and struggle and lived a childhood of abuse and neglect. Everyday, Winfrey had obstacles to conquer, similar to how everyday “from the time the Joshua tree was a tiny sapling, it had been so beaten down by the whipping wind that, rather than trying to grow skyward, it had grown in the direction that the wind pushed it” (21) because of it’s rooting. Winfrey's capacity to remain humble all through each and every crack and crevice of her life show how much of a hard-worker and how determined she is to grow and prosper, which earned her the title of being one of the richest women in the world with a net worth of three billion dollars. This compares to the Joshua tree’s toils of how it stayed alive and prospered for many years which, in the end, symbolizes perseverance and diligence to accomplish peace and balance in one’s

“The best of humanity's recorded history is a creative balance between horrors endured and victories achieved, and so it was during the Harlem Renaissance.” A quote stated by Aberjhani in his novel Journey through the Power of the Rainbow: Quotations from a Life Made out of Poetry channels the significance and impact of the Harlem Renaissance as a movement that gave African Americans their first opportunity to express themselves. With the continuous, yet advanced expansion of African American impact on society in this new era, indeed we are in the midst of a new Black American Renaissance. As a renowned business woman, talk show host, actress, producer and more, Oprah Winfrey has influenced this new renaissance with her contributions of literature, performing arts, media entrepreneurship, taboo topics, and discussions on race relations as well as philanthropy.

Oprah Winfrey has had an outstanding career and has emerged as the most significant female African American of her generation and those following her. From her early childhood Oprah has faced many obstacles and family distortions such as

When it was time for Oprah to go to college, she was eager to be out on her own and make her own decisions. However, her

In David Foster Wallace’s commencement speech “This is Water”, Wallace discusses multiple aspects and instances that will come before us. To begin, Wallace’s speech elaborates to us most importantly that we are not the center of the world. For instance, Wallace states in his speech that a vast majority of the information he tends to be certain in usually results in being completely wrong. An example of this wrong highlighted in this speech is that Wallace states that everything his experience supports the belief that his self is the center of the universe. Relating this to Naikan, Naikan helps the client to consider what they have given to a specific person and what troubles they have caused them. The reason why is to consider one’s perception and the impact they have on others which is not conceived through selfish encounters. This helps Naikan clients to distinguish what positive changes they can implement after introspecting on their relationships and interactions with others.

In Lofton’s book, she addresses that there is more to Oprah than meets the eye. Her thesis statement, “What is Oprah? Oprah is an instance of American astonishment at what can be” (Lofton 1), shows the reader that the author clearly sees Oprah as a significant figure in America and will proceed to show us how so throughout the book. Through several examples, Lofton conveys her point by pointing out the influence Oprah has had on others to help them live life to their full potentials religiously, economically, physically, emotionally and socially.

Ellen DeGeneres once said that “Life is like one big Mardi Gras. But instead of showing your boobs, show people your brain, and if they like what they see, you’ll have more beads than you know what to do with and you’ll be drunk, most of the time” (DeGeneres). In the 2009 commencement speech to University of Tulane’s “Katrina Class”, she utilizes devices such as hyperbole, allusions, and rhetorical questions to make the speech effective in achieving her purpose of inspiring her audience of graduating students to be true to themselves by following their own path and passions and to realize that one will have to overcome hurdles to reach one’s idea of success. Even though DeGeneres uses a variety of rhetorical devices, her speech mainly appeals to emotions through comedic anecdotes and witty lines infused throughout the speech.

Retired TV show host, Oprah Winfrey, in her fervent eulogy for Rosa Parks, addresses the importance of Rosa Park’s decision to refuse to give up her seat. Winfrey’s purpose is to show how Park’s choice has had a positive impact on society. She uses imagery, repetition and pathos to help the readers better understand the reasons for Ms. Winfrey’s admiration of Mrs. Parks. Ms. Winfrey begins her eulogy by using imagery to show how “big” Mrs. Park’s action made her seem. Ms. Winfrey describes her childhood perception of Mrs. Parks.

Yesterday marked the ending of 4 LONG years! Through all the mistakes and hardships I've faced, I can proudly say I finally made it! I am so excited to start college in the Fall to Bethune-Cookman University on a full tuition scholarship. I am extremely proud of all my classmates and so thankful for my family and friends. Thank you God for this opportunity many don't get to enjoy. I can't wait to see all God has in store for me!

With no education, Madam Walker built a prosperous enterprise and shattered early 20th century norms. She is an accomplished woman and has become a symbol of female empowerment in my life. Her business, philanthropy, and rise to success are inspirational. I was lucky to cross her path. Madam Walker become a figurehead during a difficult moment in my life and academic career. I felt discouraged by financial and academic obstacles that were presented in front of me. Anxiety crippled me, but Madam Walker straightened me out. Learning about this powerful woman and her stellar work ethic revived me in a

Response To David McCullough's Commencement Speech “You are not special. You are not exceptional.” This what David McCullough had decided to reveal to the Wellesley High School class of 2012, straight out of high school. McCullough had told the fresh ‘adults’ that being extraordinary and adventure cannot find them, but they have to find it.

Oprah can be attributed to more than just selling millions of books, she can also be credited towards helping achieve social advances. Often her book selections were from female, minority authors whose voices might not have been heard by millions if it were not for Oprah’s selection of their novels. Through overall themes of empowerment and reflection, as well as extending the book club to online message boards, Oprah’s ability to encourage the masses while simultaneously bringing them together is the same strength that allowed her book club to

In today’s day and age one of the most influential women and people is Oprah Winfrey. Oprah has had a big impact on today’s society and played a huge role in advancing it. Oprah Winfrey is a talk show host, producer, actress and philanthropist who are widely respected around the world. By becoming one of the biggest names in talk show history Oprah has paved the way for others and became one of the more popular women in talk show history. Her willingness to help others and to be sure others are guided in positive light shows how much passion she has to see the greater good in others. Oprah’s biggest role comes from helping to pursue the advancement of young women and girls. Oprah has taken the time to see to it that young women are out of poverty and opening up a brand new school for underprivileged females to see to it that they have the same opportunity that children in America and other parts of the world have. Being that African- Americans, let alone women were not seen as marketable, Oprah helped to change this dynamic early in her career by using her platform in communication to open doors for other people. Winfrey’s work over a number of years is the single most evident reason why she has been able to be successful in the field of mass communication. Oprah is one of the most influential women of our time because of how well she is able to contribute to the human rights of women and advancing them in today’s society.

Leveraging her fame on multi-award winning talk show, Oprah uses her influence and power to lift up people and make a better world. She has clearly become a brand. She understood that everything she does is the reflection of her brand. She cares about her reputation and is not interested to license her name for monetary gain. She prefers to use her name to promote social causes and education. Inspired by the late Nelson Mandela, Oprah went on to build the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls just outside Johannesburg, in Mandela’s native country. Oprah says, “Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom”. One of her

As an ironic and gentle moralist; Horace’s “Ode I.11” relished an irony in his poem by constantly talking about himself,where also he has left a portrait of a man from every reader to reader by asking him not to hold hope in his mind , just to live the right moment and run out from the thoughts for the future.But in contrast to what Horace said Oprah Winfrey’s “Commencement address” strongly support the need to be hopeful for tomorrow, for being an inspiration for others by changing our lives and fate through our hard work to fulfill the highest, most truthful expression of ourselves as a human being.” The inspirations she spread through her speech clearly shows the significance of her hope in changing her life from a black, Mississippi girl to the titles of an actress, philanthropist, publisher and producer. Were both of them shows their own perspectives about holding hope, about the endless opportunities offered by the life and to worth ourselves in creating a future and for being an inspiration for other lives, where Winfrey strongly argues about the relevance in holding hope to our way to the destiny!