Cierra Williams's Essay Submission
A Woman of Inspiration: Oprah Winfrey
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.” -1 Peter 4:10. We have all been given talents that we are to use in order to serve others and to make the world a better place. One woman in particular has used all of her talents, money, time, and energy to not only make this country a better place, but this entire world. She is a woman who is heavily admired and has had a great inspiration on the kind of woman that I have become today, Oprah Winfrey.
Oprah Winfrey has served people throughout this world through the building of schools, hospitals, clinics, and places of refuge for many people who are less fortunate and seeking a better life. She balances a TV show, a television network, a social life, a relationship with Christ and serving others with such ease. I am very sure she has days in which she probably asks God, “Why me? Why did you choose me to serve others?” However, I am sure she realizes that her work is very beneficial to others and that what she does is very important to others and that is her driving force to the work she does.
As an African American woman, the struggles Oprah have faced and endured are even more admirable. Often being told that she would never make it and that she should give up because she was an African American and a woman, she still chose to stick to what she was doing and be what God called her to be.
Oprah Winfrey has inspired me to be a stronger African American woman and no matter what to stick to the person who I am and be who I want to be. She is one of the major reasons I have chosen a life of service. A life fully dedicated to serving those who are less fortunate than me. I strive every day to help others in whatever way I can. Whether it’s just by listening, praying with them, or helping with homework I give of my time to help those in need.
Through Oprah I have learned to never give up on me. If there is something I set my mind to I must strive every day to reach that goal. I am reminded of a quote by Les Brown, “If you want something so badly you will go out and fight for it, work day and night for it, give up your time, your peace, and your sleep for it. If all that you dream and scheme is about it and life seems useless and worthless without it if you go after that thing that you want with all of your capacity, strength and sagacity, faith, hope, confidence, and stern pugnacity, if neither cold, poverty, famish, or gaunt, sickness and pain, body and brain can keep you from that thing that you want, If dogged and grim you besiege and beset it with the help of God you’ll get it.”