We choose what we want to do in life and where we want to go according to the experiences in our lives. We are inspired by the people we meet and by the situations that we run across. Every situation can affect us negatively as well as positively. I have experienced many traumatizing and depressing situations in my life that have inspired me to not live like the people who hurt me. I have also experienced many beautiful moments that have also inspired me to change the world. One of my biggest aspirations is to be remembered in life as a leader. Leadership is in my blood. Next to leadership, helping people is also what I believe I was born to do. I plan to use my personal experiences through a hopeful career in Broadcast Journalism to inspire others and change the world a little at a time.

www.remarkable.co.nz/.../
swd_roads_a.htm

When I was growing up, I developed the desire to change mine and the life of others. I have had to learn, from necessity, how to be a leader. Because this was something I didn’t choose to do, I always told myself as a young girl that my life would not be like my parents. I would not drop out of school, live my life paycheck-to-paycheck or endure endless hours of harsh manual labor, and I would not abandon my children. Dealing with sexual abuse inspired me to be strong even though sometimes I felt so “wedged that return was impossible, and I had to wriggle blindly forward, expecting every moment that my strength would fail me, and that I should perish in the undergrowth (647).” No matter how hard things got for me, and how badly I wanted to just collapse on the dusty old dirt road that my life was, I kept walking. The only thing I ever dreamed of as a young girl was freedom. I used to sit in my room alone and just think like crazy. I saw my future as a successful mother and wife, and I dreamed of being wealthy. It would be something completely different from what was then reality.

When I started high school I got involved with many different activities in school and in my community. It was the time for me to shine more so than I did in elementary and middle school. There I would set out to accomplish yet another goal: getting accepted to The University of Texas. I worked so hard to make a good score on my SAT and of course good grades in all my classes. Getting accepted meant that I would be the first in my family to go to college. It also meant that I would be the first to move away from home. It was sad to come to that realization, especially since I always thought I wanted to leave. But I also realized that my success depends on where I go and college is necessary.

Going to college is also an attempt to make my parents proud of me and to become a role model for my brothers. My brothers mean the world to me. I have fought so hard for them and I have defended them against all opposing forces. I want them to be proud of me but also I want them to see that anything is possible. In Samson Park, the small town where I grew up on the outskirts of Fort Worth, the school district is known for its high drop-out rates, teen pregnancy, and drug and alcohol usage by students. I started out high school like any other kid; I was curious. I hung out with the juniors and seniors my freshman year. I was invited to parties after football games and I would go. I didn’t realize that because of my bad decisions I was jeopardizing my chances to be successful in high school. I got in a little too deep, and soon enough I was failing classes, lacking attention, and I was having so many problems with my family. I had to stop. It was hard to keep my head on my shoulders knowing that there were so many distractions, but I had no other choice if I really wanted to achieve all my goals. Now that I have made it through high school without becoming a young mother, or dropping out, I want to keep my brothers focused as well. I talk to them just about every day and I always ask about how they are doing in school. I made a deal with them right before I moved here; I told them if they had passing grades on all their report cards I would buy them a goalie post for the back yard at the end of the school year. Since they both love soccer, I figured this would be a good inspiration to keep them motivated, and at the same time, they have something to do besides getting involved with the wrong people like I did.

My experiences also helped me realize what I want to do in the future. As a young girl, I changed my mind about what I wanted to do when I grew up many countless times. I aspired to be an actress, an archeologist, an interior designer, a cook, etc. None of these things ever made me passionate; they never stuck out in my mind as a successful career. These sort of asperations just sounded better coming from other people. I came across my dream job by accident. It started out my sophomore year of high school when I was finally able to speak out to my family and friends about the traumatizing sexual abuse I experienced from one of my older cousins when I was five. I felt so relieved to speak out, but the best part about talking was reassuring my self that after that day, he would never touch me or anyone else again. My friends were inspired by me because on the outside they didn’t see the pain I felt inside. They would have never thought that I had been through so much. They only saw the hard-working student from Castleberry High School. After I confessed to my family about what happened, I began to see a counselor. She told me that no matter what, I should never be afraid to talk about what happened; she said that it would help people come clean, and be aware. I saw how amazing it was to be a role model and an inspiration. And I got to do one of my favorite things in the world: talk. Soon after I realized that I was pretty good at talking to large crowds, I had practiced so much in band and with the various other groups I was a part of, that I came across something that made me little excited and a little nervous every time I thought about it. It was that same Christmas-morning feeling except without the waking up early part. I discovered my future career, Broadcast Journalism and Public Speaking.

Of all things to inspire me to be a successful person, there are two people who inspire me the most. My mother, who is the primary example of motherhood, is my biggest inspiration. When I was little I thought I didn’t want to turn out like her. I wanted to be a “good” reliable mother. After I told her what had happened to me when I was five she also admitted to me that she had experienced the same thing as a young girl. I was the first person she ever told. Here I was, angry at her for not knowing what kind of pain I was going through and she too had experienced the same trauma. Despite her age, I saw this reflection of me in her; I saw the same face I used to gaze upon alone in my room while I stood in front of the mirror. Since then I saw my mother in a completely different light. She was human just like me. We started getting closer and talking a lot more about everything. She inspired me thereafter to want to be a good mother, sister, and daughter. I saw how hard she had been working to support us, and I looked past the pain. I forgave her for the way she “disciplined” me and for what I thought was the worst childhood. I have realized that it is because of my mom that I developed into the hard-working, dedicated lady I am today.

www.myclassiclyrics.com/.../Oprah_Winfrey_Biography.htm

My second inspiration is Oprah Winfrey. In more ways than one she reminds me of myself. She too has gone from an unhappy little girl to a very successful (and very wealthy) woman. She has fought for women’s and children’s rights all her life after she too was molested and raped by several of her family members. Like me, she aspired to break free and never continue down the same path as her family. She once said while standing on her porch, “My life won’t be like this. My life won’t be like this, it will be better. (1)” I repeatedly told myself the same thing as a girl, the only thing left to do is live it like she is, and I will reach that point. I have always said ‘I want to be the next Oprah.’ Even though this wish is big, I truly dream of being successful just like her. She has inspired me to work hard and fight for what I believe in. Her story is a true story of survival and she proves that you can do anything if you put your whole heart and soul into it. She owns a production company, and has developed many organizations to help women and children in need. Oprah’s Angel Network is one of her organizations which “develop scholarships and schools, support women’s shelters, and build youth centers and homes- changing the future for people all over the world. (1)” She also initiated the National Child Protection Act in 1991, which led to the establishment of a “national database of convicted child abusers.” I too want to someday have my own show, and dedicate my time on air to helping people in need. I like that despite her many millions of dollars she never stops giving.

I have laid out a plan for me to go by and help me accomplish my goals. First of all, I have to work really hard to finish out this semester with passing grades, and next semester I have to work even harder because I bear the title “undeclared” on my transcript. To be able to be accepted to the College of Communication I have to maintain a 2.25 grade point average, which is not exactly hard, but why settle for less? Starting my sophomore year, I will also have to seek out internships at local television and radio stations, such as KVUE or KISS FM to increase my knowledge as well experience. After that I plan to attend graduate school here in Austin or at Texas State, and receive my masters degree. From there I will hopefully apply for a full time job at KVUE and work my way up the corporate chain until I accomplish my most desired, yet very possible dream of having my own show. I would love to accomplish all of this within the next five years, and in the next five to ten years I would like to be married with children. The act of raising a family would complete my list of things-to-do.

I no longer want to think of myself as a sad little girl. I want to be recognized when I walk down the street or when I’m at the supermarket. I want to be like Oprah in the sense that whenever people think of a Good Samaritan, the first person they think of is me. I would also be like her by using my money to give to people, donate to research and health awareness, and donate to different organizations funded to help other countries. It would be a dream-come-true for me to start my own organization and dedicate my life to helping women, children, and minorities. Helping people out would be a way for me to give back in honor of the people who have helped me out and who have inspired me. It would be a chance for me to speak about my life in hope of inspiring children and women to make changes also. I want to teach the world that you can come from anywhere in the world and have the worst of luck, and still strive for success. It can happen. It will happen.

1.)http://www.angelfire.com/ne/lliegirls/WINFREY.html

Quotes also from: Bump, Jerome. Explore UT: Course Packet Vol. II. Austin, TX: Jenn’s Copy & Binding, n.d

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