Eleanor Roosevelt was born on the 11th of October 1884 and went on to be one of the most symbolic characters in the history of the United States. She was the eyes and ears of her husband Franklin D. Roosevelt and not only participated in but revolutionized her role as the First lady of America. It is important to understand that the momentous achievements Eleanor Roosevelt accomplished in her lifetime were based on the personal experiences and hardships she had to overcome throughout her life.Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was born into one of the most prosperous families in New York of her time; however her childhood was anything but prosperous.
Eleanor Roosevelt’s mother died when she was eight and her father died from alcohol just two years later. For the rest of her childhood Eleanor lived with her grandmother who taught her manners and the importance of helping others. As a teenager she was sent to a boarding school in England called Allenswood Academy. It was there that she overcame her shyness and met her first ever role model, Marie Souvestre. Marie Souvestre taught Eleanor about public duties and helped Eleanor gain some assertiveness. She was an inspiration to Eleanor Roosevelt and led her to follow the ideas she believed.
Thus with the gift of assertiveness she gained from Marie Souvestre Eleanor returned to New York and became involved in social work. This quote form Eleanor Roosevelt reflects her experience with Marie Souvestre. “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”At about the age of twenty, Eleanor Roosevelt became involved in the labor movement. As Eleanor grew older, she learned more and more about work conditions an. .
dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.” (http://womenshistory.about.com/od/1stladyroosevelte/a/human_rights.
htm)Eleanor Roosevelt dedicated her life for the happiness and freedom of others. She fought for issues that are very important in our life today such as racial equality and worldwide human rights. Her determination and her ideas are remarkable and she is indeed the true example of a leader. Eleanor Roosevelt died in November 7 1962 at the age of 78 from Aplastic Anemia,a type of blood cancer. Her death left us a world one step closer to the perfect life where true equality and the pursuit of happiness and prosperity belong to every man and woman of all races and religion.
