Over the years, I have always admired those who have had great accomplishments in their lives. Since graduating from high school in 1989, my experiences have been mixed but they have been largely good. Some of my experiences included serving in the military for seven years, living and working in Germany for 12 years, and learning a foreign language. One person who I greatly admire for her Public Speaking skills and overall success is Ms. Oprah Winfrey. Despite all the obstacles in her life, she has managed to overcome and accomplish many great things.
Although Oprah is the richest woman in the entertainment field, she seems to be very humble, and treats everyone with the same amount of respect, whether they are rich or middle-class. In many ways, I can relate to some of the issues that she has dealt with publicly. For example, it is no secret that she has been publicly dealing with her weight going up and down. Over the years, I too have been dealing with my weight fluctuating up and down. Every time that I watch her show, I sit back with amazement on the way that she delivers her point across to her audience with such perfection. Considering that she has approximately 3 million viewers per show, and does not appear to be nervous at all.
In comparison with my background in the U. S. Army, I can remember making several speeches to my soldiers, and I did not feel nervous one bit at all. In my opinion, it is very refreshing to see a celebrity of her stature, to be so down to earth, and so giving if her time (and money). Along with the rest of world, I have grown to listen when Ms.
Winfrey speaks, who is currently one of the most powerful business persons in the world. During my high school days, my grades were satisfactory, but not to boast about, you can trust me on that issue. The fact that I can see Oprah become the person that she is today, make me want to be the best person that I can possible become. Most recently, I have decided to return to school to obtain my bachelor’s degree in business management. In addition, it is my goal to obtain my master’s degree in business administration directly after finishing my bachelor’s degree. In today’s business world, I have noticed that without a vital education, one will not be able to climb the corporate ladder.
Since I have been attending the University of Phoenix, I have been increasing my public speaking skills, which I feel are become one of the best amongst my peers. Like Oprah, I have had many obstacles in my life, but I am willing to work hard to get where I need to be. On a recent episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show, where the subject was regarding teenage violence, Ms. Oprah spoke for several minutes with people from all walks of life and delivered her speech very effectively. Also, she looks the audience in the eye, does not talk above their head, appears to be well prepared, and adds a little bit of humor to make it less formal.
My obsession of wanting to be successful, making my parents proud of me, and obtaining a lifestyle that I can appreciate has been such a huge part of my life. Currently, I am maintaining a 3. 8-grade point average, in addition to working a full-time job, where I am required to work approximately 50 hours per week. Many people may say that I am trying to be an overachiever, but I now realize that nothing in life is free.
At this point in my life, I can truly say that Oprah has taught me a thing or two when it comes to public speaking. Normally when I am required to make a public speech at work or school, I do not like to index cards, as this tends to make me appear unprepared. I would recommend to anyone who has issues regarding public speaking to watch the Oprah Winfrey show to improve their skills..
