Dressed in traditional academic regalia, the media mogul urged the students to know themselves and what they want first, find a way to serve and above all, always do the right thing. “Even when other people think it may not be,” said the OWN creator.
“You must have some vision for your life. Even if you don’t know the path, you have to have a direction in which you choose to go. What I learned is that that’s a great metaphor for life. You want to be in the driver’s seat on your own life because if you are not, life will drive you.”
Oprah certainly knows a thing or two about success and what it takes to achieve under tough circumstances. The OWN creator was just named one of Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful celebrities, earning $165M last year.
Before parting ways with the class, Oprah said to never forget they arrived at that moment of success with the help of others. “You come here today trailing the breath of the ancestors and of the angels.”
Oprah received an honorary degree from Spelman in 1993. This year she was selected to receive the institution’s National Community Service Award for her philanthropy.
