I will never forget the day that I was interviewing for a summer position at a local YMCA.
The two girls who were interviewing me were ‘camp leaders’, maybe a few years older than I was. I don’t know why, but I instantly got a bad vibe from them; they were harshly looking me up and down and judging me from the first moment I walked into the room. ‘Nice highlights’, one of them quipped with a smirk.
I tried to ignore my bad gut feeling and just give the best interview that I could.
One of the many interview questions they asked me was, ‘Who is a role model to you?’
I said, Oprah was one of my biggest role models.
The two girls proceeded to burst out laughing, trying desperately to stifle their laughter like a group of 14 year old girls would do in high school.
‘OPRAH!?’, one of them mocked, rolling her eyes.
Yup, they were ‘mean girls’, just as my gut had told me.
I was not only embarrassed by their unprofessional response, but I was angry. I wanted to stand up and walk out of the interview, not looking back. Instead, I carried on with the interview trying to ignore their cattiness, just waiting for it to be over.
A few days later, I got a call offering me a YMCA position. I quickly turned it down with satisfaction.
While I don’t regret turning down the position (I eventually found another summer job working for great people), I regret not sticking up for myself in the interview. I was quite young- only about 18 at the time- and I felt intimidated by the interview environment and the older girls, not feeling like I had the option of calling them out for their rude behaviour.
Only later did I realize that I always have the option to stand up for what I believe in, I just didn’t know it at the time.
Oprah has remained a role model in my life, regardless of whether that is ‘cool’ or not. Oprah’s last show was everything I could have asked for and more. Did you catch it? I loved that it wasn’t about a huge giveaway or ‘things’, but simply the life lessons that Oprah has learned over the past 25 years. The theme of the show was to remind us all of the power we have to change our own lives. I don’t think she could have gone out with a bigger bang.
On our real ‘job’ in life:
"What I knew for sure from this experience with you is that we are all called. Everybody has a calling, and your real job in life is to figure out what that is and get about the business of doing it. Every time we have seen a person on this stage who is a success in their life, they spoke of the job, and they spoke of the juice that they receive from doing what they knew they were meant to be doing. We saw it in the volunteers who rocked abandoned babies in Atlanta. We saw it with those lovely pie ladies from Cape Cod making those delicious potpies. … We saw it every time Tina Turner, Celine, Bocelli or Lady Gaga lit up the stage with their passion. Because that is what a calling is. It lights you up and it lets you know that you are exactly where you’re supposed to be, doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing. And that is what I want for all of you and hope that you will take from this show. To live from the heart of yourself. You have to make a living; I understand that. But you also have to know what sparks the light in you so that you, in your own way, can illuminate the world." ~Oprah
A universal desire:
"I’ve talked to nearly 30,000 people on this show, and all 30,000 had one thing in common: They all wanted validation. If I could reach through this television and sit on your sofa or sit on a stool in your kitchen right now, I would tell you that every single person you will ever meet shares that common desire. They want to know: ‘Do you see me? Do you hear me? Does what I say mean anything to you?’ ~Oprah
Powerful stuff! You can read the full transcript and watch a video clip on the Oprah website.
Did you catch the final show? Is this Oprah’s final goodbye to television, or will she be back?
didn’t see the final show and never really watched. but i think the overall message is something to definitely think about. only we have control over the life we want to live! a lot of her messages are powerful and really puts things in perspective
I really don’t think that this means the end of Oprah gracing our tv screens. I don’t think she’ll be able to stay away. Plus, with her network she has the perfect platform to launch a new show or specials at the least.
Hiya Angela. Huge Oprah fan here. Such a strong, independent, motivated woman who’s overcome so many obstacles! What’s not to look up to?
Standing up for yourself takes a lot of balls (ovaries?) and isn’t always the comfortable position to put yourself in. I’m not one to take a lot of crap and I gotta say, the feeling after you stand up for yourself (or someone else) is way better than the feeling you get when you know you haven’t.
M :)
I also was impressed at the toned-down, more intimate final episode of her show. I think it truly spoke to who Oprah is a a person, as a role model, and as an icon. She has always inspired me as well and although I don’t agree with all of her beliefs or points of view, there is no denying the powerful effect she has had on the world. Because of her efforts, pedophiles were caught, minds were opened, and several people have started thinking for themselves and taking responsibility for their own lives. I believe she will continue to do incredible things and will continue being a strong and positive influence on the world. There never has been nor ever will be another like her!
I found her last show to be the best show she ever had done. The messages were so powerful, so simple, so real. I was born the year she started her show and really grew up watching her. She’s one of my role models for sure… I hope to see her doing more TV on her OWN channel which I subscribe too.
I wonder who will take the 5pm slot? I can’t see anyone “replacing” Oprah… she’s in a league of her own :)
Ps. I absolutely LOVED seeing her embrace Stedman once she was done. I know they keep their relationship private but I thought it was so heartwarming. It was also so sweet of him to speak about her on her second last show :) awwwwww love.
I heard Dr Oz is taking over!
thanks for posting the link. i never really got to watch the show much because of work, but the transcript was very touching, and it really captures why Oprah is a role model to so many.
I was tired of seeing all the Oprah hate everywhere… Think of her what you will, but she entertained many people for many years, and not like she was promoting anything unhealthy really. Her absence from live TV will be a change/end of an era that makes me feel old, but hopefully we can find comfort… in Ellen DeGeneres? ;)
I didn’t see it but I love this post. I think sometimes it’s tougher to stand up for yourself than others but it is absolutely necessary! People are drawn to niceness but you can’t let people walk all over you.
I love your story about turning down the job! I have a hard time sticking up for myself, it is only something I am just starting to learn how to do.
I try to listen tp that sinking feeling in my stomach and ask myself “what do I need to do to voice my concerns/needs”. So far, everytime I have, the outcome has been far better and less scary than I could have ever expected!
I am off to conquer my day! Thanks for the inspiration!
I missed her final show :( She has always been an inspiration to me as well… I wish I would have had the courage to stand up to bullies in high school or known that I should/would/can stand up for myself like I do know. Live and learn. :)
thank you for posting this. I’ll have to finish reading the transcript as I didn’t catch her last show. It comes at an important moment in my life. I am looking for a new job, as my dad gets ready to retire, and I am left wondering what I should do versus what I want to do. I am at a bypass and have know idea where to go. maybe I’ll gain some insight from the transcript.
Hey Angela – great post.
Steph once told me “Don’t tell a fool where he went wrong. Let him figure it out on his own”. I don’t think it’s always necessary or wise to tell people when they are being rude or what they are doing wrong. They will eventually figure it out or spend life motivating people like you and me to turn down their offers ;)
Love, love, loved her last show. I maybe broke down and cried an ugly-cry when it ended. I’m going to miss spending my afternoons with her so much!
I didn’t watch the final show but need to. And wow “It lights you up and it lets you know that you are exactly where you’re supposed to be, doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing” this makes me want to dig deeper and find out what it is that lights me up. I have some ideas that are stewing…
I loved this show and I especially loved the quote she shared “Please be responsible for the energy you bring into this room.” Great stuff!
I really HOPE Oprah will be back — i’m sure she’ll be doing something else! I didn’t get to watch her last show but have it recorded and am excited to see. She has been such an inspiration and example of what it is like to be selfless!
I’m an Oprah Lover. I think it is absolutely disgraceful what those girls did to you. Everyone is allowed to have thier own role models in life – and if Oprah is that for you, so be it. Oprah has hoenstly touched so many lives, and the world is a better place because ofher. I <3 her.
I’m not an Oprah fan (and I wasn’t at home when it started) so I didn’t see her final show yesterday. Her show ending, regardless of if you like her or not, marks the end of an era. It’s like when Michael Jackson died, you may not have enjoyed his music but you couldn’t deny the impact he’d had on popular culture.
If it makes you feel any better, my answer for who is your role model probably would have been laughably clique for those mean girls. My answer is my mom who remains the strongest, most independent and unconditionally woman I know. I can only hope one day to ‘turn into her’.
I love Oprah, and anyone who doesn’t love her still can’t deny the amazing impact and difference she has made over the last 25 years.
I caught her finale through teary eyes and am so happy she kept it to the lessons she learned and not material things. I hope she is back on the screen in some form, it makes me sad she won’t be on when I am home with my future babies!
I love the idea that everyone just wants to be heard. And I truly feel as if Oprah picked up on a need in our society – for women who were at home and feeling isolated and disenfranchised to have a voice and a space to be heard. Even if she isn’t back in that exact form I think the message was a powerful one.