Today, Oprah Winfrey inspired the class of 2013 at Harvard University to live a life of purpose and have continuous faith.
“When you inevitably stumble and find yourself stuck in a hole,” she said during her commencement address , “that is the story that will get you out.”
“It doesn’t matter how far you might rise, at some point you’re bound to stumble,” media mogul said, drawing parallels to her experience launching the Oprah Winfrey Network. “And when you do, there is something I want you to remember. No such thing as failure. Failure is just life trying to move us into another direction.”
“It really was this time last year the worst period in my professional life,” she revealed. “I’m here to tell you I have turned that network around.”
She went on to encourage the new graduates to build a resume that tells who you want to be, not simply the story of what you want to be.
Along with giving her speech, Winfrey received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the university.
Check out the full address below, then click through the slides to find 10 other celebrities who hold honorary degrees.
1. President Barack Obama
The President holds honorary degrees from Arizona State University, Morehouse College and the University of Michigan, to name a few.
2. Kerry Washington
After giving the commencement address at George Washington University this year, the “Scandal” star received an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts Degree from her alma mater.
3. Bill Cosby
The former “Cosby Show” star has over a dozen honorary degrees from schools such as Carnegie Mellon University, Berklee College of Music and Yale University.
4. Aretha Franklin
The Queen of Soul holds four honorary degrees from Berklee College of Music, University of Pennsylvania, Yale Univeristy and Case Western Reserve University.
5. Michelle Obama
The First Lady holds honorary degrees from Bowie State University, Oregon State University and North Carolina A&T, to name a few.
6. Mike Tyson
The boxing champ holds an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Central State University in Ohio.
7. Maya Angelou
Dr. Angelou has more than 30 honorary degree from institutions such as the University of Redlands, Chapman University, Howard University, Boston College and Wake Forest University.
8. Oprah Winfrey
Along with her new honorary degree from Harvard, Winfrey holds a Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Princeton University and a Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Duke University.
9. Muhammad Ali
In 2007, the legendary boxer was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Princeton University, and in 2009 he received a degree from Muhlenberg College.
10. Tyra Banks
The supermodel and TV producer holds an honorary doctorate from Harvard Business School.
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Today, Oprah Winfrey inspired the class of 2013 at Harvard University to live a life of purpose and have continuous faith.
“When you inevitably stumble and find yourself stuck in a hole,” she said during her commencement address , “that is the story that will get you out.”
“It doesn’t matter how far you might rise, at some point you’re bound to stumble,” media mogul said, drawing parallels to her experience launching the Oprah Winfrey Network. “And when you do, there is something I want you to remember. No such thing as failure. Failure is just life trying to move us into another direction.”
“It really was this time last year the worst period in my professional life,” she revealed. “I’m here to tell you I have turned that network around.”
She went on to encourage the new graduates to build a resume that tells who you want to be, not simply the story of what you want to be.
Along with giving her speech, Winfrey received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the university.
Check out the full address below, then click through the slides to find 10 other celebrities who hold honorary degrees.
1. President Barack Obama
The President holds honorary degrees from Arizona State University, Morehouse College and the University of Michigan, to name a few.
2. Kerry Washington
After giving the commencement address at George Washington University this year, the “Scandal” star received an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts Degree from her alma mater.
3. Bill Cosby
The former “Cosby Show” star has over a dozen honorary degrees from schools such as Carnegie Mellon University, Berklee College of Music and Yale University.
4. Aretha Franklin
The Queen of Soul holds four honorary degrees from Berklee College of Music, University of Pennsylvania, Yale Univeristy and Case Western Reserve University.
5. Michelle Obama
The First Lady holds honorary degrees from Bowie State University, Oregon State University and North Carolina A&T, to name a few.
6. Mike Tyson
The boxing champ holds an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Central State University in Ohio.
7. Maya Angelou
Dr. Angelou has more than 30 honorary degree from institutions such as the University of Redlands, Chapman University, Howard University, Boston College and Wake Forest University.
8. Oprah Winfrey
Along with her new honorary degree from Harvard, Winfrey holds a Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Princeton University and a Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Duke University.
9. Muhammad Ali
In 2007, the legendary boxer was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Princeton University, and in 2009 he received a degree from Muhlenberg College.
10. Tyra Banks
The supermodel and TV producer holds an honorary doctorate from Harvard Business School.
