1 of 16 Earl Gibson III/WireImage
"[The Special Olympics] show us that we're all in this together—that we can lift up our friends and neighbors and that we can bring out the best in each other to reach even higher heights." -Special Olympic Opening Ceremonies, 2015
2 of 16
"Success is only meaningful and enjoyable if it feels like your own." -Oregon State University, 2012
3 of 16 Getty Images
"Our history provides us with a better story, a better blueprint for how we can win. It teaches us that when we pull ourselves out of those lowest emotional depths, and we channel our frustrations into studying and organizing and banding together—then we can build ourselves and our communities up."- Tuskegee, 2015
4 of 16 Getty Images
"Whether you come from a council estate or a country estate, your success will be determined by your own confidence and fortitude. It won't be easy, that's for sure, but you have everything you need." -Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School, 2009
5 of 16 AP Images
"And at the end of the day, by staying true to the me I’ve always known, I found that this journey has been incredibly freeing. Because no matter what happened, I had the peace of mind of knowing that all of the chatter, the name calling, the doubting—all of it was just noise." -Tuskegee, 2015
6 of 16 Getty Images
"You see, at the end of the day, my most important title is still "mom-in-chief." -DNR Convention, 2012
7 of 16 Getty Images
“What I notice about men, all men, is that their order is me, my family, God is in there somewhere, but me is first. And for women, me is fourth, and that’s not healthy.” -Vanity Fair, 2007
8 of 16
"I have learned that as long as I hold fast to my beliefs and values—and follow my own moral compass—then the only expectations I need to live up to are my own." -Tuskegee, 2015
9 of 16 Getty Images
"One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals."-Marie Claire magazine, 2008
10 of 16 Getty Images
"There are still many causes worth sacrificing for, so much history yet to be made." -Visit to Cape Town, South Africa, 2011
11 of 16 Getty Images
"You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world's problems at once but don't ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own." -Visit to Cape Town, South Africa, 2011
12 of 16 AP Images
"I never cut class. I loved getting A's, I liked being smart. I liked being on time. I thought being smart is cooler than anything in the world." -G20 Summit, 2009
13 of 16 APImages
"You might have to ruffle a few feathers and folks might not always like what you have to say. And there will be times when you’ll get frustrated or discouraged. But whenever I start to feel that way, I like to take a step back and remind myself of all the progress I’ve seen in my short lifetime." -DNR Convention, 2012
14 of 16 Getty Images
"I am an example of what is possible when girls from the very beginning of their lives are loved and nurtured by people around them. I was surrounded by extraordinary women in my life who taught me about quiet strength and dignity." -G20 Summit, 2009
15 of 16 Getty Images
"I have never felt more confident in myself, more clear on who I am as a woman. But I am constantly thinking about my own health, I want to be this really fly 80-90-year old." - Parade Magazine, 2013
16 of 16 Getty Images
"I realized that if I wanted to keep my sanity and not let others define me, there was only one thing I could do, and that was to have faith in God’s plan for me. I had to ignore all of the noise and be true to myself—and the rest would work itself out." -Tuskegee, 2015
You may like
Get The Essence Newsletter and Special Offers delivered to your inbox!