When you hear the name Condoleeza Rice what is the first thing that comes to mind? Most people know her as Secretary of State, but to me she is much more. She has inspired me with her well-rounded personality, her drive to succeed, and her insistence on being her own person.

I am inspired by Condoleeza Rice because she has so many interests and is a well-rounded person. She almost became a concert pianist and was a competitive figure skater and a professor at Stanford. Her dream career is to become president of the National Football League. I think that having a variety of experiences helps people get a better grasp of different ideas.

Another reason I look up to her is because she shoots for her goals. She grew up during the civil rights movement. When she was a young child her friend died in the bombing if the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. Because of the racism going on at that time her dreams of success must have seemed distant. However, her parents told her, "You may never be able to have a burger at Woolworth's but you can be the president of the United States." Despite the troubled times, she did not give up on her dreams. This is a good reminder for me to not to give up when times are hard.

What most inspires me about Condoleeza Rice is that she is her own person. She once was quoted, "I would rather be ignored than patronized." She does not want a job that she does not deserve or to get a job because of her race. This has helped me come to realize that you have to earn your way in life.

I want to be like Condoleeza Rice when I grow up. I do not want to be the Secretary of State, but I do want to have a well-rounded personality, aim high, and be my own person. The path that Condoleeza Rice has taken is the one that someday want to follow.