Condoleeza Rice example essay topic

Biography Condoleeza Rice was born Nov. 14th, 1954 in Birmingham, Alabama. Her father was dean of Stillman College as well as a minister and her mother taught music and science at a local high school. Growing up around education, Rice has always been a little ahead of the others. By the age of three, she began reading as well as taking lessons in piano, figure skating and French.

She was in eighth grade by age 11. Although Rice's parents tried to armor her from racism, she lived in a world restricted by the "Jim-Crow laws" of the Deep South. Her father preached of "fighting racial injustice with your mind" rather than being an active participant in the Civil Rights Movement. Rice herself, knew better than to get involved.

She used her faith as well as "education as a tool of liberation". Still, at the snap of a finger Rice recalls memories such as being ushered to remote dressing rooms and losing peers in the 1963 Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing. Rice's family moved to Denver when she was 15. That year, Rice entered the University of Denver as a freshman in college. She planned to study music, being a concert pianist, but by her sophomore year she realized she had a newfound niche. Rice ended out majoring in international politics, focusing on Soviet affairs.

She graduated at age 19. She went on to obtain her masters from University of Notre Dame in 1975, and her Ph. D. from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver in 1981. Later that year, Rice began teaching Political Science at Stanford University. Since then she has won two of the highest teaching honors -- the 1984 Walter J. Gores Award for Excellence in Teaching and the School of Humanities and Sciences Dean's Award for Distinguished Teaching. Also in 1984, Rice published her first novel, Uncertain Allegiance: The Soviet Union and the Czechoslovak Army. She went on to publish two others throughout her teaching career, as well as numerous political articles.

But it was five years later, in 1986, when her real career began. A Council on Foreign Relations fellowship brought her to Washington to work on nuclear strategic planning for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Again from 1989 until 1991, Condoleeza Rice was convinced to leave her teaching position at Stanford to work in Washington. Here, she served on the National Security Council of President George Bush Sr, eventually being promoted to a committee director. Rice was responsible for Soviet and Eastern Europe Affairs at a difficult time. Germany was reunifying, Baltics were rebelling, and the Soviet Union was in its final days, but she remained successful.

Upon returning to Stanford, Rice served at the University's first female, non-white and youngest provost. Not only was she in charge of the budget but also an academic program involving 1,400 faculty members and 14,000 students. While in this position, she overcame tens of millions of dollars of debt. Many said "she was effective as a provost because of her ability to make tough decisions and stick to them, even if they made people unhappy". In June of 1999, Rice left her position at Stanford for a permanent address in Washington D.C., only this time it was to work under George W. Bush.

She served on the campaign team and the nation magazine predicted that if Bush won, Rice would become "Rock star big", and a "major cultural figure" because of her leadership in the administration. Condoleezza Rice became the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, commonly referred to as the National Security Advisor, on January 22, 2001. Since then, she has been referred to "the most powerful woman in the world" and "Bush's secret weapon". She is the first female and second African American to serve as the National Security Advisor. Within the past couple of years, Rice has become a constant work of criticism to some, while she is a vital leader to others. She is a key strategist in the campaign against terrorism.

Since September 11, 2001 Rice has become almost a permanent fixture on our television, as she helps rebuild Iraq and broker peace between Palestine and Israel. Her determination, vigor and clear vision help to guide our nation every day. But also, in the steps to becoming an all-around ideal leader, Rice works to serve the community as her father taught, "with your mind". It was because of this idea that Rice founded the Center for a New Generation, an after-school academy to help with tutoring and music lessons, and became the Vice-President of the Boys and Girls Club of Palo Alto. Whether Condoleeza Rice is in the White House, a provost at Stanford University or a benefactress to her surrounding community, Rice serves as an example to many. Many say watch out for this one... who knows where her success will lead her in the future..