Condoleezza Rice Essay

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Condoleezza Rice Condoleezza Rice can be expressed by a woman of force and character who has reached the highest levels of power in the United States Government. The story of her life prevails both astounding and instructive, exemplifying hard work and determination in a free society that can overcome great obstacles. Born in Birmingham Alabama on 14 November 1954, Condoleezza Rice was the first and only child of John and Angelena Rice. Rice’s mother gave her the uncommon name, "Condoleezza". Angelena originally wanted to name her "Condolcezza" which mean "with sweetness" in Italian. However, she thought the pronunciation might come about as a problem for people seeing the name for the first time. Condoleezza would lead a childhood relatively sheltered from the Jim Crow laws and segregation that was prevalent in Birmingham during that era. Her parents lavished her with affection, and instilled in her a sense of self-worth that sprang from great expectations, resulting from self-discipline coupled with raw ability. Her parents endured education and had good jobs; the family lived a relatively middle-class existence. Condoleezza began her education home-schooled by her mother during her first year. The program included learning the piano. At second grade she was placed in a segregated school. Eventually her father got a job at the University of Denver in Colorado, and Condoleezza attended high-school at a private Catholic school there. She graduated at a very young age and attended Denver University even as she finished her last year of high-school. She would go on to receive her Masters (Notre Dame) and Doctorate (Denver University) in Soviet Studies. Her early career goes on marked by stunning and rapid advancement. She was hired at Stanford as an assistant professor and soon got tenure. Because of her expertise in the Soviet Union she came to the

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