Thousands gathered at Harvard University's commencement ceremony on Thursday to celebrate the graduating class of 2013, as well as, present Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and talk show host and television personality Oprah Winfrey honorary degrees.
Joining the ranks of Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Ansel Adams, Quincy Jones, and Nelson Mandela - all of whom have received honorary degrees from Harvard - Oprah solidified her title as media legend.
"Oh my goodness!" she shouted. "I'm at Harvard!"
Winfrey got a chance to speak to the audience - about 32,000 people were set to attend - and graduating class and even got a few applause when she revisited her progressive political involvement espousing support for gun control in the form of background checks, expanding education programs to benefit the poor, and even indicating a need for immigration reform.
Her speech was aimed at "anybody who's felt screwed by life," where she touched on purpose and life motivation, citing that in the tens of thousands of interviews she conducted - including world leaders, pop stars, and civil rights activists -- what she learned is that people are ultimately seeking validation.
"It doesn't matter how far you might rise, at some point you're bound to stumble," she said. "And when you do, there is something I want you to remember. No such thing as failure. Failure is just life trying to move to into another direction."
Winfrey went on to share that her daytime television show held the highest ratings of any syndicated TV show for 21 years, and she achieved this because she was persistent in "raising the bar every year, pushing, pushing myself as hard as I could."
Winfrey received her honorary doctor of laws degree.
Harvard President Drew Faust made brief remarks as she bestowed the degree upon the media mogul.
"Opening books, opening doors, opening minds to life's possibilities, a bountiful altruist and a woman of valor whose audiences owe her a standing O."
Watch Oprah's commencement speech here:
