Hillary Rodham Clinton was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. From a very young age, Hillary was a standout of a particular kind not only academically, but also athletically. She excelled exceptionally well in swimming and baseball. She aspired to be an astronaut in her younger years but was let down with the knowledge that NASA did not accept women into the program during the 1960s. However, she never took no for an answer, and her firm demeanor still reigns today.
She was a fervently enthusiastic participant of the student council in her high school and saw her fair share of wins and losses. Even then, many told her that being elected as president of the student council was near impossible, purely because she was a woman. Her parents constantly reminded her that she could be independent and defy misogynist ideals. They raised her in accordance with very conservative, traditional values, which contrast to her almost liberal views today. She attended Wellesley College and majored in political science. She was elected president of the Young Republicans party during her freshman year of college. During this time, she strayed away from Republican ideology because her views towards the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement changed significantly. She rallied in support of the Black community following Martin Luther King's assassination during her junior year of college. Hillary's extraordinary leadership skills have always been strongly evident, and many of her peers remarked that she could be the first woman president.
In 1970, she attended law school at Yale University, where she met her husband, Bill Clinton. He proposed to her following their graduation but at first, she declined, not wanting to yet tie her independence to a man. In 1974, she became a member of the impeachment inquiry staff advising the House Committee on how to proceed concerning the Watergate Scandal. Gradually, she helped contribute to Nixon's resignation. Bill Clinton continuously pressured her to marry him but she steadily declined in order to focus on her career. Eventually, her heart won over her head, and she followed Bill to Arkansas even though had she stayed in Washington, her career could have soared to new heights.
In 1993, she became First Lady of the United States and played a major part in helping her husband attain office. She was the first of the First Ladies to have a postgraduate degree and to have her own personal office in the West Wing of the White House. She played a strong part in administrative appointments and advocated for policy changes on Bill's behalf. Some say that Hillary was the one who truly ran the White House during Bill Clinton's administration. She was nothing like the First Ladies before her. She did not take no for an answer and pressed for change when her husband did not. Many referred to the pair as "Co-presidents" or "Billary."
Also, as a First Lady, Hillary was an extreme advocate for healthcare and welfare reform. Her success in these areas was only dampened by the Whitewater Controversy and the scandal with Monica Lewinsky. The Whitewater Controversy simply consisted of the media focus of the loss of one of the Clintons' prime investors. The Monica Lewinsky affair was a bigger issue. Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky almost led to his impeachment and caused Hillary immense shame. She was misled by her husband into thinking that no affair had taken place, but the evidence said otherwise. Despite harsh criticism, Hillary remained strong in the face of shame and persevered to maintain a close-knit public image. For that at least, she can be admired.
Hillary Clinton has pursued a presidential nomination in both 2008 and 2016. She lost the election gracefully in 2008 and served Barack Obama faithfully as Secretary of State. Her reign as Secretary of State was evidently the most challenging office she has ever held to date and with that experience, she is likely the most suited candidate to assume the presidential office successfully. Although many find countless reasons to criticize her and persecute her for some of the lies she has indeed told, it is impossible to deny that she has always acted in the best interest to serve her country and to advance her career. She may be a politician, but she is also just as human as you and me.
