Madeleine Albright

Hello! My name is Madeleine Albright, but I was born Marie Jana Korbelová on May 15th, 1937, in a beautiful city called Prague, in a country named Czechoslovakia. My father was a diplomat, which meant our lives were full of change and often connected to world events. When I was just two years old, in 1939, a great and terrible war, World War II, began to spread across Europe. My family had to flee our home to escape the danger of the Nazis. We found safety in London, England, but it was difficult to leave everything we knew and loved behind. After the war ended, we were able to return to our home, but our country was soon taken over by a new government that did not believe in freedom. So, in 1948, when I was eleven years old, my family had to flee all over again. I was a refugee for the second time in my young life, a difficult experience that would shape the rest of my years.

We sailed across the ocean to a new country: the United States of America. Arriving in 1948, I was so excited for a fresh start but also a little scared. I had to learn a new language and understand new customs. It was during this time that I decided to call myself 'Madeleine.' I was determined to succeed, so I worked very hard in school. On June 8th, 1957, I had one of the proudest days of my life when I officially became a U.S. citizen. I loved this country that had welcomed my family and given us a chance for a new life. I continued my education at Wellesley College and graduated in 1959. Later, while raising my three wonderful daughters, I went back to school and earned my doctorate degree from Columbia University in 1976. My experiences as a refugee gave me a deep interest in world affairs and how countries can work together peacefully. I wanted to help make the world a safer, more just place.

My studies and hard work led me to a career in public service. I started as a professor at Georgetown University and later became an advisor to politicians on foreign policy. Then, in 1993, President Bill Clinton asked me to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. It was an incredible job where I got to work with people from all over the world to solve global problems. But an even bigger role was waiting for me. On January 23rd, 1997, I was sworn in as the U.S. Secretary of State. This was a historic moment, as I was the very first woman to ever hold that job, making me the highest-ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government at that time. As Secretary of State, I was America's top diplomat. My job was to travel the globe, speaking with world leaders to promote peace, democracy, and human rights. I even found a unique way to communicate through my collection of pins. I would wear a different pin on my jacket each day to send a message—a shiny sun for good news, a scary spider for bad news, or a soaring eagle to show American strength.

After my term as Secretary of State ended in 2001, I didn't stop working. I returned to teaching at Georgetown University, wrote several books about my life and my ideas on international relations, and continued to speak out about the importance of democracy around the world. I especially wanted to inspire young people, particularly young women, to get involved in their communities and use their voices to make a difference. In 2012, President Barack Obama awarded me the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest honor a civilian can receive in the United States. It was a wonderful recognition of my life's work, which all started because a little girl who was forced to flee her home twice grew up believing in the promise of freedom and opportunity.

I lived to be 84 years old, and my life was fuller than I could have ever imagined. I hope my story shows that no matter where you come from or what challenges you face, you can make a difference in the world. People remember me as someone who wasn't afraid to speak her mind and who fought for what she believed in, and for breaking a barrier for women in government. My greatest wish is that you, too, will find your voice and use it to help others and stand up for freedom and kindness everywhere.