Maya Angelou is one of students’ favourite topics in literary and history classes. Her life lessons are unforgettable, and we’ll discuss some of them in this article.
Maya Angelou remains one of the most powerful literary voices in the world. She was a novelist, an educator, a historian, a producer, and a fierce civil rights activist. The poems about education by Maya Angelou are read and discussed in literary circles and classes. Maya worked for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X and won 3 Grammys for her brilliant achievements.
When we talk about a powerful woman of our time, this is one of the first names that come to mind. Despite setbacks and racial discrimination in her life, Maya kept her humour, wit, and grace. Even today, many of her books and quotes are shared in literary circles. College students choose her as an inspiration for writing an essay, study her poems in school, and carry her lessons with them into adulthood. To learn more about her, you can instantly access paper examples and books by Maya Angelou free of charge, and get inspired by one of the greatest women of all time.
The majority of college students will come across a lesson by Maya Angelou or read her works at least once at school. She’s become a big part of our education, partly because her quotes and lessons are applicable to all – and as real as they get. In this post, we’ll share with you some of the best life lessons by Maya.
Lesson No. 1: “If you have only one smile in, you give it to the people you love”
When the world crumbles and you feel like people are letting you down, you need to remember to give your best self to those you have close – your family. These are the people who are given to you, not the people you choose. They are the ones who deserve the best of you, so if you have some strength and a smile in you, it’s them you should give it to. She then continues to say: “Don’t be surly at home, then go out in the street and start grinning ‘Good morning’ at total strangers.”
Lesson no. 2: “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them”
When we talk about poems that inspire and raise the spirits, we talk about “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou. This is by far one of her best poems. This is a moving literary piece, one that’s empowering and talks about the struggle to overcome injustice – and prejudice.
Reading the poem, you’ll see that it’s a beacon of hope for those who have lost their hope. It’s somewhat of a reminder that, in tough times, you just need to rise strong and keep moving – the good will come.
Lesson no. 3: “It’s in the reach of my arms, the span of my hips, the stride of my steps… I’m a woman”
For the longest time, the world has been petrified of giving women the right of choice, the power they should have, and equality. Maya Angelou was a strong fighter against gender discrimination, and her poem about the woman’s body and mind encourages students to own and celebrate their sexuality.
Lesson no. 4: “Life loves the liver of it”
The lesson by Maya Angelou in this quote is to grasp creativity as an infinite resource. The idea is to use creativity to make something amazing, and stop backing down every time you face a challenge. There’s an unlimited creativity in every one of us – and we need to find it.
Lesson no. 5: “We may encounter many defeats but we must never be defeated”
Angelou encourages people to make the most of their hardships. Defeat is not an option because life isn’t just a straightforward path. Maya is telling us that we mustn’t let any defeat bring us down. It’s about persistence and perseverance.
Lesson no. 6: We can learn to see each other and see ourselves in each other and recognize that human beings are more alike than we are unalike”
As we mentioned, Angelou was a frequent victim of racial discrimination. This is one of her most powerful quotes against it – telling us that there's beauty in everyone regardless of race, status or gender. The world is constantly passing judgment upon others. In the end, we are all alike, much more than we are unalike.
Wrapping Up
If you ever need a useful lesson, a pick-me-up, some strong words to keep you moving in tough situations, Maya Angelou has dedicated her life to providing these as an inspiration. She has so many more lessons to share with you – so just keep reading and listening to her speeches.
