Vicky Vasconcelos
I was going through old documents this afternoon and found this gem. Vicky graciously allowed me to share it on my blog. This story is from the spring of 2011.
Who says dreams come true? Vicky Vasconcelos says they do. Vicky, a San Mateo resident, returned last week from a three-day whirlwind trip to Chicago. Details cannot be fully revealed until after today and tomorrow’s airings of Oprah’s Surprise Celebration, but she revealed enough of her Cinderella story to excite and inspire us all.
Vicky has been a long time fan of the Oprah Winfrey show. For years she has scoured the website for opportunities to get tickets to the show, but to no avail. However, in March (of 2011), Vicky innocently responded to a request on the show’s website. The website was asking for pictures of viewers holding a poster saying in a single sentence how the Oprah Show had changed their lives. The picture was to be taken by a landmark in the area in which they lived. Vicky took a picture of herself in front of the Golden Gate Bridge. and sent it in. The next day, the producer from the Oprah Winfrey show called her and asked her if she’d sign a waiver so the picture can be used in a montage. Vicky signed the waiver, and thought was the end of it.
Three weeks later, she got a call at her office from the producer of the Oprah Show again, telling her she had great news. The show wanted to fly Vicky out to Chicago to be a part of a surprise celebration at the United Center honoring Oprah Winfrey and her 25 years of the show; she was told she could not tell anybody except for her family because it was a secret. Vicky commented that Oprah already knew about the celebration because she heard her and Gayle King talking about it on the radio show. The producer said Oprah knows about the show because she hates surprises; but she doesn’t know the details of who is going to be on. Over 500 employees worked tirelessly to put this two-day extravaganza together, and Vicky was to be a part of it. She flew out first class on United to Chicago on the 16th, and her dream began.
Vicky stayed at the Omni Hotel where all of Oprah’s guests stay. She was treated like a queen, limousines to bring her wherever she needed to be, room service, celebrities all over the place, and a show she will never forget. Vicky was one of eight people chosen to be part of the show. She had, along with the others, specially marked seats not far from where Oprah was sitting. The star-studded event had headline names from music, television and sports, not to mention the audience was filled with many celebrities and professional athletes.
When she was asked what difference Oprah’s show made in her life, she wrote on her sign, “I Am Now Debt Free.” For a single mom, who has worked 40+ hours a week for the past 25 years (in 2011…add 13 years), the advice she learned from Oprah’s guests like Suze Orman and Jean Chatzky enabled her to become financially independent and investment savvy. When asked what her favorite Oprah show was, she said the one where Oprah pulled a prank on her attorney and posed as a McDonald’s employee. Oprah was taking orders at the drive-thru window when her lawyer pulled up and, not knowing that it was she, was impatient and a little rude. When he came around and saw her, he was mortified and later publicly apologized for his behavior. From someone who is in the customer service industry, Vicky appreciated that episode because Oprah exposed some of the difficulties customer service representatives face everyday.
For 25 years, The Oprah Winfrey Show has inspired, infuriated, educated, and entertained millions and millions of people. There is not a generation today that has not been touched by these broadcasts. And I am happy to know someone who appeared on her show…with such a grand story to tell.
FROM THE SHOE 