Robin Roberts inspires Town Hall audiences

The Ringling College Library Association Town Hall lecture series welcomed Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts as the featured speaker Monday, March 7 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

Roberts shared her childhood dream of playing tennis professionally and how she started her career in journalism.

“Our dreams may not look like we think they will look,” Roberts said 

Roberts recalled the early years in her career as at a county radio station while studying communication at Southeastern Louisiana University to gain as much experience as possible reporting sports. After graduation positions to cover news full-time were offered to her but she accepted a part-time position that would allow her to cover her passion, sports. Roberts would then  move on to accept a position at ESPN and then move to Good Morning America alongside Diane Sawyer and Charlie Gibson. 

The list of people Roberts has interviewed include President Barack Obama, Mark Zuckerberg, Lebron James and other athletes. 

“Proximity is Power,” Roberts said. “Put yourself in a position for good things to happen.”

Roberts made “her mess her message” in 2007 when she decided to share with audience members that she was diagnosed and undergoing treatment for breast cancer.  She inspired others again with her strength after being diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome in 2012 as a result of her breast cancer treatments. 

“I wanted to be a walking, breathing example of ‘this too shall pass,’” Roberts said. “You never know someone’s journey or their path.”