Hillary Clinton celebrates her birthday, her journey from student to the White House

Hillary Clinton celebrates her 73rd birthday today. From a simple girl of a middle-class family in a suburban US area in the 50's, to an activist student, and then to the First Lady of the States of the United States, Hillary Clinton became a symbol for some and a lightning rod for some others.

From 2009 to 2013, she was the 67th US Secretary of State under Barack Obama. She previously represented New York in the U.S. Senate during the years (2001-2009). Also, as the wife of President Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady from 1993 to 2001.

Clinton has visited more countries than any other Secretary of State. She saw "smart power" as a strategy to assert American leadership and values, combining military power with American diplomacy and skills in economics, technology, and other fields. She encouraged the empowerment of women everywhere, using social media to communicate the U.S. message abroad, and history has shown that she succeeded.

Clinton has a doctorate in law. She has previously served as a legal advisor. In 1975 she married Bill Clinton and they are the parents of a daughter named Chelsea.

In 1977 she founded the organization for the protection of children and families. She was named the first partner woman of the Legal Services Corporation.

In the role of the president's wife, she led a working group in Arkansas, helped reform public schools and beyond.

As First Lady, she helped create a child health protection program that also dealt with issues related to family protection and adoption.

Even in a 1995 speech in China Clinton stated that human rights are women’s rights and women’s rights are human rights.