Applauses erupted in the crowded East Rim of the White House in Washington, D.C.

Melinda French Gates.

At the sound of her name, Melinda rose and took her place beside Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States.

She was about to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Melinda had worked so hard to get to this moment, and it felt incredible that President Obama was hanging this coveted metal around her neck.

She smiled and touched the metal lightly with her fingers.

For nearly two decades, Melinda had been working to improve health and economic opportunity

for millions of people around the world.

But even though she just received America's highest civilian honor,

she knew her work wasn't over.

Oh no, there was still so much more she was determined to do.

I'm Sarah Blakely, and this is Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls, a fairy tale podcast about the real-life rebel women who inspire us.

On this episode, Melinda French Gates, businesswoman, philanthropist, and advocate for women and girls around the world.

The year was 1978 and 14-year-old Melinda Anne French was on a mission.

She needed to get her family's Apple II computer into her bedroom. Melinda lived in Dallas, Texas, where people were

just starting to talk about technology and this thing called a computer. One day that thing is

going to replace the typewriter, people often said, shaking their heads. But Melinda didn't want the

computer for typing.

She wanted to know how these machines worked on the inside.

She was fascinated by math and science and wanted to explore all the technology that brought

these words and images onto her screen.

Melinda's parents finally gave in to her eager requests

...