Nearly 4,700 students graduated during the first commencement ceremony held in the new Stanford Stadium, the San Jose Mercury News reported.

"When you are doing the work you are meant to do, it feels right," the newspaper quoted Winfrey as telling the graduates. "Feelings are really your (global positioning) system for life. Check your ego at the door and check your gut instead. Every wrong decision was the result of me not listening to my voice. If it doesn't feel right, don't do it."

Winfrey also said failure was "life's way of saying that it's time to change course."

"It was extremely inspirational," engineering graduate Samantha Cunningham said of Winfrey's speech. "She was very humble."