Please assist with my common app essay! The topic is Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence...this is what I have so far--
Influence: the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others,
There are many people, places and/or things that influence our day to day lives-some positive and some negative. It is simply amazing how everything around us shapes and carves us as characters. One person can make a huge difference in your life, whereas ten people all together might never change you. The person who has had a significant influence on me happens to be my grandmother, Mattie Gipson.
In spite of the many obstacles my grandmother faced growing up, she had great success in high school, college and the work place. At the age of 9 months, she was put up for adoption because her mother could not take care of her. She was adopted by a wealthy family but was abused by them most of her childhood. Many people crumble and give up after ordeals such as this but my grandmother kept pushing and excelled in every aspect of life. She was valedictorian of her high school class, crowned Miss Rust College during her senior year and graduated with honors. In the workforce, she was a decorated music teacher, a respected executive at Bell South and upon retirement she accepted her call to the ministry. She has held the positions of Pastor, Elder and is currently District Superintendent in the United Methodist Church. I spent the majority of my childhood summers with my grandmother and I watched and learned so much from her. She would sometimes share her story with others who had been abused and tell them that if she can make it so could they. She could reach people that it seemed no one else could and her humble desire to help others in spite of herself greatly influenced my life. My grandmother has always told me to never give up, to always believe in myself and if I wanted and worked hard enough, I could accomplish anything. I have taken that to heart and I feel my compelling desire to help others and my will to push through any obstacle is definitely due to her influence.
Influence: the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others,
There are many people, places and/or things that influence our day to day lives-some positive and some negative. It is simply amazing how everything around us shapes and carves us as characters. One person can make a huge difference in your life, whereas ten people all together might never change you. The person who has had a significant influence on me happens to be my grandmother, Mattie Gipson.
In spite of the many obstacles my grandmother faced growing up, she had great success in high school, college and the work place. At the age of 9 months, she was put up for adoption because her mother could not take care of her. She was adopted by a wealthy family but was abused by them most of her childhood. Many people crumble and give up after ordeals such as this but my grandmother kept pushing and excelled in every aspect of life. She was valedictorian of her high school class, crowned Miss Rust College during her senior year and graduated with honors. In the workforce, she was a decorated music teacher, a respected executive at Bell South and upon retirement she accepted her call to the ministry. She has held the positions of Pastor, Elder and is currently District Superintendent in the United Methodist Church. I spent the majority of my childhood summers with my grandmother and I watched and learned so much from her. She would sometimes share her story with others who had been abused and tell them that if she can make it so could they. She could reach people that it seemed no one else could and her humble desire to help others in spite of herself greatly influenced my life. My grandmother has always told me to never give up, to always believe in myself and if I wanted and worked hard enough, I could accomplish anything. I have taken that to heart and I feel my compelling desire to help others and my will to push through any obstacle is definitely due to her influence.
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