Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.
The smartest man I know never attended college. As a matter of fact, he never started middle school. While this may seem a strange qualification for someone who has influenced me, seemingly the polar opposite, the fact is my grandpa has served as my inspiration many times. While most children look up to their grandparents, I aspire more than usual to live my life in a manner that would make my grandpa proud. He could not have left me a better example.
When my grandpa was still a young child, his father abandoned his family. His mother was left to raise 12 children on her own. Although he was still only in elementary school, my grandpa dropped out so he could get a job to help support his family. He was able to find enough work to make ends meet, mostly working the fields with migrant workers. His selfless decision is the reason he never finished school, but it has also provided me with an excellent example to follow with regards to service. Although I have not had to make any great sacrifice to help others in my life, the sacrifice my grandpa made has reinforced in my life the necessity for helping others.
Because he had to support his brothers and sisters well into his adult life, my grandpa was never able to resume his education. He was actually illiterate at the time my mom was born. When many others would have simply accepted the status quo, my grandpa refused to let circumstances get the best of him. Instead, he taught himself to read using a phonics game and has since become one of the most well-read individuals I have come across. The determination he showed to better himself has certainly influenced my efforts in school, as has his insistence on obtaining the best education available to him.
While my grandpa has been very influential in my willingness to serve others and my desire for a good education, the one area where he has had the greatest influence is my work ethic. I consider myself a very hard worker, but any time I am lacking motivation I turn to his example. He began working full time when he was only ten years old. Although my grandpa does not like to talk about his early life, I am sure that as a first generation Mexican American he had to overcome many cultural obstacles that I am not faced with today. As he started his own family, my grandpa worked two and sometimes even three jobs just to put food on the table. When faced with his example I would be ashamed not to work hard at everything I do.
Of all the coaches, teachers, and friends who have influenced me, none has made a greater impact than my grandpa. Last week I was talking to him about my college applications. He told me to make sure I did a good job because “college is your freedom ticket.” When I realize how much more opportunity I have had compared to my grandpa, I am truly thankful to be college bound. Then I think about all he did without a college education, and it excites me to think of the opportunities that await me.