Who I am is defined by....

People are often asked the great question "Who is the greatest influence on your life and has helped make you who you are today?" I feel like answering the question, not on a scholarship or university entrance paper, but here. I think it's extremly difficult to pinpoint one person who dramatically influenced my life. I believe that everyone in your life affects who you are as a person in some aspect, weither that is positively or negatively, but regardless helps in shaping who you are. To quote a song from the musical Wicked, "Who can say if I've been changed for the better, but because I knew you, I have been changed for good." I believe this is true, and often we don't realise how our life has been influenced by a person until long after, but regardless people, places, and experiences change us.
Now to answer the question, I don't think I can narrow it down to one person. I would instead have to answer that both my mother and father have had the largest influence in my life today. Being the youngest child, and only daughter, my parents of course wanted so much for me. My parents taught, and continue to teach me so many valuable lessons. My parents taught me to be sensitive and caring, yet still strong and determined. They taught me to be empathetic and understanding, yet independant and strong willed. They've shown me that with hard work and dedication, anything can be achieved. Although we have differant views and opinions on so many things, we dissagree and argue like any young adult and their parents, and I sometimes take for granted having such amazing role models and parents, I truly do appreciate all they do and have done for me. Thankfully for me, I have inherited so many great traits from them. My sense of humour, outgoingness, singing ability, blue eyes, and leadership skills I can thank my father for. My sense of empathy and ability to cry at anything remotely sad, positivness, generosity, curly hair, and zest for life I can thank my mother for.
The moral of my story is, even though at times we get frustrated with eachother, I couldn't have asked for two more outstanding and amazing people to have raised me. I am so so lucky to have parents who care so deeply, are able to understand my craziness, have invested in my education all the way through, and drive me to be the woman I am today, and who I will be in the future. I love you so Much!
-EAG
p.s.- I'm really tired, and I appologize for the grammar/ spelling/ and run-on sentences in this post.