essay describe a person who has influenced your life

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‘Someone Who Has Made an Impact On Your Life’ Essay Sample

EssayEdge > Blog > ‘Someone Who Has Made an Impact On Your Life’ Essay Sample

“Describe a person who has influenced you” is the opening phrase of several personal statement prompts that go on to ask that you provide details of what that influence was. The major mistake made in these personal statement essays is that candidates make the essay about the individual and that individual’s achievements and character, which is all fine, but not if it is at the expense of detailing how that person has influenced you. The other mistake candidates make in response to this prompt is that they answer with the intuitive “first response,” which is usually a parent. And there is nothing wrong with offering a parent as the influential person – but only if in so doing, you can show that it was your parent who provided you with the abilities and interests that set you apart and can contribute to the target program.

As is the case with most personal statement essays, the success of your essay is determined before you begin writing – by what you decide to offer as content. In this essay there are many approaches to use – parents, siblings, teachers, coaches, friends, political leaders, celebrities – all of these categories can be tapped when it comes to the choice of who it was that influenced you. Let’s discuss how to write an essay about someone who influenced you and avoid the most typical mistakes.

The Trap to Avoid in Your “Who Has Influenced You the Most in Your Life” Essay

The trap to avoid is the trap of selecting a person without thinking through what you can offer as the influence. What is the strongest aspect of your candidacy? Your creativity? Your communication skills? Your technical background? Your professional background? The answer to this question – “What is the strongest aspect of your candidacy?” – is what should determine your subject matter for personal statement essays about a person who influenced you.

If your strength, say, is your background in a particular field, in your personal statement about a person who influenced you, identify the person who steered you in the direction of that field.

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By doing this, you will use your essay about a person who influenced your life not only as a means to describe someone with positive traits you would like to emulate, but someone whose influence in your life was critical in letting you develop those skills that most set you apart as a candidate.

Writing a Great Personal Statement
Describe a significant experience or achievement
Discuss an issue that is important to you
Why is our school right for you?

You certainly had someone who changed your life, even if you feel it difficult to remember who it was. This essay topic is fantastic because it lets you look at yourself from a different angle, so try to analyze your life and express it in writing. Our experts edit essays 24/7 , so if you need professional guidance and advice, you’re welcome.

An Essay about Someone Who Has Made an Impact on Your Life

Who has made a significant impact in your life and why? Essay on the topic might be challenging to write. One is usually asked to write such a text as a college admission essay.

A topic for this paper can be of your choice or pre-established by the institution. Either way, you may have to describe a person who influenced your life.

Here, we’ll tell you how to write about someone who had a huge impact on your life:

Learn story-telling techniques.
Choose the right person that affected you significantly.
Describe the representative situation in an engaging way.
Focus on yourself and the meaning of your journey.

However, it may not be enough to write about someone who had a great impact on your life. You should know some other peculiarities which we are going to discuss right now. Don’t forget that you can always find help here with any academic task.

📃 Writing about a Person Who Influenced You

Writing your essay about someone who has made an impact on your life starts with learning a few techniques. One of the main things you should know is that you will have to create a captivating story. Thus, you should know how to write personal narrative essays , some basic rules of story-telling.

Here is what you should keep in mind:

Tell a story. A great way to engage your audience is to say something in the form of a story. Human brain processes information better that way. With words and sensory details, you can create a mental image of the person you are describing.
Be personal. It can resemble composing an autobiography or memoir as you have to talk about your actual experience. There is nothing more moving than an individual story, so do not be afraid to open up in the reflective essay. Talk about the change you’ve experienced after meeting the person that influenced you.
Don’t be predictable. A good story needs some level of suspense. There are many ways in which it can be done. You can try to tell the story chronologically or go back in time and include flashbacks. Try to surprise your readers with an intriguing essay title.
Create a three-dimensional character. The focus of the story is not the sequence of events. It’s the character. Provide enough details and explain to the reader what makes that unusual.
Show instead of telling. It’s a core idea of good story-telling. By doing that, you invite the readers to the scene. For starters, try using dialogue instead of narration.
End on a positive note. Even if you had to face challenges, tell about a positive influence in your life. The biggest impact might be harmful, but it helped you grow nonetheless. Help the readers to see a piece of wisdom or a lesson you have learned.

Besides, we have listed some quick hints. With them, you’ll complete your essay on someone who has made a significant impact on your life and why successfully:

Someone’s impact that you can describe may be either positive or negative. A vast majority of essays written about influential persons speak positively about them. However, do not try to overidealize. It’s fair to talk about negative as much as about positive. A person that influenced you does not have to be likable or perfect. It is enough to recognize the positive qualities that made an impact on you. It will help the commission to see you as a thinking and just person.
Be as specific as possible. Describe a particular incident that explains this person’s impact on you. You have to describe the qualities of the person through the actual events that took place and the overall environment. However, remember that the story is also about you and how the person influenced you. Be specific about your growth and journey. The essay is the best way to demonstrate your thoughts and personality.
The main character of your essay might be someone you do not know personally. Stay truthful and honest to yourself. If someone who has made an impact on your life is a person you have never met, write about it. You could talk about your grandparent whose story you’ve heard or an author of your favorite book. Describe how a person that you’ve met on social media and the friendship with them changed you.

Whoever it is that inspired you, remember that the essay is also about you. It is not the best practice to talk about celebrities, though. You might appear as a fan and not as a thinker.

🎯 College Application Essay

Why are you writing paragraph after paragraph about the person who has made an impact on your life? If this essay is for some contest or is a part of the college application package, be careful.

We’ve gathered some tips on writing an application essay:

Construct a story. Every story should have a good beginning, a middle, and an end. The first paragraph should serve as an introduction to your information. At the same time, leave the last section for the conclusion. The middle part is where you describe the events in your account.
Outline it. To make every paragraph count, you should create an outline. It will help you to understand what you want to say in each particular moment in your story. As well as stay on track and coherently describe the incident in your essay.
Provide examples. They can help you prove your point and demonstrate your role model’s qualities. Instead of saying my father is a generous person, you can find an example in which he showed generosity. These parts should always lead back to you. The goal here is to show how their good conduct influenced your life decisions.
Be honest. Staying true to who you are is essential. Read successful college essay examples if you’re not sure about it. After all, the paper is not about the role model, but it is about the influence. Try to write something that will be creative and unique. Honesty is the key to reach your reader’s heart.
Ask someone to read it. Once you finish, ask a friend or a relative for their honest feedback. They can evaluate the content, the grammar, the readability, and the style. An independent reader can help you to improve all of these points.
Don’t include the prompt. Remember that the admissions committee will receive hundreds of essays on this subject. Do not repeat standard templates and writing prompts. Your goal is to stand out from the crowd, and the only way to do it is by writing something meaningful and personal.

Most importantly:

You will have a particular word limit. It means you need to be very precise and clear when writing your essay on the person who has had the greatest impact on your life. You should be able to express the main idea and explain the effects in 200 or even fewer words.

Tips on how to prepare “remembering a person” essays can also be useful for your task. Look up successful someone who has impacted your life essay examples as well.

Who Has Made a Significant Impact in Your Life & Why: Essay Example

Every person has a unique character that is formed under the impact of various factors. These include the environment, social status, financial status, and many other elements that play a vital role in the life of any individual. However, being social creatures, people are most of all impacted by other people as they since the first minutes of their lives, up to the last ones, they live in society and interact with its representatives.

People Who Influenced You: Essay Topics

Teacher’s influence on my personality .
Discuss how your teacher’s attitude influenced your desire to study.
Describe a teacher who had a negative impact on your zeal to learn the subject.
How the example of Henri Cartier-Bresson influenced my desire to become a photographer.
Parental influence on my life outcomes.
Explain how a conversation with happy spouses changed your views on marriage.
How James Brown influenced my dancing style.
Effect of an online friend on my life.
Analyze how the example and behavior of your parents influenced your character.
School bullies and their impact on my life.
Discuss the impact Disney cartoon characters had on your perception of gender roles.
Narrate how Maria Montessori work impacted your desire to become a teacher.
Describe how your vegetarian friend influenced you to change your eating habits .
Examine the role of your coach in your decision to take up football.
Role of influencers in American society.
How your Italian relatives impacted your view on family and your cultural values.
Discuss the way Aristotle’s understanding of ethics influences your ethical values.
Analyze the impact if your father’s beliefs on your career choice .
How meeting my best friend affected my life.
Teacher’s impact on my choice of career .
Why I think George Washington is a true hero: the impact of his personality on my life.
Describe how life and example of Florence Nightingale inspired you to become a nurse.
A fictional character that influenced my worldview.
My mother’s influence on my ideals of beauty .
Hayao Miyazaki and his influence on me.
How my uncle helped me to overcome my fear of riding a bicycle .
Write about a celebrity you consider a role model .
Why Steve Jobs’ story inspires me.
Discuss how your physical education teacher motivated you to take up a healthy lifestyle.
Describe the way Jane Austen influenced your love for reading.
Teacher’s impact on my personal life .
Analyze how the example of Greta Tunberg inspired you to become an environmental activist.
My friend helped me to overcome my fear and it changed my life.
Influence of Martin Luther King on my beliefs.
Why Roberto Clemente is my hero.
How superheroes affect modern society.
Examine how your favorite K-pop group influenced your personal style.
The role of my grandparents in building up my identity.
Impact of my parents on my self-confidence.
Explain how your mother’s example influenced your desire to enter a college.
The way Mother Theresa’s life and example changed my worldview.
A person who inspired my interest in Indian art .
Jay-Z’s biography and influence on me .
The role of my family in my decision to lead a healthy lifestyle .
Discuss how Jane Addams legacy influenced your resolution to become a social worker.
Why Helen Keller is a person I would like to resemble.
Analyze the role of Edgar Allan Poe in shaping your literature taste.
How the activities of Eleanor Roosevelt motivate me and a lot of other Americans.
Abraham Lincoln and his impact on my life .
Impact of my coach on my professional development and success.

Thank you for reading the article. We hope you found it helpful. Don’t hesitate to share it with your friends and peers. Leave your comments below, and good luck with your college admission essay!

A Person That Has Influenced My Life, Essay Example

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Words: 311

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Throughout my life I had met hundreds of people who had somehow influenced me either physically or emotionally. However, there was only one person who had a substantial impact on my inner world and changed my understanding of life drastically.

His name was Frank Carpenter and he was a pastor in a local church. This man, though occupying a rather high rank in the church, was never obsessed with cynicism and was always ready to give any person a hand in a difficult situation. His friendly and inviting smile was probably the main thing, which magnetized me to come to the church again and again. One day I was brave enough to make a confession. I have long desired to open my soul and cleanse it from the earthly dirt of negative emotions and anger, and finally accomplished my goal. I talked for almost half an hour and when I finally stopped, the priest behind the curtain commenced to give me a feedback. This was the moment when I realized that the priest to whom I confessed was Frank Carpenter, the minister himself. To my astonishment, the man answered all my questions concerning life, sin, future, family, school, and other things that bothered my mind. His speech was long and educative and covered the aspects of my life, which I have never even thought of before. His attitude to the modern world was filled with love and tenderness, despite all the fears, dangers, and misunderstandings. He loved people and they, in most cases, responded in the exact same manner. He never lied, and people seldom lied to him. He truly did to others, as he wanted them to do to him.

This person became my hero and my teacher. He changed my way of thinking and my attitude to human beings. I am forever grateful that I was destined to meet this person.

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Essay on A Person Who Has Influenced My Life

Students are often asked to write an essay on A Person Who Has Influenced My Life in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on A Person Who Has Influenced My Life

Introduction.

My life has been significantly influenced by my grandmother. She is a person of great strength and wisdom, and her life stories have always inspired me.

Her Influence

Lessons learned.

From her, I’ve learned the importance of hard work, patience, and kindness. Her selfless nature has made me more compassionate towards others.

In conclusion, my grandmother’s influence has shaped my character and outlook on life. Her teachings will always guide me.

250 Words Essay on A Person Who Has Influenced My Life

The beacon of wisdom.

My grandmother, a woman of immense wisdom and resilience, has been my guiding star. She has always been a strong advocate for education, believing that it is the key to freedom and self-improvement. Her life stories, filled with struggles and triumphs, have taught me the value of perseverance and the power of determination.

The Embodiment of Empathy

Her empathy towards others has always been infectious. She always emphasized the importance of understanding and respecting the feelings of others. This has greatly influenced my interpersonal relationships, making me more considerate and compassionate.

Instilling the Love for Learning

One of the most significant influences she had on me was instilling a love for learning. She encouraged curiosity and exploration, teaching me to question, investigate, and learn. This has not only impacted my academic pursuits but has also shaped my approach towards life.

In conclusion, my grandmother’s influence has been instrumental in shaping my character and life philosophy. Her wisdom, empathy, and love for learning have left an indelible mark on me. Her influence serves as a reminder that individuals can significantly impact others, shaping their perspectives and ultimately their lives. This influence transcends time and space, living on in the hearts and minds of those they touch.

500 Words Essay on A Person Who Has Influenced My Life

In the journey of life, we encounter numerous individuals who leave a profound impact on our lives. However, there is always one person who stands out, casting a significant influence that shapes our personality, values, and life perspective. For me, that person is my grandmother. Her resilience, wisdom, and unconditional love have profoundly influenced my life.

Grandmother’s Resilience

Wisdom and life lessons.

Beyond her resilience, my grandmother is a wellspring of wisdom. She has an innate ability to turn mundane life events into profound life lessons. From her, I learned that life is not about the trials we face, but how we respond to them. She taught me to value patience, understanding, and kindness over material possessions. Her wisdom has shaped my worldview, enabling me to approach life with a balanced perspective, appreciating the simple joys while also acknowledging the inevitable challenges.

Unconditional Love

Perhaps the most significant influence my grandmother had on me is her demonstration of unconditional love. Despite her struggles, she always prioritized the happiness and well-being of her family. She showered us with love and care, reminding us that we are cherished and valued. This unconditional love has influenced my relationships, teaching me the importance of empathy, compassion, and understanding. It has made me a better friend, sibling, and citizen, as I strive to extend the same love and kindness to those around me.

In conclusion, the person who has influenced my life the most is my grandmother. Her resilience, wisdom, and unconditional love have shaped my character, values, and perspective on life. She has taught me to embrace challenges, value wisdom, and love unconditionally. These lessons have not only influenced my personal growth but also my interactions with others. As I navigate through the complexities of life, I carry her teachings with me, using them as a compass to guide my decisions and actions. Through her influence, I am becoming the person I aspire to be.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Person Who Has Influenced Me

Categories: Influential Person Someone Who Inspires Me

About this sample

Words: 475 |

Published: Jan 29, 2024

Words: 475 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Body paragraph 1, body paragraph 2, body paragraph 3.

Miller, S. (2018). The Importance of Having Role Models and Mentors. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/shelleyzalis/2018/10/24/the-importance-of-having-role-models-and-mentors/?sh=57cc70251c67
Koutsofta, E., & Flouri, E. (2016). How the Importance of Different Roles in Early Adolescence Predicts Later Life Satisfaction , Worthwhileness, and Depression. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 36(3), 281–304. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431614556353

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Describing a Person Who Influenced You: Personal Experience. Essay

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In everyone’s life there is a person who is considered to be the closest one in the whole world. For me this person is my mother. My mother influences every step of my life: how I live and interact with other people. She is an inspiration for my achievements and guidance into the successful future. She has always helped me to overcome any difficulties that I faced since early childhood trying to give me hopes for better future. My mother combines the best features which a person may have; she is a clever, kind and open woman with beautiful appearance and rich inner world.

My mother is Dominican; she is quite a pretty and well educated woman. Despite her age she looks young and beautiful. My mother is not very tall though her height underlines her regular features. She has short curly black hair and shining brown eyes. I want to note that her eyes deserve additional attention because they are so kind and frank that one cannot but notice her open and friendly character at once, during the first seconds of communication with her.

I like her smile most of all in the world. It is so beautiful that when she smiles I cannot but smile too. Her light complexion and big blushed cheeks especially emphasize her charming smile. My mother’s skin is very soft and tender; when I hold her hands in mine I feel that I am protected from the whole world and I feel the happiest person. I like the way my mother dresses. She always tries to keep pace with fashion though her style is unique and individual.

She is slim and has a wonderful figure; her clothes lay a stress on her beautiful features. I would like to note that my mother is a wonderful person not only out but also inside. To my way of thinking she is the reflection of light; not in vain her name Lucia is translated from Italian as “light”. She is an open, responsive and light person who is always there to help and support me at difficult moments of my life.

For me my mother is the cleverest person in the world. I can speak a lot about my mother because she is considered to be my reflection and my hero. One day I had to clean my room before the arrival of my relatives. My mother asked me: “Please, do something with your box of old posters. It takes a lot of space.” I was in hesitation but answered: “Ok. I’ll try…” She knew that they were very important for me to throw them out. I was really upset because they took too much place in my room.

Next day when I returned home from school I found out that my box disappeared. I was in despair. Suddenly my mother asked me to bring something from our attic. I went there and found out that all the walls in the room were decorated with my posters. That moment I felt really happy. I cried: “Thank you, mom!!!” Her idea to use my old posters as a decoration was just wonderful. I can surely say that my mother is the cleverest person.

My mother is really the kindness person in the world. When I was small, my mother made a special present for me. I came after school and she gave me a puppy. “He is so cute” I said. “This is for you! Take care of him. He is very small and helpless. He really needs your care.” – said my mother watching how happy I was. It is difficult to describe my feelings that day. It was my dream and my puppy became a member of our family. Two days later I got to know that my mother found this small creature near the store. It was hungry and miserable. My mother could not but took puppy home, washed and fed him. Now this puppy is a strong big dog which lives with my family and we love him very much. I can say without hesitation that my mother is the kindness person in the world.

My mother is a very wise person who can always find solution to any problems. I understand that her life experience helps her to make right decisions. But there are some situations when her opinion completely contradicts my own. And as a result she always appears to be right. Her logical thinking helps our family to live in harmony and happiness. We have never quarreled because of some trifles and my mother taught me to find a half way with people even when you cannot agree with their views.

For example, when my cousin and I quarreled who would do the work about the house, my mother offered to work in the form of a game. The speed and high quality of work enabled us to win a price. “I bought two tickets for the concert. If you combine your efforts, you would enjoy the play of your favorite group this evening.” The work was shared equally and done in time. This idea was really wise. I consider that my mother knows the way out of any difficult situation!

Of course it is impossible to describe all the features of my mother in the short piece of writing but I would like to say that this person takes the first place in my life. I would be always thankful to her for all she has done for me. I am pretty sure that she is the reason for all my achievements and victories. Her qualities helped me to understand how people should behave in life. She taught me a lot and now I can easily overcome any problems I face. My mother is the only hero of my life.

She combines only positive features which a person can have. I am really proud to have such a mother as mine. I consider her the greatest person in my life who helped me to become the person I am now and influenced every step of my thoughts and behavior. She is the only inspiration for all actions and decisions of mine. I am really proud of her!

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IvyPanda. (2021, September 27). Describing a Person Who Influenced You: Personal Experience. https://ivypanda.com/essays/describing-a-person-who-influenced-you-personal-experience/

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The Classroom | Empowering Students in Their College Journey

How to Write a Descriptive Essay on an Influential Person in Your Life

How to Write a Speech About Someone I Admire

A descriptive essay on an influential person can be about someone who has had a positive or negative impact on your life. This person can be a teacher, a coach, a family member, a friend, an employer, a political figure, a historical figure or even a fictional character. The key element of writing this type of essay is to reflect on how and why the person has influenced you.

Focus Your Essay

As in any essay, when writing about an influential person in your life you should include a thesis statement. In this case, the thesis statement declares how or why this person has influenced you life. For example, if writing about your soccer coach, you may write, "Through his advice and the example of his character, my soccer coach has inspired me to never be lazy, to get back up after a fall, and to be a confident leader." The thesis statement gives you, the writer, a focus and direction so that you are not only describing a person, but exploring the causes and effects of that person's impact on you.

Start With an Anecdote

Instead of starting the essay with an explicit physical or personal description of the person, you can more meaningfully reveal who the individual is by sharing a personal story. For example, if you are writing about your sibling, you can begin the essay with a specific memory of a moment or experience you shared in which your relationship or your sibling's strengths and weaknesses are revealed through actions. This is an engaging way to entertain the reader while imparting valuable information about the person you are describing.

Describe the Person

At some point in the descriptive essay, you need to describe the influential person. This description -- which can include physical attributes, biographical information and personality traits -- should be related with concrete language. The description should paint a vivid picture of all that matters about the person. The writer needs to be judicious in which descriptive material she selects for inclusion in the essay; the information should be determined by the overall point being made in the essay. For example, if your thesis statement is about how Abraham Lincoln is your hero because of all his accomplishments relative to the social and political conditions of the time, descriptions of his favorite hobbies or hair color may not be pertinent. The description serves to give a deeper and more vivid portrait of the influential person, but should ultimately serve the higher cause of the thesis statement and the effect of the person on the writer.

Describe Your Relationship

When writing about an influential person, you have to talk not just about the person, but also about the reason the person has made an impact on your life; this means you have to talk about yourself, what specific things you have learned from this person, and how those lessons affect you today. An important strategy for successfully describing the relationship between the person and the writer is to give specific examples. For example, don't just say, "my grandmother is generous"; give specific examples of her generosity: "she always makes sure everyone is fed before eating," or "she sold her jewelry to help pay for a car so that I could drive to work." These specific examples are more powerful and evoke more empathy than general descriptive words such as "kind" or "generous."

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Soheila Battaglia is a published and award-winning author and filmmaker. She holds an MA in literary cultures from New York University and a BA in ethnic studies from UC Berkeley. She is a college professor of literature and composition.

Personal Essay Example: The Most Influential and Impactful People in My Life

📌Category:	,
📌Words:	1507
📌Pages:	6
📌Published:	30 July 2022

Typically, high school students have a best friend that is relatively the same age as them. Well, my best friend is a middle-aged man. My best friend is my dad. When I think of someone who has impacted my life, my mind immediately goes to him. I think about all the things I have told him that can only come from a certain amount of trust. When you share a decent amount of trust with someone, a bond seems to form, one unlike any other. A bond that makes a person your best friend. My dad is and always will be my best friend.

For as long as I can remember, basketball has been one of my dad’s favorite things. He would always talk about his teams, who they were going to play, and how well the competition would be. My dad has coached girls basketball for eleven years, ranging from coaching seventh grade to ninth grade. I have always admired how connected my dad was with his teams. When I would go to his games, I could see how much trust he had in his players and how much trust they had in him. While playing a school sport, it is guaranteed that there will be some amount of drama. Players would try to tear the team apart by fomenting drama or parents will be insatiable with their child’s playing time. I heard about all of this at home. I would hear about how frustrated my dad was getting because he heard a parent complaining to another parent about his coaching skills. It has always been hard seeing him get frustrated with these sorts of things because he doesn’t normally let the words of parents get under his skin. He rarely brings up what they say and he barely ever shows that he is paying attention to what they are saying.

My dad has always been the kind of guy to push me to be my absolute best. He’s not the kind of guy to let me get away with putting half of my effort into anything. At work, my dad is a manager. Well, the manager of his department. He comes home all the time talking about how his coworkers will make him so mad because they seem like they don’t even want to be there. My dad has always told me, “If you’re going to do anything, always leave it all out there.” My dad and I both get very frustrated with ourselves when something is not going the way we want it to. My dad has managed to find something he calls the Reset Button. When he presses the Reset Button, he moves on from whatever is bothering and upsetting him. This magical button has never helped me. Brief exchanges of looks between me and my dad have always seemed to be my Reset Button. When I am frustrated and I make eye contact with my dad, it is almost like an entire conversation happens in thirty seconds. I don’t know if my dad means for that to happen, but it does. The words he says by saying nothing always seemed conducive to me. Like I know that no matter what happens, he is always going to be proud of me.

I have always been a gullible person. You say something to me and I will believe it. I have a hard time with confrontation; therefore, I always believe the best in people and put all my trust in them. My dad; however, people have to earn his trust. When we have conversations about my gullibility, the conversation almost always ends with me in tears. My dad always tells me that if I continue to believe the best in people, they will always run me over. I have never really comprehended what he meant. I would hear what he said, and I’ve heard it multiple times, but I continue to put all my trust and believe the best in everyone. My dad has never told me why he continuously asks me to stop being so gullible. Maybe it was because he got hurt in the past believing people too much and he doesn’t want me to go through that same pain; however, I have never been able to ask him why.

Collecting sports cards has become an obsession of my dads. Taking up an entire room in our house to be exact. To spend time with my dad, I went to a card show with him. As we rode in the car, I realized I had no idea what to expect going into the building; however, the excitement on my dad’s face made the uneasiness disappear. As we walked up to the exposition center and through the halls, I could see the excitement flowing from him. If you were to compare my dad and a kid in a candy shop at that exact moment, I truly believe you wouldn’t be able to tell a difference. When we finally got to the part of the building that was holding the card show, the countless tables full of objects ranging from cards to signed shoes astounded me. My father; however, was tremendously comfortable with the crowded environment. He made his way through the tables speaking the card addict lingo and by the time we were walking out the door, he was leaving with exactly what he had gone in looking for.

Car rides are always my favorite when I am with my dad. The things we talk about are all over the place. When you get in the car, you never really know what is going to happen. We could talk about sports, college, drama, or even the things that go on at home. My dad has always been the parent I feel more comfortable going up and talking to. When in the car with my dad, I feel safe. I feel like I can say anything and know that he is going to listen. Most of the time, when I am stressed about school, I always find myself talking to him about it in the car. At times, it feels like I am just talking to myself, but when that happens, I know my dad is listening to every word I say. I would say my dad is a very observant person. He always wants you to say everything and have your full stance before he chimes in with another component.

While my dad can be straightforward, he is also one of the most humorous people I know. My dad will always try to make us laugh and it always brings a smile to the whole family. When my dad busts out his dance moves from back in the day, the amount of laughter that fills the room is astronomical. Or when he unleashes his vocals, that’s a household favorite. If one of us kids has a bad day at school, my dad will tell us a funny story from work. I wouldn’t say my dad is a people pleaser, but I think that when he truly wants to make someone’s day, he will find a way to make them smile. The amount of joy that my dad has in him seems to surprise some people. Some people will say that my dad is scary. When really, once you get to know him, he is a pretty exceptional guy.

My dad has always told me and my siblings that no matter what we decide to do in life, he will support us no matter what. The belief in knowing that my dad has my back has always been so reassuring to me. When I decided to no longer take part in a sport that I had been participating in for what seems like forever, I truly thought my dad was going to be frustrated with me. I didn’t want him to believe I was just giving up. When he wasn’t upset, it took me by surprise. It had made me feel like the love my dad had for me had overridden his love for the sport and that he just wanted me to be happy. My whole life, having my dad’s approval on everything has been so important to me. One of my biggest goals ever since I was little has been to make my dad proud. My dad has been understanding of every decision I have made. When I decided on my career path, I could see how proud I was making him. The approval of my parents when choosing where I want to go to college and what I want to do after has always been important to me. I know no matter what I choose to do, my dad will be there and be my biggest supporter and scream my name the loudest at either my accomplishments or at my failure. I know he will be proud I tried and he will always be there to pick me up if I fall.

Dad, you have been one of the most influential and impactful people in my life. You have made me see things from a different perspective. You have helped me get through things that I wouldn’t have been able to get through on my own. You have had conversations with me about things that are incredibly important to consider regarding my future. You are someone I feel like I can always go to, no matter the reason. You have made me laugh harder and more uncontrollably than anyone else. You have made me feel safe, and you have made me feel loved. Dad, I am so grateful for everything you have done for me. You are my forever best friend.

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Sample Essays: Influential Person

Please select from the following sample application essays:

Essay 1: Wellesley | Essay 2: Harvard | Essay 3: Harvard

Note: The following essays were not edited by EssayEdge Editors. They appear as they were initially reviewed by admissions officers.

Sample Essay 1

Wellesley, Influence of mother

It took me eighteen years to realize what an extraordinary influence my mother has been on my life. She's the kind of person who has thoughtful discussions about which artist she would most want to have her portrait painted by (Sargent), the kind of mother who always has time for her four children, and the kind of community leader who has a seat on the board of every major project to assist Washington's impoverished citizens. Growing up with such a strong role model, I developed many of her enthusiasms. I not only came to love the excitement of learning simply for the sake of knowing something new, but I also came to understand the idea of giving back to the community in exchange for a new sense of life, love, and spirit.

My mother's enthusiasm for learning is most apparent in travel. I was nine years old when my family visited Greece. Every night for three weeks before the trip, my older brother Peter and I sat with my mother on her bed reading Greek myths and taking notes on the Greek Gods. Despite the fact that we were traveling with fourteen-month-old twins, we managed to be at each ruin when the site opened at sunrise. I vividly remember standing in an empty ampitheatre pretending to be an ancient tragedian, picking out my favorite sculpture in the Acropolis museum, and inserting our family into modified tales of the battle at Troy. Eight years and half a dozen passport stamps later I have come to value what I have learned on these journeys about global history, politics and culture, as well as my family and myself.

While I treasure the various worlds my mother has opened to me abroad, my life has been equally transformed by what she has shown me just two miles from my house. As a ten year old, I often accompanied my mother to (name deleted), a local soup kitchen and children's center. While she attended meetings, I helped with the Summer Program by chasing children around the building and performing magic tricks. Having finally perfected the "floating paintbrush" trick, I began work as a full time volunteer with the five and six year old children last June. It is here that I met Jane Doe, an exceptionally strong girl with a vigor that is contagious. At the end of the summer, I decided to continue my work at (name deleted) as Jane's tutor. Although the position is often difficult, the personal rewards are beyond articulation. In the seven years since I first walked through the doors of (name deleted), I have learned not only the idea of giving to others, but also of deriving from them a sense of spirit.

Everything that my mother has ever done has been overshadowed by the thought behind it. While the raw experiences I have had at home and abroad have been spectacular, I have learned to truly value them by watching my mother. She has enriched my life with her passion for learning, and changed it with her devotion to humanity. In her endless love of everything and everyone she is touched by, I have seen a hope and life that is truly exceptional. Next year, I will find a new home miles away. However, my mother will always be by my side.

The topic of this essay is the writer's mother. However, the writer definitely focuses on herself, which makes this essay so strong. She manages to impress the reader with her travel experience, volunteer and community experience, and commitment to learning without ever sounding boastful or full of herself. The essay is also very well organized.

Sample Essay 2

Harvard, Favorite fictional character

Of all the characters that I've "met" through books and movies, two stand out as people that I most want to emulate. They are Attacus Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird and Dr. Archibald "Moonlight" Graham from Field of Dreams. They appeal to me because they embody what I strive to be. They are influential people in small towns who have a direct positive effect on those around them. I, too, plan to live in a small town after graduating from college, and that positive effect is something I must give in order to be satisfied with my life.

Both Mr. Finch and Dr. Graham are strong supporting characters in wonderful stories. They symbolize good, honesty, and wisdom. When the story of my town is written I want to symbolize those things. The base has been formed for me to live a productive, helpful life. As an Eagle Scout I represent those things that Mr. Finch and Dr. Graham represent. In the child/adolescent world I am Mr. Finch and Dr. Graham, but soon I'll be entering the adult world, a world in which I'm not yet prepared to lead.

I'm quite sure that as teenagers Attacus Finch and Moonlight Graham often wondered what they could do to help others. They probably emulated someone who they had seen live a successful life. They saw someone like my grandfather, 40-year president of our hometown bank, enjoy a lifetime of leading, sharing, and giving. I have seen him spend his Christmas Eves taking gifts of food and joy to indigent families. Often when his bank could not justify a loan to someone in need, my grandfather made the loan from his own pocket. He is a real-life Moonlight Graham, a man who has shown me that characters like Dr. Graham and Mr. Finch do much much more than elicit tears and smiles from readers and movie watchers. Through him and others in my family I feel I have acquired the values and the burning desire to benefit others that will form the foundation for a great life. I also feel that that foundation is not enough. I do not yet have the sophistication, knowledge, and wisdom necessary to succeed as I want to in the adult world. I feel that Harvard, above all others, can guide me toward the life of greatness that will make me the Attacus Finch of my town.

This essay is a great example of how to answer this question well. This applicant chose characters who demonstrated specific traits that reflect on his own personality. We believe that he is sincere about his choices because his reasons are personal (being from a small town, and so forth). He managed to tell us a good deal about himself, his values, and his goals while maintaining a strong focus throughout.

Sample Essay 3

Harvard, Family illness: Mother's fight with cancer

I am learning, both through observations and first-hand experiences, that there are many mishaps in life which seem to be unexplainable and unfair, and yet have devastating consequences. Disease fits into this category. Its atrocity does not stem from the fact that it is a rare or uncommon occurrence, since illness and disease pervade our lives as we hear numerous stories of sick people and come into contact with them each day. However, there is a marked difference between reading in the newspaper that a famous rock star or sports icon has tested H.I.V. positive and discovering that your own mother has been diagnosed with cancer.

Undoubtedly, the most influential people in my life have been my mother and father. It is to them that I credit many of my accomplishments and successes--both inside and outside of school. Throughout my childhood, my parents have always fostered and encouraged me in all my endeavors. At all my sporting events, spelling bees, concerts, and countless other activities, they have always been front row and center. My parents, in conjunction with twelve years of Catholic training, have also instilled in me a sound belief in a loving, caring God, which I have come to firmly believe. It therefore should not come as a surprise that the news of my mothers sickness would greatly alter my entire outlook on life. Where was my God?

My mother, in fact, had been aware of her condition in the spring of my junior year in high school. She deliberately did not inform my sister or me of her illness because she did not want to distract us from our studies. Instead, my mother waited for the completion of her radiation therapy treatments. At this time, she brought me into her room, sat me down on the same wooden rocking chair from which she used to read me bedtime stories, and began to relate her story. I did not weep, I did not flinch. In fact, I hardly even moved, but from that point onward, I vowed that I would do anything and everything to please my mother and make her proud of me.

Every subsequent award won and every honor bestowed upon me has been inspired by the recollection of my mother's plight. I look to her as a driving force of motivation. In her I see the firm, enduring qualities of courage, strength, hope, and especially love. Whenever I feel discouraged or dispirited, I remember the example set by my mother and soon become reinvigorated. Instead of groveling in my sorrow, I think of all the pain and suffering that my mother had to endure and am revived with new energy after realizing the triviality of my own predicament. For instance, last year, when I was playing in a championship soccer game, my leg became entangled with a forwards leg on the other team, and I wound up tearing my medial cruciate ligament. I was very upset for having injured myself in such a seemingly inane manner. Completely absorbed in my own anguish, I would not talk to anyone and instead lamented on the sidelines. But then I remembered something that my mother used to say to me whenever something like this happened: If this is the worst thing that ever happens to you, I'll be very happy, and you'll be very lucky. Instantly, many thoughts race through my mind. I pictured my mother as a young thirteen-year-old walking to the hospital every day after school to visit her sick father. She had always told me how extremely painful it had been to watch his body become emaciated as the cancer advanced day by day and finally took its toll. I then pictured my mother in the hospital, thirty years later, undergoing all the physically and mentally debilitating tests, and having to worry about her husband and her children at the same time. I suddenly felt incredibly ashamed at how immature I had been acting over my own affliction. I gathered my thoughts and instead of sulking or complaining, helped coach my team to victory.

I am very happy to say that my mother is now feeling much better and her periodic checkups and C.A.T. scans have indicated that she is doing very well. Nevertheless, her strength and courage will remain a constant source of inspiration to me. I feel confident to greet the future with a resolute sense of hope and optimism.

The majority of the suggestions for this essay highlight the danger inherent in relying on an overly poignant topic, in this case the writer's mother's bout with cancer. Part of why the reactions to this piece are so passionate (and why there are so many of them) is because had the applicant just taken a slightly different approach, he could have had a powerful and touching composition on his hands. It is always frustrating when a piece with so much potential misses the mark. In this case, the material and emotion are all there. Had he spent more time and written with more sincerity, this essay might have been a real winner.

I wish this kid had started the essay with his mom sitting him down in the rocking chair. That would have been a powerful beginning. In general, using the introduction of the essay to paint a scene or mood can be very effective.

He should begin with the most simple and striking sentence possible, such as "On January 5, 1995, my mother learned that she had cancer." Use real times and exact places. Let the most dramatic point go where it belongs, at the end of the sentence--also known as the stress point.

Because this topic is so personal, I yearn to know more about the student's reaction to his mom's cancer, how he and his family dealt with it over time. As written, things just seem a bit too tidy.

The author describes a valuable life lesson, but I find the writing style to be artificial and a bit maudlin. I imagine he resorted to the thesaurus more than once.

The writer tells us a sad story about his mother with cancer and how he has strived to do his best because of what his mother has been through. The topic can be a tear jerker, but this essay lacked the depth and richness that other essays with similar topics possess.

The experience obviously impacted the student very much. But what students do not realize is that they do not have to share such personal issues within the confines of a college essay.

I don't believe the "epiphany" in the conclusion as it's described. It's too easy and convenient to be believable. He begins his description with "For instance," which negates almost everything that follows. When he sees his mother in his mind, he "instantly" thinks this and "suddenly" does that, and finally "helped coach his team to victory." He "coached" the team. "Cheered" maybe. "Coached?" No way.

This essay smells of contrivance. Yes, his mother's bout with cancer affected him. Just not in the way he wants me to believe. This is the "lasting sanctifying effect" essay. Look at what the writer is actually saying (using his own words): I used to be "absorbed in my own anguish" and "lament" my bouts with adversity. But, "instantly" or "suddenly" (take your pick), I became a young man "confident to greet the future with a resolute sense of hope and optimism." Why not say, "I used to be a thoughtless, immature teenager. My mother got cancer. I'm now a thoughtful, mature adult. You should admit me to _____." His essay is no less subtle.

Return to: Lesson One: College Essay Questions

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Tell us about the person who has most impacted your life and why – Sample answers & more

Life is an amazing journey . We are born with nothing and die with nothing, but in-between those two points in time, we experience ups and downs and meet hundreds of people. Some of them venture into our life for a brief moment only. And some stay there for decades. And then you have a special group , people who impacted your life in a major way . Those who helped you shape your values and opinions , or even make you to change them completely. Or people who gave you a helping hand in your humble beginnings , and helped you reach the life you live right now. Think about it for a while. Every meeting has an impact on our life , regardless of whether we realize it or not.

Anyway, when facing this question in an interview –be it a job interview or a school admission interview, you do not necessarily have to come up with something groundbreaking. The key is to show your ability to give other people credit , to appreciate the value of human connections, and to show that you are a grateful individual, someone who can appreciate good things in life, instead of constantly complaining about this or that thing.

The person who has impacted your life can be someone very close to you –your mother, brother, your son or daughter, your life partner. But it can also be a role model you looked up to , such as some sporting celebrity, or a scientist, and have been trying to model your life after . You can also opt for a rather philosophical answer, giving credit to all people you’ve been lucky to meet in your life. Let’s have a look a t sample answers for each of these options and more.

7 sample answers to “Tell us about the person who has most impacted your life and why” interview question

My mother . And I mean it in a good way. She always tried to raise me in a humble way, without spoiling me as a child . She encouraged me to ask questions, and to read a lot. And she never tried to convince me to follow her faith or her views. On the contrary, she wanted to me find my own path in life, to decide on my own. I am forever grateful to her , and definitely my life would not be the same without her. And I hope to follow her example one day when I also have my own family.
It may surprise you, but I have to pick my daughter . Before having her, when I was living on my own, life was simple in a way. You tried something, it didn’t work, you moved on. If you didn’t like the city, you got a rent in a new one, found some job, and went on with life. But as a single mother, I couldn’t roam around freely anymore. And it isn’t a bad thing. Because my daughter made me more responsible , and she taught me to plan life, to plan my days, to set goals, to try to actually give my life some structure . She has impacted the way I spend my days more than anyone else has ever done, and I guess there won’t be anyone with such an impact from now on.
No doubt it is my husband, Noah. He was the half I have been always missing , and made my life complete. Of course, we experience arguments sometimes–it belongs to every marriage, but we also complement each other wonderfully , and I feel my life is so much better with him. We learn from each other, and help each other to grow both personally and professionally. He has impacted my life in a way nobody has ever done.
My answer may surprise you, but I have to pick one of my high school teachers , Mr. B. As many others, I had my crisis of adolescence a few years ago. Suddenly I didn’t see a point in studying, and almost dropped out of high school. I hanged up with wrong guys, got involved in addictions, and so on. Many people gave up on me, but Mr. B didn’t . He got me some books to read, and often talked to me in person. Believing in my potential as a student and helping me to see a meaningful purpose in life, he helped me get back on track, graduate, and eventually be able to apply for a place at your college. Without him I would likely sit in prison now, or roam the streets. But I have a clear direction in life, and I am motivated to reach my goals. Credit goes to the teacher, and I am eternally grateful for the connection.
I have to go with Mahatma Gandhi . I’ve been his admirer since childhood, and the way he acted towards others and lived his life has had a profound impact on my decisions, and my own relationships. I think it is great to have a role model you can look up to. Of course, I realize I am not going to become the next Gandhi , though no doubt our age would need one. But I have my own path, my own dreams, and whenever I am unsure how to approach this or that situation, I can think what my role model would do in the same situation. It helps a great deal to be honest.
I think it would be a mistake to give credit to one person only . In my opinion, every interaction we have impacts our life , though the way in which it does it isn’t always obvious. But all the words we here and scenes we seen in interactions with others form us, and no doubt have some impact on our decisions , and subsequently on our life. The way I am today, the way I think and talk to you, is the result of all these interactions. Some people may have played a bigger role than others, but then you also never really know . I can just say that I am grateful for the diversity of my connections , and cannot wait to get to know even more interesting people at your school.
Actually it was a stranger . It is a situation I will never forget. I was walking home from work, lost in thoughts after another difficult day, tired, and with headphones. It was raining and the visibility was poor. Walking the same streets every day I didn’t pay particular attention to what was going on around me. However, exactly on that day the city changed the traffic signs, and I, unaware of it and absent from my surroundings , walked straight into the line of a car that was speeding its way. Suddenly I saw it, just meters away, still going pretty fast. I froze. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was a short instant, but a random passerby grabbed me and and pulled me back , so I escaped the collision at the last moment. This person has impacted my life more than anyone else, since without him I would likely not live anymore . Or I would end up on a wheelchair, or whatever. Anyway, I am eternally grateful to him, and walk with my eyes open ever since. Not only to avoid making the same mistake, but also to be able to help someone else in a similar situation…

Ready to answer this one? I hope so! Do not forget to check also 7 sample answers to other tricky interview questions:

Who has impacted you most in your professional career?
What inspires you in life?
Tell us about a time when you felt overwhelmed with work.
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Tips for the College Interview Question "Who Has Most Influenced You?"

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Interview questions about influential people can come in many variations: Who is your hero? Who deserves the most credit for your success? Who is your role model? In short, the question is asking you to discuss someone you admire.

Interview Tips: Who Has Most Influenced you?

You don't have to be creative with this question. Just be honest and thoughtful. Family members, teachers, and friends are all fine answers.
Be careful with polarizing political figures since it can a challenge for your interviewer to be entirely unbiased.
Don't try to impress your interviewer with historical figures like Abraham Lincoln or Mother Theresa.
Focus on a human, not a pet.

Good Interview Answers About an Influential Person

So, who should you name as a hero or influential person? Speak from the heart here. There is no right answer other than a sincere answer. Also, realize that unlike a "hero," an influential person isn't always a positive example. You may have grown and changed as a result of someone whose mistakes or inappropriate behavior taught you what not to do with your life. Answers to the question can draw from lots of different options:

A Family Member— For most of us, parents and siblings have a huge impact on our lives. Answering with a family member is fairly predictable but also perfectly appropriate. Just make sure you can articulate the specific ways in which the family member influenced you.
A Teacher— Is there a particular teacher who got you excited about learning, a subject area, or continuing your education? Since you're interviewing in an effort to continue your education, focusing on an educator can be an excellent choice.
A Friend— For good or bad, your close friends have a huge influence on your decisions and behavior. Do you have a close friend who has helped you succeed in high school? Or, depending on how the question is worded, do you have a friend who influenced you in a negative way?
A Coach— Coaches often teach us leadership, responsibility and teamwork. As long as your response doesn't reveal that you value athletics more than academics, a coach can be a great choice. Try to articulate how your coach has helped you succeed in areas other than sports.
A Community Member— Do you have a mentor in the church or some other community organization? Community members often teach us to think outside of the narrow sphere of our families.

Bad Interview Answers

This question about an influential person, like many common interview questions , is not difficult, but you do want to think about it for a few minutes before your interview. A few answers can fall flat, so think twice before giving responses such as these:

Myself— In truth, you probably are the person who is most responsible for your success. You may, in fact, be self-reliant with no real heroes. However, if you answer this question with yourself you will sound self-absorbed and selfish. Colleges want to admit students who help each other out and work as a community. They don't want solitary egotists.
Gandhi or Abe Lincoln— If you have great respect for an admirable historical figure, that's wonderful. Such answers, however, can come across sounding like you're trying to make a good impression, not like you're answering the question sincerely. In your day-to-day life of classes, extracurricular activities , tests, and relationships, is Abe Lincoln really influencing your behavior? If he is, fine. If not, rethink your answer and work to speak from the heart.
Donald Trump or Barack Obama— Here, as with the example above, is the president (or Senator, Governor, etc.) really influencing and guiding you in your day-to-day life? This question has an added danger. Your interviewer will do his or her best to be unbiased, but interviewers are human. If you name a Democrat and your interviewer is a staunch Republican, your response could create a subconscious strike against you in the interviewer's mind. Both Trump and Obama can be polarizing figures, so be aware of the inherent risks before choosing a prominent political figure for your response.
God— At a college with a religious affiliation, God could be a fine answer. At many colleges, however, the answer is a crap shoot. The admissions officer may admire your faith. Some interviewers, however, will be skeptical of students who attribute their successes to prayer and divine guidance rather than commitment and hard work. That said, you certainly don't need to shy away from your faith in your interview, and a priest or rabbi can be an excellent choice for this interview question.
My Dog— Fido may be a great pet who has taught you responsibility and unconditional love, but keep your answer in the world of humans. Colleges are made up of humans.

A Final Word

Whatever your answer, bring the influential person to life for your interviewer. Avoid vague generalities. As with an admissions essay on an influential person , you'll want to provide colorful, entertaining, and specific examples of how the person has influenced you. Also, keep in mind that a strong answer provides a window into your life and personality, not just the admirable qualities of the influential person. The ultimate goal of the interviewer is to get to know you better, not the person you admire.

Finally, make sure you dress appropriately and avoid common interview mistakes . College interviews are generally congenial exchanges of information, so try to relax and have a good time chatting with the college representative.

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Describe a Person Who Influenced You

Posted by David S. Wills | May 30, 2022 | IELTS Tips , Speaking | 0

There are many possible cue cards for IELTS speaking part 2 and you may be asked to describe a place , an object , a memory , a photo , a building , or just about anything else. However, one of the most common tasks is to describe a person. In this lesson, we will find out how to talk about a person who has had an influence on your life .

Cue card: Describe someone who influenced you

First of all, it is important to note that all cue cards are unique and as such you cannot just memorise an answer to a card that you anticipate. Whenever you are given a cue card, you should analyse it carefully.

The idea of a “influential person” could be introduced in many possible ways. It could be “describe an influential person” or “describe someone who has influenced you.” It may not even say “influence,” but just hint at it: “describe someone who has guided you in your life.”

Here is the cue card that we will look at today:

Describe someone who has had an important influence on your life. You should say: – who the person is – how long you have known him/her – what qualities this person has and explain why they have had such an influence on you.

I would call this pretty straightforward. There is nothing tricky or misleading here. You simply need to think of someone who has influenced you, then talk about them and what it was they did to affect your life in some way.

Planning your answer

Don’t spend too long analysing the cue card because you only have one minute to prepare your answer. You should pretty much go with the first good idea that comes to mind, then do your best to offer a good description.

I outline the process of giving great part 2 answers in this video:

Once you have chosen a person to talk about, you should think of what you want to say about them and how. That means:

What do you want to say first, second, and last?
What words will you use to talk about them?

In terms of structure, I explained in the above video that I like to start with a personal anecdote – ie a memory. That helps me to talk easily and introduce the next idea, which will logically lead to the next and the next, making it easy to reach the one minute minimum. I also like to bring my answers to a good conclusion. That can be a summary or just a simple sentence that uses intonation to finalise my ideas.

As for vocabulary, as always it depends on who you choose. If you choose a family member , you might need slightly different words from if it was a teacher or a friend . If you want a good score for Lexical Resource , you need to be specific and use words that are accurate and appropriate. Don’t try to show off with random words you found in the dictionary.

Be careful with synonyms of important words because these are not always going to be appropriate. If we look up synonyms of “influence” in the dictionary, we see a lot of useless terms:

Of course, you don’t want to repeat “influence” over and over, so it is worth trying to find words or phrases that have similar meanings. We could, for example, say:

Mr Stevens had a great impact on my life.
My teacher’s lessons affected me so much that they changed the course of my life.
What he said to me that day had a big effect on me.
She was a significant force in my life.
For several years, he guided me and helped me to become a better person.

The highlighted words are not perfect synonyms of “influence” but do have loosely similar meanings and can be used to diversify your language a little.

Remember of course that “influence” is both a verb and a noun:

My professor influenced me greatly.
She was a major influence in my life.

It is also an adjective:

I cannot overstate how influential she was on my career.

Sample Band 9 Answer

Here is how I would respond to the above cue card:

When I was in my final year of secondary school, I was invited to a university open day. At this point in my life, I did not plan on going to university, but for some reason I went along. A man called Mr Peters gave a speech that day that really changed my life. In fact, it wasn’t the speech but the man who gave it. He was so enthusiastic about education and, in particular, this university, that by the end of the day I had already decided I would apply to study there. On that first day, I listened to his speech and then followed him around the campus as he gave a guided tour of the facilities. Finally, I got a chance to have a conversation with him and he was just as charming in person as he had been when speaking in front of a crowd. There was something magnetic about this person. The way he talked was just inspiring. The following year, I got to study at that university and I met him several times. In my second year, I actually got to take some of his classes and again he was tremendously influential on me. He taught me so many valuable lessons. I don’t mean that I just remembered the interesting things he taught, but rather he taught me how to learn. He preached the importance of questioning sources and asking why something was written. All these years later, I still try to follow his advice. I can hardly overstate the importance of Mr Peters on my life, even though I have not spoken to him for a very long time. He was the reason that I went to university and therefore he is partly responsible for everything that came after that. I would simply not be the person I am today without him.

Notes on the answer

As I suggested in my video, I have started with a personal memory. This does not introduce the person I will talk about, but rather it sets the scene. It makes it easier for me to talk at length and also makes the answer more interesting for the reader.

I then went on to describe this person. Instead of using boring and repetitive language like “He was influential… He impacted my life…” I have given concrete examples of how he influenced me. I talked about his first speech, about our meeting, and about his classes. Again, this makes it easier to talk about and also makes it more interesting for the reader.

In terms of language, I used some of the above ideas as well as words like “inspiring” and “magnetic.” The latter can be a bit corny, so I hesitated to use it, but in the end I decided it was an apt description for this particular person and I think my description made that clear.

Finally, I have brought it to a natural and fitting conclusion. Again, in the video above I tried to emphasise the importance of this. It helps signal to the examiner that you have finished and is better for your Fluency and Coherence score than simply stumbling over words as you run out of things to say.

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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The Person Who Has Had Significant Impact in My Life

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Who Has Influenced You The Most In Your Life Essay

This is a free essay sample available for all students. If you are looking where to buy pre written essays on the topic “Who Has Influenced You The Most In Your Life”, browse our private essay samples .

Human beings are supposed to survive and thrive in society. A healthy company is required to live a happy fulfilling life. They learn valuable lessons, experience a wide range of emotions, and develop a whole belief system based on these interactions.

Still, some individuals stand out in their minds to be above all else. These persons influence them in key ways and play a vital role in the development of their personality. It goes both ways but often older and more experienced persons become the most influential persons in the lives of young people.

In this article, we will go through sample essays to explain our point. When writing an essay about someone who has influenced you the most, make sure that it is personal and not some generic piece. It should reveal a narrative with strong emotions.

Need a well-written essay? Your quest ends here. Our expert writers can compose well-researched essays for you that will ensure admission to the best colleges. Connect with us right away!

Table of Contents

A Person Who Has Influenced My Life Essay

Being human is to be alive and in connection with something or someone. The things that surround us influence us in the most novel ways. Earlier in my life, I did not believe in that. I thought I was resilient to stimulus and no one or nothing could induce change in me. Turns out, I found the person that has influenced my life the most.

My Step-Father

That said, the person who has influenced my life is no other than my step-father. It seems odd because most of the step-parents’ stories surrounding us are often antagonistic to children’s lives, to say the very least. In my case, everything was different. In my home, he was the father I always longed to have, and a best friend I never had.

Who Has Influenced You The Most In Your Life, Image 1

When my biological father died, I was very young. I saw my step-father for the first time six months later. I did not think much of him. He seemed like a simple man with a heavy build, broad shoulders, and a mustache that was hilarious for me in the beginning. Now, it does not hurt me to say that this mustache is truly iconic.

How My Step-Father Became My Hero

A year after that, he and my mother married and we moved into his house. It was a thirty minutes drive from our house so no big change there, except the change itself. He was kind and generous to my cold behavior at first. My mother even asked me to be nice to him, sometimes in front of him, but he always smiled and said that it was alright. He believed everything was going to be alright. That was the first moment I was influenced by him. I thought I was doing more but my father sacrificed a lot. He was so sure about the future even though he knew nothing about it. That day, he became the biggest influence in my life.

One Best Friend To Another

After that, we often sit down in the evening after I finish my homework. He would tell me about his years in the Navy. That was where he learned his trade. He also told me about the times when he got scared but his CO helped him out of fear. It’s true – everyone has someone to influence and help. My father was heavily influenced by his Commanding Officer.

Later when my high school started, I was feeling the urge to be cool with the kids. I wanted to be someone that was not afraid to do whatever he wanted to do. This resulted in me getting poor grades in school. My mom visited the principal’s office twice before he stepped in. I don’t know why but I started to disbelieve him. I thought his stories were all lies and he was a fake person.

Who Has Influenced You The Most In Your Life, Image 2

After that second visit, I saw my mom crying in front of him and I felt guilty. I was about to cry when my mom saw me and she started crying harder. But he helped her and consoled her. Then, he nodded to me and we met later in the night.

Influence Of A Lifetime

We sat down where we used to sit before and he asked me what was going on. I burst into tears and told him that I don’t know what I want. I told him I wanted to be cool and want all attention toward me. He smiled. He smiled deeper as I could see the skin of his cheeks spreading wider around his lips. Then he gave a piece of advice that influenced my life. He told me to be great and gentle in my life and everyone will come and pay attention to me without you asking them to. He told me to concentrate on my studies and truly learn what’s written in the books. It would help me in understanding what I didn’t even know I didn’t understand. He urged me to do great in school because it is a privilege that he did not have. In the end, he told me everything was going to be alright, as long as I was alright.

Later when my mother died, everyone thought I would move out and leave my step-father for good. They were wrong because I still live with him and he is the one paying for my school.

My step-father is the man I long to become; to influence others as he influenced me to become better and bolder in my life.

My Mom Influenced Me Essay

I have seen and learned from many people in my life. But out of all of them, my mom influenced me during my life. She is the most hard-working and kind person I have ever seen in my life. She is not just kind to me but to everyone which was the main reason for her influence.

I come from a very low income family and I would get angry to see influential people getting all things in the world. I wanted to have all the things in my own family. That was when she would tell me, politely urge me, to become better. We became best friends.

Who Has Influenced You The Most In Your Life, Image 3

I remember whenever I was sick or hungry, she was there for me. She was the major influence on me to become so polite and considerate.

During high school, she would help me with my homework, even though she was working double shifts to support us.

She is smart, caring, and full of energy. I have never seen her bored or down. Even in the worst of times when even the strongest people start hearing voices talking, she was sure of her footing, which left a great impact on my life. Suffice it to say, she moved like a wind when she had to; and then she stood like a mountain when she needed to.

She was behind all my accomplishments and a major influence in my life.

When it comes to personal essays, such as writing an essay about someone who influenced you, or about an influential person in your life, you need to be extra careful about the content and tone. These essays are intended to check the writing prowess and comprehensive acumen of the students. In addition to this, these essays play a major part in helping students secure a place in college. The two example essays, both in short and long-form, are given so that students can get help from them in structuring and narrating a first-class college essay.

In the end, it is more about originality and depth of content and less about being right according to general rules of writing.

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Ielts cue card # 147 - someone who has had an important influence in your life, describe someone who has had an important influence in your life..

who the person is
how long you have known him/her
what qualities this person has

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Describe someone who has had an important influence in your life, describe someone who has had an important influence in your life..

who the person is
how long you have known him/her
what qualities this person has
Describe a teacher who had an important influence on your education.
Describe a person who you really admire.
Describe a person who has a great personality.
Describe a person who helped you once.
Describe someone you really like.
Describe an advice someone gave to you.
Talk about a person from your childhood whom you want to meet again.

Describe in vivid detail a person who has significantly influenced your life.

Expert answers.

Who are the experts? Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team.

Educator since 2008

580 answers

English Literature/Writing Professor .

First of all, you must choose a person who has had a special influence on your life. This person could be a relative; however, this person could also be a teacher, a coach, a faith leader, or a club leader. Someone who influences us in a positive manner is often a mentor . They might be someone whom you trust and admire. A mentor is also someone who inspires you, whether it be in school, sports, music, athletics, or some other area of your life that is impacted by the relationship. Therefore, choose your special person carefully so that you can pinpoint their direct influence on your life.

Secondly, you are asked to use vivid detail. Vivid detail can include adjectives and strong verbs. For instance, if I were describing my coach, I could say,

Coach Sam's tall, thin frame belied the inner strength that he passed down to every team member. Winning became second to trying our best. His gnarled hands showed his age, but Coach could hold a football better than anyone I ever met.

In the above example, you can see how to combine description with those characteristics that make the person a special influence.

Good luck, and remember proper paragraph and/or essay structure! For more on this, see the link I've provided below.

Cite this page as follows:

Watson, S.L.. "Describe in vivid detail a person who has significantly influenced your life." edited by eNotes Editorial, 28 Feb. 2019, https://www.enotes.com/topics/essay/questions/people-play-very-important-role-our-lives-describe-321802.

Educator since 2010

977 answers

I am a retired English teacher with degrees in English and Social Studies.

This question has been on our state test, and students chose a person very easily. Even describing him in detail seemed to be done with great elan evoking a good picture of the person and their character traits. Where students ran into trouble was to remember to explain HOW this person had been a special INFLUENCE in their lives. So, if you would choose your father, describe him physically as you describe the important characteristics or traits you admire. For example, maybe you admire his willingness to help other people who need help and you describe this small, confident man who easily fixes the tire for the frightened young man at the side of the road. Then you have to link these details of description to his influence on you. Maybe you have learned to help others without expecting any reward. Maybe you have learned to tell the truth even if it makes you look bad. My father, an uneducated, well read salesman, was not allowed to go to college which made me even more determined to go which changed the course of my life.

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Wilson, Rita. "Describe in vivid detail a person who has significantly influenced your life." edited by eNotes Editorial, 15 Mar. 2012, https://www.enotes.com/topics/essay/questions/people-play-very-important-role-our-lives-describe-321802.

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You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respond to only 4 of the 8 questions.
Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.
Which questions you choose to answer is entirely up to you. However, you should select questions that are most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances.

Keep in mind

All questions are equal. All are given equal consideration in the application review process, which means there is no advantage or disadvantage to choosing certain questions over others.
There is no right or wrong way to answer these questions. It’s about getting to know your personality, background, interests and achievements in your own unique voice.
Use the additional comments field if there are issues you'd like to address that you didn't have the opportunity to discuss elsewhere on the application. This shouldn't be an essay, but rather a place to note unusual circumstances or anything that might be unclear in other parts of the application. You may use the additional comments field to note extraordinary circumstances related to COVID-19, if necessary.

Questions & guidance

Remember, the personal insight questions are just that—personal. Which means you should use our guidance for each question just as a suggestion in case you need help. The important thing is expressing who you are, what matters to you and what you want to share with UC.

1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time. Things to consider: A leadership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking the lead role in organizing an event or project. Think about what you accomplished and what you learned from the experience. What were your responsibilities?

Did you lead a team? How did your experience change your perspective on leading others? Did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church, in your community or an organization? And your leadership role doesn't necessarily have to be limited to school activities. For example, do you help out or take care of your family? 2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side. Things to consider: What does creativity mean to you? Do you have a creative skill that is important to you? What have you been able to do with that skill? If you used creativity to solve a problem, what was your solution? What are the steps you took to solve the problem?

How does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom? Does your creativity relate to your major or a future career? 3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? Things to consider: If there is a talent or skill that you're proud of, this is the time to share it.You don't necessarily have to be recognized or have received awards for your talent (although if you did and you want to talk about it, feel free to do so). Why is this talent or skill meaningful to you?

Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent? Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom? If so, what are they and how do they fit into your schedule? 4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced. Things to consider: An educational opportunity can be anything that has added value to your educational experience and better prepared you for college. For example, participation in an honors or academic enrichment program, or enrollment in an academy that's geared toward an occupation or a major, or taking advanced courses that interest you; just to name a few.

If you choose to write about educational barriers you've faced, how did you overcome or strive to overcome them? What personal characteristics or skills did you call on to overcome this challenge? How did overcoming this barrier help shape who you are today? 5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement? Things to consider: A challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your community or school. Why was the challenge significant to you? This is a good opportunity to talk about any obstacles you've faced and what you've learned from the experience. Did you have support from someone else or did you handle it alone?

If you're currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and does that affect different aspects of your life? For example, ask yourself, How has my life changed at home, at my school, with my friends or with my family? 6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. Things to consider: Many students have a passion for one specific academic subject area, something that they just can't get enough of. If that applies to you, what have you done to further that interest? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had inside and outside the classroom such as volunteer work, internships, employment, summer programs, participation in student organizations and/or clubs and what you have gained from your involvement.

Has your interest in the subject influenced you in choosing a major and/or future career? Have you been able to pursue coursework at a higher level in this subject (honors, AP, IB, college or university work)? Are you inspired to pursue this subject further at UC, and how might you do that?

7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? Things to consider: Think of community as a term that can encompass a group, team or a place like your high school, hometown or home. You can define community as you see fit, just make sure you talk about your role in that community. Was there a problem that you wanted to fix in your community?

Why were you inspired to act? What did you learn from your effort? How did your actions benefit others, the wider community or both? Did you work alone or with others to initiate change in your community? 8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? Things to consider: If there's anything you want us to know about you but didn't find a question or place in the application to tell us, now's your chance. What have you not shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge or opportunity that you think will help us know you better?

From your point of view, what do you feel makes you an excellent choice for UC? Don't be afraid to brag a little.

Writing tips

Start early..

Give yourself plenty of time for preparation, careful composition and revisions.

Write persuasively.

Making a list of accomplishments, activities, awards or work will lessen the impact of your words. Expand on a topic by using specific, concrete examples to support the points you want to make.

Use “I” statements.

Talk about yourself so that we can get to know your personality, talents, accomplishments and potential for success on a UC campus. Use “I” and “my” statements in your responses.

Proofread and edit.

Although you will not be evaluated on grammar, spelling or sentence structure, you should proofread your work and make sure your writing is clear. Grammatical and spelling errors can be distracting to the reader and get in the way of what you’re trying to communicate.

Solicit feedback.

Your answers should reflect your own ideas and be written by you alone, but others — family, teachers and friends can offer valuable suggestions. Ask advice of whomever you like, but do not plagiarize from sources in print or online and do not use anyone's words, published or unpublished, but your own.

Copy and paste.

Once you are satisfied with your answers, save them in plain text (ASCII) and paste them into the space provided in the application. Proofread once more to make sure no odd characters or line breaks have appeared.

This is one of many pieces of information we consider in reviewing your application. Your responses can only add value to the application. An admission decision will not be based on this section alone.

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IMAGES

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COMMENTS

'Someone Who Has Made an Impact On Your Life' Essay Sample
EssayEdge > Blog > 'Someone Who Has Made an Impact On Your Life' Essay Sample. Updated: April 8, 2024. "Describe a person who has influenced you" is the opening phrase of several personal statement prompts that go on to ask that you provide details of what that influence was. The major mistake made in these personal statement essays is ...
An Essay about Someone Who Has Made an Impact on Your Life
Either way, you may have to describe a person who influenced your life. Here, we'll tell you how to write about someone who had a huge impact on your life: ... It means you need to be very precise and clear when writing your essay on the person who has had the greatest impact on your life. You should be able to express the main idea and ...
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A Person That Has Influenced My Life, Essay Example. HIRE A WRITER! You are free to use it as an inspiration or a source for your own work. Throughout my life I had met hundreds of people who had somehow influenced me either physically or emotionally. However, there was only one person who had a substantial impact on my inner world and changed ...
Essay on A Person Who Has Influenced My Life
Conclusion. In conclusion, the person who has influenced my life the most is my grandmother. Her resilience, wisdom, and unconditional love have shaped my character, values, and perspective on life. She has taught me to embrace challenges, value wisdom, and love unconditionally. These lessons have not only influenced my personal growth but also ...
Person Who Has Influenced Me: [Essay Example], 475 words
Person Who Has Influenced Me. When it comes to reflecting upon the people who have had a profound impact on one's life, it is difficult not to think of those who have contributed to our personal growth, values, and aspirations. Throughout my life, I have been fortunate enough to have many people who have influenced me in various ways.
Describing a Person Who Influenced You: Personal Experience. Essay
In everyone's life there is a person who is considered to be the closest one in the whole world. For me this person is my mother. My mother influences every step of my life: how I live and interact with other people. She is an inspiration for my achievements and guidance into the successful future. She has always helped me to overcome any ...
How to Write a Descriptive Essay on an Influential Person in Your Life
As in any essay, when writing about an influential person in your life you should include a thesis statement. In this case, the thesis statement declares how or why this person has influenced you life. For example, if writing about your soccer coach, you may write, "Through his advice and the example of his character, my soccer coach has ...
Personal Essay Example: The Most Influential and Impactful People in My
Personal Essay Example: The Most Influential and Impactful People in My Life. Typically, high school students have a best friend that is relatively the same age as them. Well, my best friend is a middle-aged man. My best friend is my dad. When I think of someone who has impacted my life, my mind immediately goes to him.
Sample Essays: Influential Person
Sample Essay 1 Wellesley, Influence of mother. It took me eighteen years to realize what an extraordinary influence my mother has been on my life. She's the kind of person who has thoughtful discussions about which artist she would most want to have her portrait painted by (Sargent), the kind of mother who always has time for her four children ...
Tips for an Admissions Essay on an Influential Person
Keep in mind that a person can have a significant influence without having an entirely "positive" influence. Jill's essay, for example, focuses on a woman with only a few positive qualities. You could even write about someone who is abusive or hateful. Evil can have as much "influence" on us as good. 06.
Tell us about the person who has most impacted your life and why
The person who has impacted your life can be someone very close to you -your mother, brother, your son or daughter, your life partner. But it can also be a role model you looked up to, such as some sporting celebrity, or a scientist, and have been trying to model your life after. You can also opt for a rather philosophical answer, giving ...
Answering the Question "Who Has Most Influenced You?"
Whatever your answer, bring the influential person to life for your interviewer. Avoid vague generalities. As with an admissions essay on an influential person, you'll want to provide colorful, entertaining, and specific examples of how the person has influenced you. Also, keep in mind that a strong answer provides a window into your life and ...
Describe a Person who has Influenced you
Describe a person who influenced you./Describe a person who has been an important influence in your life. You should say : Who this person is. How/ When you met him/her. How he/she has made impact on you/ your life/ your study….
Most Influential Person in My Life: Essay
They can be the people that surround us in an everyday life. My inspiration consists of my parents, Oralia Reyes and Pedro Reyes. They are two full-blooded Mexican immigrants with remarkable stories of hard work, sacrifice, and resilience in a hostile society who left their country for a better life. Not only did they leave to have a better ...
How Has Your Life Experience Shape the Person You Are Today (Essay Sample)
How My Life Experiences Has Shaped The Person I am Today - 700 Word Long Essay. 1) Family Influence. 2) Friends. 3) Career and Passion. 4) Relationships. An Experience That Changed My Life Essay - 300 Word Short Essay.
Describe a person who has been an important influence
Describe a person who has been an important influence in your life. You should say: and explain how you feel about him or her. My sister is my idol and she is the person who helped me to become the better me. She was only 3 years senior to me and yet she was the mother, mentor and best buddy to me.
Describe a Person Who Influenced You
Here is the cue card that we will look at today: Describe someone who has had an important influence on your life. You should say: - who the person is. - how long you have known him/her. - what qualities this person has. and explain why they have had such an influence on you. I would call this pretty straightforward.
The Person Who Has Had Significant Impact in My Life
"Indicate a Person who has had a Significant Impact on you and Describe that Influence." Everyone has the potential to make an impact on a person's life. It could be anyone friends, family, a teacher/professor, or even a historical figure. One may think that a particular individual cannot i...
Who Has Influenced You The Most In Your Life Essay
That said, the person who has influenced my life is no other than my step-father. It seems odd because most of the step-parents' stories surrounding us are often antagonistic to children's lives, to say the very least. In my case, everything was different. In my home, he was the father I always longed to have, and a best friend I never had.
Describe a person who has influenced you to do better
If you can answer the topic "Describe a person who has influenced you to do better in your life" you should be able to talk about the following topics as well: 1. Describe your favourite personality. 2. Describe someone who has a positive influence on you. 3. Describe someone in your family who you most admire. 4. Describe a person you are most ...
IELTS Cue Card # 147
Describe someone who has had an important influence in your life. You should say: who the person is. how long you have known him/her. what qualities this person has. and explain why this person has had such an influence in your life. [You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are ...
Describe someone who has had an important influence in your life
Describe a teacher who had an important influence on your education. Describe a person who you really admire. Describe a person who has a great personality. Describe a person who helped you once. Describe someone you really like. Describe an advice someone gave to you. Talk about a person from your childhood whom you want to meet again.
Describe in vivid detail a person who has significantly influenced your
Expert Answers. First of all, you must choose a person who has had a special influence on your life. This person could be a relative; however, this person could also be a teacher, a coach, a faith ...
Personal insight questions
1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time. Things to consider: A leadership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking the lead ...