My Influences

My Influences
Student’s Name:
Professor’s Name:
Course Details:
Subject Code:
Date Submitted:
Introduction
It is often said that when one wakes up in the morning without an agenda, everybody else’s agenda becomes his or her agenda for the day. However, the irony and dilemma arises in the fact that “no man is an island” and hence, we must, at some point, allow ourselves to be influenced by others. Nevertheless, the degree to which this allowance results in a positive impact depends greatly on our ability to perceive good from bad. Whether we grow up to become sensible, mature members of the community or not is largely dependent on how we were brought up. The setting within which any child grows in greatly influences their identity, which impacts on their self-esteem as they grow older, and ultimately determines the individual’s personal worth. In my case, I grew up surrounded by my grandfather, father, and uncle. I am who I am because of these people, and I do what I do because I am my father’s son. In this essay, I will present some ways in which my grandfather, father, and uncle have contributed to my personal worth and identity.
My Grandfather
Grandfathers often play the role of the wise counselor. In essence, they mostly provide grandchildren with insight into life’s lessons and how to navigate hard times. Such wisdom only comes from years of living. If it is not gathered from their own personal experiences, then it is acquired through the observation of others across generations. It is not uncommon for my children to be sent during holidays or weekends to their grandparents houses, whether upcountry or in the city. Such occasions are enormously important and present children with the opportunity to connect with foregone generations, and learn more about the extended family and how to relate with everyone in it.
Like all grandfathers, mine too was a good storyteller. Besides teaching me much about my family’s heritage and my unique place in it, he also taught me humility, perseverance, and hard work. In one way, I can boldly say that these virtues essentially impacted on the development of other great and positive values in my life such as loyalty, patience, and obedience. However, the biggest role my grandfather played in my life was that of father. It must sound quite queer, considering I already have a father. However, to a great extent, the coziness with which my grandfather approached h...