The first influential person in my life was my grandfather
who lived until he was 85 years old. He stood out to me because of how he
carried himself, which I hope reflects on me a little. He was a family man who
took care and made sure his family was number one priority. His generosity was enormous
as he was once a member of The Knights of Columbus which is a Catholic based
charity that volunteers service hours and raises money for people in need. His
bravery was admirable sacrificing his personal gains for his family and for his
country when he served in the Korean War. One of things that I really stood out
to me was his kindness and his sense of humor, he could always make me laugh.
Even at the dinner table during Christmas when his health was not very good and
the family and I were thinking it could be our last Christmas with him, he
always knew what to say and when to say it making us all feel good. He inspired
me by the kind of man he was and the kind of family he was able to establish
over the years, meaning he had the discipline that was needed. He was the kind
of person that you wanted to go out of your way to hang out with because he
gave you that heartwarming feeling just being around him. He never tried to
impress anyone but always did what he needed to do so everyone around him was
happy and the kind of man that I hope I can grow up to be like one day. He has
made a huge impact on my life and I will always remember the important lessons
learned and cherish the time spent with him.
The second person I chose is a guy named Bobby Orr who was a
professional hockey player for the Boston Bruins in the mid 1960’s through the
1970’s. He is not only one of the most influential person’s in my life but one
that I would call a hero and a legend. He is known for being one of the best
ice hockey players to ever lace up the skates, but what he is doing since he
retired is amazing as well. After he retired he did not just settle down like
he probably had thought would happen, but instead started helping out local
communities. He took advantage of his fame by realizing that he has more of a
duty to the public than just playing hockey as he started giving back to the
less fortunate and visiting the sick at hospitals when he could. Bobby Orr
attends golf outings and charitable events to raise awareness of whatever cause
that is in need of his support. It’s kind of awesome because when I lived in Canada
he has always been my idol as a hockey player on and off the ice, but the town
that I lived in was actually his hometown where he grew up as a child. In his
hometown there are restaurants and ice rinks and signs and shops named after
him and you cannot do that if you were not a well-liked person who went out of
their way for the greater good. It is just an amazing site to see a whole town
come around one person who has such an impact on so many people. Listening to
all these interviews with him and everything that he has accomplished not just
as a hockey players amazes me to hear him speak and the generosity that comes
out of his voice.
The third person that has impacted me tremendously who is a
country singer and songwriter by the named of Kenny Chesney. When I think of
this person I say now here is a man who is one of those hard working, talented
people that you could make a movie about his life and how he got to where he is
today. Kenny Chesney is a great example of someone who has started as a normal
boy who went to school and played a sport in high school who never had anything
handed to him. After he decided he wanted to pursue his dream of becoming a musician
he started working for it by singing at local bars and even on the streets when
he was in college just to earn a little money. His music has inspired so many
people over the years to the point where his lyrics have literally brought
people to tears. For and for others as well this man can turn your bad day into
something spectacular when one of his songs comes on the radio. His voice and
his talents make you feel invincible and that you can accomplish anything with
the positive attitude he represents. During every concert he has, he will bring
up at least one person from the crowd and whether it be someone with cancer or
even just a little boy or girl and present them to the thousands of people watching,
making them feel like a million dollars. He also gives that person a signed
guitar, hat or just some type of personal value that they can go home with that
night and will always have that to remember that night they had with him. He is
a very kind and understandable person who also donates a lot of his wealth to
charities of his choice that are in need. Over his career he has performed and inspired millions and millions of people with his music and his determination.
