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Making a Positive Impact on Others: The Power of Influence

Categories: Empathy Leadership

About this sample

Words: 723 |

Published: Sep 16, 2023

Words: 723 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

The ripple effect of positivity, building stronger connections, leading by example, overcoming challenges and adversity, the role of empathy and understanding.

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

Sample Essays: Important Issue

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Strengthen Your Ability to Influence People

Benjamin Laker
Charmi Patel

Right from the start.

There are two kinds of influence. If you aspire to be a leader, you must understand transformational and transactional influence.

Transactional influence is often used in top-down, hierarchical organizations and is focused on the tasks to be done. This kind of leader is often direct and to the point.
Transformational influence is rooted in empathy and is often seen in more flat organizations. This kind of leader relies on encouragement and support to motivate and inspire others.
As traditional, top-down organizations flatten, transformational influence is becoming increasingly more important.
To master the art of influence, you need to: 1) building a rapport and trust with your team; 2) become an active listener; 3) commit to your team; and 4) set an excellent example.

Where your work meets your life. See more from Ascend here .

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Do you aspire to be in the C-suite, leading people and driving change? If you do, you’ll need to master the art of influence — a skill which, like any other, can be learned.

Benjamin Laker is a professor of leadership at Henley Business School, University of Reading. Follow him on Twitter .
Charmi Patel is an Associate Professor in International Human Resource Management at Henley Business School.

‘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.

Need help? Check out EssayEdge editing services:

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.

What Are Positive Influences

By: Author Paul Jenkins

Posted on Published: April 5, 2022 - Last updated: July 31, 2023

Categories Self Improvement , Leadership , Society

Positive influences can be hard to find, especially when you’re trying to figure out who you are and where you fit in this world. Because peer power is so important, it’s important to find people who’ll help you grow and not hold you back.

A Positive Influence Is Someone or Something That Affects Another Person in a Positive Way

Positive influences are people, things, or circumstances that affect another person in a positive way.

We all have people in our lives who inspire us, support us, and help us achieve our goals. These are positive influences. They can be:

Family members who care about you and respect your choices.
Friends who accept you for who you are.
Teachers, and other adults who care enough about you to help you succeed.
A Coach who shares his or her wisdom and experience.
Parents who share their love.
Role models such as public figures, actors, athletes, and successful business people you look up to.
Other people who follow in your footsteps or have similar goals for themselves.
A colleague who takes time to help you with your professional problems.
A leader who acts in the interests of society, and not for greed.
An influential person who exercises their influence for the benefit of others.
Anyone who encourages your self-belief.

They may also include inspirational quotes from famous people or even characters from books and movies that motivate you to do your best.

How does someone make you feel?

Close your eyes and imagine the last time you met someone who made you feel positive. How did that make you feel?

Did he or she understand something about you that other people didn’t know?
Did it inspire you to do or say things in a new way?
Did you have a more positive outlook after interacting with this person?
Did you feel like you had a good way forward?

A positive influence is someone who helps you improve.

This may mean becoming more disciplined or confident, taking up new hobbies or interests, overcoming fears or weaknesses, trying new activities, making healthier choices – but it doesn’t have to be just about self-improvement; sometimes a positive influence also means opening your mind to new ideas, perspectives, and experiences.

Encouraged and Strengthened

Generally – and this isn’t always the case – you feel encouraged and empowered after spending time with them (or encountering them, for however long).

You probably enjoy spending more time with them – if not just for their company, but also because they make you feel better. Chances are, your friends will notice these improvements, too!

Shared by Altruistic People

Positively influencing others is also an example of altruism: when someone puts another person’s needs before their own.

Altruism is most often practiced by charitable people who spend much of their time caring for others less fortunate than themselves (e.g., volunteers who work with hungry children in developing countries).

In fact, all kinds of altruistic acts can help bring out the best in everyone involved: showing someone the way when they get lost, taking in an elderly relative so the family has one less thing to worry about… Even cheering up a friend on Facebook counts!

The People We Choose to Have Around Us Can Have a Huge Impact on Our Lives

It’s important to surround yourself with people who make you happy, cheer you up, and give you encouragement.

Not everyone can be your soulmate or best friend, but there are people in your life who have a positive influence on you. These are the people who’ve good intentions and brighten your day just by being there. Most people care about others and want to help. They’re kind and pleasant and generous because they give without expecting anything in return.

They aren’t overly critical or judgmental because they know that no one is perfect. They want to see the big picture before they judge another’s actions or behavior.
They don’t gossip or talk behind others’ backs because they don’t want to waste their time on such things when they could be focusing on more important things in their lives.
They don’t hold grudges because they know that if they forgive someone, they can move forward in their lives instead of experiencing the same thing over and over again, holding on to anger at another person for something that happened in the past.

You may even find that some of these people are friends or family members who’ve proven themselves over and over again by helping you through difficult times or sharing positive energy with you when you needed it most.

When it comes to the people in your life, pay attention to the ones you spend time with. If these people are a bad influence in your life and are causing problems or unhappiness for one reason or another, maybe it’s time to reconsider whether they should still be in your life.

The People Who Are Most Likely to Be Positive Influences Will Believe and Support You No Matter What

You can identify positive influences in your life by paying attention to their actions. These are the people who, regardless of whether you succeed or fail, will be there for you and have your back. They’ll support you in the things you want to do, even if they aren’t always directly involved.

Positive influences will encourage you to try new things. They’ll not devalue or reject your ideas and interests. They’ll not condemn your choices, but will help you find solutions to any problems that arise along the way.

These are the people who’re interested in what’s going on in your life and want to know about it; who listen when something important happens, for better or for worse; who want to see pictures of what’s going on with you, and so on.

These are the people whose door is always open when you need a place to sleep (or longer).

A positive influence isn’t someone who just rejoices in your success and hates your mistakes – they’re there for you, through thick and thin.

Related: Are Positivity and Optimism the Same Thing

Signs That Someone is a Good Influence on You

Healthy relationships with others are based on support and encouragement.

A good influence makes you feel like you can accomplish anything, even if it seems impossible at the moment. In other words, they want to help you be the best version of yourself.

Here are some examples of how they show that:

They listen to what you’ve to say without judging or giving their own opinion.
They give you advice when you ask for it, but otherwise, they’re silent about things in your life unless you speak up.
They encourage you when things get difficult and praise you when something goes well (even if it’s just a small accomplishment).
They’ve realistic expectations about how long something should take or how hard an assignment might be. If your grade isn’t as good as usual, they let it slide until the next time without getting angry or making assumptions about why you’re not doing as well as you used to.
They focus on solutions instead of dwelling on problems or mistakes (this is called a positive attitude).
They also make fun of themselves – they don’t think everything is a joke or that humor doesn’t belong in the classroom – and they aren’t afraid to laugh at themselves.
They don’t hold grudges when they’ve had a fight – they’re likely to apologize first if they’ve misbehaved.
They’re willing to help others in the class and on projects when needed.
Their overall behavior is such that you want to emulate it (a good role model).
Their criticism is constructive and aimed at improving your work rather than highlighting your mistakes.
Their compliments are specific and positive, rather than vague (“Great job!”) or meaningless (“You’re great!”).

There Are Plenty of Ways to Build and Maintain a Positive Influence Around You

Being a good role model is a skill that has its benefits, but it can also come with difficulties.

Getting others to become a better version of themselves requires both patience and consistency. As long as you act with integrity, honesty, selflessness, and compassion, the influence you exert on those around you’ll be extremely rewarding for both parties.

Understand the importance. A positive influence can make a big difference in your mood, health, and life experience. If you have a lot of negative influences around you, it can be difficult to break away from them and develop new, positive habits.
Surround yourself with positive people. Make a conscious effort to be around people who inspire you, make you feel good, and strive for success in their own lives.
Be a good role model for those around you. This is especially important if you’re a parent or caregiver, but it should apply to everyone else as well. Don’t just tell people to be positive – show them how by being a positive influence yourself!
Be a good listener when someone wants to talk to you about something important or difficult. If you take the time to listen, you’ll find that their attitude and perspective on life have changed significantly.

Positive Influences Can Help You Become a Better Person

Positive influences can help you become a better person. They’re all around you. All around your community, all around the world, people are doing good things.

Here are some tips to help you find positive influences in your life and become one yourself:

Get involved in a community service activity or organization. Read up on what they do and why they exist. Ask questions that show you care about their missions and how they impact others. Not only will this have a positive impact on your life, but it’ll also help make the world a better place for everyone!
Find a mentor at work or school who’s been there and done that. Someone with experience can give you advice on how to navigate difficult situations so we don’t get stuck making bad decisions “because we didn’t know better at the time.”

Positive Influences Are Important to Your Mental Health

Mental health is the foundation for thinking, communicating, learning, and interacting with others. All of this takes place in your mind and influences how you act. From the time we wake up to the time we go to bed, we make many decisions every day that affect our mental health.

A person or group that’s a positive influence on you can lift your mood, encourage you when you’re feeling down, provide emotional support in difficult situations, encourage you toward your life goals, and instill confidence. These people can help you learn new skills or push you out of your comfort zone by encouraging you to try new experiences or ideas.

Positive influences can also bring joy into your life through fun and laughter and help relieve the stress of everyday life.

What’re some signs of good mental health?

You feel confident and happy with yourself
You’re able to cope with stress and bounce back from hard times or setbacks
You communicate well with family and friends
You have a strong support system at home, school, or work
Be able to function in everyday life (school or work) and activities (sports, hobbies)
Not having thoughts about hurting yourself or other people

Positive Influences Can Help You Deal With Pressure

Positive people in your life can be helpful for many reasons, such as helping you deal with pressure.

If you’re being pressured by others to do something that makes you uncomfortable, it helps to have people in your life who encourage you to make good choices and stand up for what’s important to you. If you’re struggling with peer pressure or social pressure, it’s good to have a friend who knows how strong and capable you’re.

When you feel pressured by negative feelings, it helps to have someone to remind you why they don’t matter. When we’re sad or angry, it’s easy to get lost in our own thoughts and feelings. When we allow these emotions to take over our entire brain, they can make us feel like the situation is worse than it really is.

A friend who helps us see things from a different perspective can help us realize that the situation isn’t so bad after all!

People often tell themselves they’re “hanging in there” when things are bad for them, but sometimes those words don’t mean much unless someone is there to cheer them on! Positive influencers can help keep your head above water during tough times by reminding everyone how strong they really are!

Use Positive Influences to Have Better Relationships

Positive relationships are good for your health!

Research has shown that spending time with friends is good for your immune system. Also, if you make sure to maintain those positive relationships, you’ll stay on top of what’s going on in your life and get a sense of purpose and direction.

With positive influences in your life, you’ll build and maintain better relationships with others.

You can build positive relationships by:

When you talk to someone, speak from their heart, be honest, and share your feelings.
Having respect for other people’s feelings and points of view.
Showing interest in their lives without being pushy or judgmental.
Listen carefully when they talk to you.
Compromise and find a good solution that works for everyone.

How Positive Influences Affect Your Behavior

Positive influences can have a number of effects on your behavior.

You’re more likely to behave in a pro-social way. This is any behavior that’s positive and benefits society as a whole. This might include volunteering, voting, avoiding criminal activity, and caring for the environment.
You’re more likely to spend time with positive people. The people around you have a big influence on how you behave. If your friends are smokers, you’ll be more likely to smoke yourself. However, if you surround yourself with people who use their words without resorting to name-calling and verbal attacks, you may be less likely to engage in those negative behaviors yourself.
You’re more willing to try new things. When you feel good about yourself, you find it easier to take risks because you worry less about the consequences of failure or embarrassment in the eyes of others if you fail.

Why Positive Influences Influence Performance

Positive influences are an important component of performance. Positive influences contribute to your performance by helping you get better, play better, practice better, and be more motivated. Positive influences can help you set goals.

I personally practice target archery. It requires a high level of mental and physical dedication to be successful.

Positive thinking is hugely important because if an arrow misses the gold (or the target at all), the trick isn’t to dwell on it. However, when an arrow lands right in the center of the target, that’s the moment to celebrate the moment and build the will within you to repeat it!

Those who approach the sport with this perspective perform much better than those who whine about poor performances or focus on the negativity of others.

Of course, this lesson doesn’t just apply to archery.

Related: Why Positivity Is Important in the Workplace

How to Use Social Media as a Positive Influence

Looking for positive influences on social media can be difficult because there are many negative influences there as well.

There are many ways to find positive influences, such as by looking for people on Twitter who’ve similar interests or values as you, or by following certain hashtags that are relevant to topics you like to read about (like #books or #sports).

Use your social media pages to share positive stories from around the world.
Share inspirational messages when you find them.
Upload photos and videos that show how great the world really is.
Share motivational quotes, memes, and texts on your social media pages.
If you see someone express a negative emotion, take a moment to assess whether you can help.
Set a good example to others with your posts.

We All Have Negative Influences

It’s not possible to avoid negative influences altogether. While there are ways to surround yourself with positive influences, sometimes you’ve to have a negative experience to learn something and grow as a person. Negative influences aren’t necessarily bad people; they can be people who don’t understand you. In your life, however, they can show you what kind of influence you don’t want to have.

Negative influences can be people or things that negatively affect your behavior and cause you to make bad choices.

For example, smoking cigarettes is an unhealthy habit that can negatively affect your health. A person who regularly interacts with you and smokes could influence you to take up the same habit.
Other examples of negative influences include watching violence on television, using drugs, or participating in illegal activities such as underage drinking or shoplifting.

A negative person is someone who constantly complains about their lives and focuses only on the negative aspects of their situation. They may try to bring up issues that intentionally cause distress or anger and often refuse to talk about positive things because they “don’t have time for it.”

Also, negative people tend to blame others instead of taking responsibility for themselves.

What to Do About Negative Influences

If you’ve built relationships with people who’re constantly negative and never seem to have anything nice to say, they may have become so ingrained in your life that it’s hard to imagine life without them. The best thing you can do is take note of their behavior:

Are they bluntly insulting you or others?
Are they rude when you ask them for help?
Do they make promises they can’t keep?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s time to reevaluate your relationship with them. Maybe it’s time to take a break from that negative influence so you can both work on yourselves and grow as individuals.

Staying away from negative influences will also help you in your quest for positivity and happiness.

Peer Pressure Can Be Both Positive and Negative

Peer pressure can also be a good thing. It can make you make positive decisions and try new things.

For example, peer pressure can help you learn to drive or cook for the first time. Your peers might encourage you to participate in healthy activities like swimming or hiking or to join a sports team.

By introducing you to new experiences and activities, your friends can introduce you to other friends who share your interests and hobbies. Your relationships with these people will lead to even more positive experiences because they’ll motivate you and support you in your growth and development.

Be aware that there is also something called negative peer pressure – do your best to avoid this when you run across it.

The Positive Impact That Positive Energy Can Have on the World

Positive influences can help others make good decisions that improve their lives and cause positive change in the lives of others around them.

You can make a positive impact by caring about the environment around you, encouraging others to do good things, volunteering for an organization you care about and helping people where you can.

When we look at the world around us, it’s easy to see that there are a lot of negative influences. But what about all the positive influences on our lives? We know that different ways exist, but sometimes we have a hard time naming those positive influences.

As you work to find your place in this world, I believe you have a responsibility to do everything you can to take advantage of all the positive influences you might encounter. In this way, as a positive person, you’re already giving back to the world.

You’ll be a positive influencer!

Tips for an Admissions Essay on an Influential Person

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It's not unusual for a college admissions essay to talk about a person who played an important role in your development. Whether this is a parent, a friend, a coach, or a teacher, such essays can be powerful if they avoid common pitfalls.

Key Takeaways: An Essay on an Influential Person

Don't just describe a person you admire. Be analytical and reflective to explain why you admire them.
Essays focused on parents or celebrities are common and often not the best choice for your focus.
All good application essays are about you , even when you are writing about someone else, so make sure the admissions folks are getting to know you through your essay.

With the pre-2013 Common Application , one of the essay prompts stated, "Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence." While you won't find this question among the seven 2020-21 Common Application essay prompts , the current application still allows you to write about an influential person with the "topic of your choice" option . Some of the other prompts also leave the door open for writing about an influential person.

Do Much More than Describe the Influential Person

Any essay on an influential person needs to do much more than describe that person. The act of describing requires very little critical thought, and as a result, it doesn't demonstrate the kind of analytical, reflective, and thoughtful writing that will be required of you in college. Be sure to examine why the person was influential to you, and you should analyze the ways in which you have changed because of your relationship with the person.

Think Twice About Essays on Mom or Dad

There is nothing wrong with writing about one of your parents for this essay, but make sure your relationship with your parent is unusual and compelling in some way. The admissions folks get a lot of essays that focus on a parent, and your writing won't stand out if you simply make generic points about parenting. If you find yourself making points like "my Dad was a great role model" or "my mother always pushed me to do my best," rethink your approach to the question. Consider the millions of students who could write the exact same essay.

Don't Be Star Struck

In most cases, you should avoid writing an essay about the lead singer in your favorite band or the movie star who you idolize. Such essays can be okay if handled well, but often the writer ends up sounding like a pop culture junkie rather than a thoughtful independent thinker.

Obscure Subject Matter is Fine

Be sure to read Max's essay on an influential person. Max writes about a rather unremarkable junior high kid he encountered while teaching summer camp. The essay succeeds in part because the choice of subject matter is unusual and obscure. Among a million application essays, Max's will be the only one to focus on this young boy. Also, the boy isn't even a role model. Instead, he's an ordinary kid who inadvertently makes Max challenge his preconceptions.

The "Significant Influence" Need Not Be Positive

The majority of essays written about influential people focus on role models: "my Mom/Dad/brother/friend/teacher/neighbor/coach taught me to be a better person through his or her great example..." Such essays are often excellent, but they are also a bit predictable. 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.

You Are Also Writing About Yourself

When you choose to write about a person who has had an influence on you, you will be most successful if you are also reflective and introspective. Your essay will be partly about the influential person, but it is equally about you. To understand someone's influence on you, you need to understand yourself — your strengths, your short-comings, the areas where you still need to grow.

As with the college admissions essay, you need to make sure a response reveals your own interests, passions, personality, and character. The details of this essay need to reveal that you are the type of person who will contribute to the campus community in a positive way.

Tips for the Pre-2013 Personal Essay Options on the Common Application
5 Tips for a College Admissions Essay on an Important Issue
Sample College Admissions Essay - Student Teacher
Common Application Essay Option 4—Gratitude
The 2021-22 Common Application Essay Prompts
Addressing Diversity in a College Application Essay
"My Dads" - Sample Common Application Essay for Option #1
Bad Essay Topics for College Admissions
How to Ace Your University of Wisconsin Personal Statements
Tips for an Application Essay on a Significant Experience
Tips for Writing an Essay on an Event That Led to Personal Growth
2020-21 Common Application Essay Option 4—Solving a Problem
UC Personal Statement Prompt #1
Tips for the College Interview Question "Who Has Most Influenced You?"
Topic of Your Choice: Common Application Essay Tips
Common Application Essay, Option 1: Share Your Story

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.

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The Power of Positive People

Are your friendships giving you a boost or bringing you down?

Credit... Lorraine Sorlet

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By Tara Parker-Pope

July 10, 2018

Are you spending time with the right people for your health and happiness?

While many of us focus primarily on diet and exercise to achieve better health, science suggests that our well-being also is influenced by the company we keep. Researchers have found that certain health behaviors appear to be contagious and that our social networks — in person and online — can influence obesity , anxiety and overall happiness. A recent report found that a person’s exercise routine was strongly influenced by his or her social network.

I was reminded recently of the power of the crowd during a wellness cruise sponsored by Times Journeys . The event attracted a group of like-minded travelers who, despite experiencing various levels of adversity in their lives, including cancer, vision loss and the recent loss of a loved one, were remarkably optimistic and upbeat. The group ranged in age from 17 to 90. One inspiring man, in his 80s, had adopted a vegan lifestyle and a strict exercise routine to control his diabetes. Another new friend, a woman in her 50s who had survived lung cancer, cheered me on and kept me going during a particularly difficult workout.

After the trip, we all promised to keep in touch. Buoyed by the experience, I returned home with a renewed commitment not only to exercise and healthful living, but to simply step up my social life and spend more time hanging out with happy people.

Dan Buettner, a National Geographic fellow and author, has studied the health habits of people who live in so-called blue zones — regions of the world where people live far longer than the average. He noted that positive friendships are a common theme in the blue zones.

“Friends can exert a measurable and ongoing influence on your health behaviors in a way that a diet never can,” Mr. Buettner said.

In Okinawa, Japan, a place where the average life expectancy for women is around 90, the oldest in the world, people form a kind of social network called a moai — a group of five friends who offer social, logistic, emotional and even financial support for a lifetime.

“It’s a very powerful idea,” Mr. Buettner said. “Traditionally, their parents put them into moais when they are born, and they take a lifelong journey together.”

In a moai, the group benefits when things go well, such as by sharing a bountiful crop, and the group’s families support one another when a child gets sick or someone dies. They also appear to influence one another’s lifelong health behaviors.

Mr. Buettner is working with federal and state health officials, including the former United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, to create moais in two dozen cities around the country. He recently spent time in Fort Worth, Tex., where several residents have formed walking moais — groups of people who meet regularly to walk and socialize.

“We’re finding that in some of these cities, you can just put people together who want to change health behaviors and organize them around walking or a plant-based potluck,” he said. “We nudge them into hanging out together for 10 weeks. We have created moais that are now several years old, and they are still exerting a healthy influence on members’ lives.”

The key to building a successful moai is to start with people who have similar interests, passions and values. The Blue Zone team tries to group people based on geography and work and family schedules to start. Then they ask them a series of questions to find common interests. Is your perfect vacation a cruise or a backpacking trip? Do you like rock ’n’ roll or classical music? Do you subscribe to The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal?

“You stack the deck in favor of a long-term relationship,” said Mr. Buettner.

One of my fellow travelers, Carol Auerbach of New York City, noted that surrounding herself with positive people has helped her cope with the loss of two husbands over the years. Ms. Auerbach was widowed at 30, when her children were just 2 and 5. With the support of her family and friends, and her own tenacity, she was able to support her family, and she eventually remarried. And then in 1992, her second husband died unexpectedly. To cope the second time, she focused on volunteer work and contributing to her community.

Ms. Auerbach said she believes that she learned to have a positive outlook from her mother, a Holocaust survivor who left Germany at the age of 19 and never saw her parents again.

“When I was growing up we were not affluent, and the four of us lived in a one-bedroom apartment, and my parents slept on a pullout sofa,” she said. “My mother never complained. I think she quietly knew that difficult things happen, but you feel very appreciative of the life you do have, and you feel a responsibility to make the most of it.”

Ms. Auerbach eventually found love again and has been married to her third husband for 15 years. “Life is too short to be around negative people,” she said. “I need people around me who care about me and are appreciative, and see the world as a glass half full, not half empty.”

The Blue Zone team has created a quiz to help people assess the positive impact of their own social network. The quiz asks questions about your friends and the state of their health, how much they drink, eat and exercise, as well as their outlook. The goal of the quiz is not to dump your less healthy friends, but to identify the people in your life who score the highest and to spend more time with them.

“I argue that the most powerful thing you can do to add healthy years is to curate your immediate social network,” said Mr. Buettner, who advises people to focus on three to five real-world friends rather than distant Facebook friends. “In general you want friends with whom you can have a meaningful conversation,” he said. “You can call them on a bad day and they will care. Your group of friends are better than any drug or anti-aging supplement, and will do more for you than just about anything.”

Tara Parker-Pope is the founding editor of Well , The Times’s award-winning consumer health site. She won an Emmy in 2013 for the video series “Life, Interrupted” and is the author of “For Better: The Science of a Good Marriage.” More about Tara Parker-Pope

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The Power of Positivity

Why is positivity so important and how do you grow yours find out here..

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Positivity refers to our tendency to be optimistic in life. This is in contrast to negativity, which is all about thinking, feeling, and doing negative things. When we have positivity, we might think positive, have positive emotions, and do positive things.

Positivity can lead to better mental health and well-being (take the well-being quiz here ). For example, self-directed positive thinking can buffer us from the effects of stress (Taylor & Brown, 1994). So try being positive toward yourself, for example, by building your self-compassion skills.

Future-oriented positivity can also be powerful. For example, optimism can lead to better social relationships and a better ability to cope with stress (Taylor & Brown, 1994).

Examples of Positivity

Here are some examples to help you use the power of positivity in your life.

Self-oriented positivity: “I'm a good person.”
Other-oriented positivity: “My friends aren't perfect, but they are there for me when I need them.”
Gratitude : “I’m so lucky to have such a great husband."
Paying attention to the positive: “That movie was so cool.”
Savoring: “That vacation last year made me feel so relaxed and connected.”
Future-oriented positivity: “I'm looking forward to my friend's 'Friendsgiving' this year.”

Brain Training and Positivity

Research has shown that we can improve cognitive function in ways that boost positivity. For example, computerized training that leads people to focus on the positive over the negative contributes to positive outcomes (Wadlinger & Isaacowitz, 2008).

Power of Positivity Practices

Here are some practices that can help you increase your positivity.

1. Write a self-compassion letter

Being comfortable with yourself—and showing yourself some compassion—can make it easier to find, express, and receive positivity. To build your self-compassion, try writing yourself a self-compassion letter (Shapira & Mongrain, 2010). In this letter, you say nice things to yourself and give yourself a break for anything that you might have been judging yourself for.

2. Practice positive reappraisal

Positive reappraisal is an emotion regulation strategy that involves trying to reframe the situation to find its benefits and decrease our negative emotions.

3. Practice gratitude

Gratitude journals and lists are good ways to grow positivity. Just try to think of something you're grateful for each day or every few days to boost your gratitude.

4. Try doing a positivity meditation

Mindfulness meditation has become wildly popular. But what about positivity meditations? These can help you focus your thoughts on the positive and improve your mood. You can find several of these meditations on YouTube.

When Positivity Might Backfire

It turns out that forcing people into positivity can backfire. For example, putting pessimists into a positive mood not only hurts performance, but it can also actually make them feel more anxious . Sometimes we use worry and other negative outcomes to help us. Also, suppression and other forms of emotional avoidance are not good for well-being. So if positivity doesn't feel right for you, or doesn't feel right in a specific situation, that's okay.

How to Boost the Power of Positivity

Sometimes we just need to get our minds open and ready to think more positively. Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

What positive qualities do you have?
What strengths do you have?
What are you grateful for?
What do you have to look forward to (or what can you create so you do have things to look forward to)?

In Sum: Capitalizing on the Power of Positivity

If you want more positivity, you can build it. Just be sure not to force positivity when it doesn't feel right. The more you practice skills that generate positivity, the happier you can become.

Created with content from The Berkeley Well-Being Institute.

Taylor, S. E., & Brown, J. D. (1994). Positive illusions and well-being revisited: separating fact from fiction.

Wadlinger, H. A., & Isaacowitz, D. M. (2008). Looking happy: The experimental manipulation of a positive visual attention bias. Emotion, 8(1), 121.

Shapira, L. B., & Mongrain, M. (2010). The benefits of self-compassion and optimism exercises for individuals vulnerable to depression. Journal of Positive Psychology, 5, 377-389.

Norem, J. K., & Chang, E. C. (2002). The positive psychology of negative thinking. Journal of clinical psychology, 58(9), 993-1001.

Tchiki Davis, Ph.D. , is a consultant, writer, and expert on well-being technology.

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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.

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

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:

Just in 1 hour! We will write you a plagiarism-free paper in hardly more than 1 hour

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:

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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 Luter 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!

Positive and Negative Influences Essay

Globalization has transformed the mode of operation in various societies of the world. Although the origins of globalization date back to medieval times, its pronounced effects materialized in the late 19 th century and became imminent in the 20 th century. Technological advancements, improved trade, and enhanced mobility are among the major players that shaped the concept of globalization.

Remarkably, the modern society has witnessed tremendous influences associated with globalization. Increased mobility from one region to another, free trade, which materialize because of flexible international trade agreements, and technological advancements have catalyzed the effects of globalization. While the benefits linked to globalization are widespread, its drawbacks are also apparent. These benefits and drawbacks affect firms, governments, and individuals.

Some of the benefits that individuals feel as they undertake their day-to-day activities include increased platform for exchange of ideas, increased spectrum of developed products and services, and increased job and business opportunities. Consequently, the drawbacks that affect individuals include pollution, divergent expectations, cultures, and views as well as ineffective legal systems. It is within this backdrop that the essay examines individual effects of globalization using its positive and negative influences.

Fundamentally, the positive influences of globalization are widespread and evident. These influences affect the day-to-day activities of individuals. In essence, the positive influences include increased mobility, technological advancements, and increased job and business opportunities. The high level of mobility associated with globalization has had a pronounced impact in my daily life.

Airplanes, vehicles, steamboats, and electric trains have enabled individuals feel the effects of globalization at personal levels. Consequently, technological advancements have shaped the mode of operations and lifestyles of several individuals in the world. The effects of technological advancements are evident in all the aspects of the society, and thus, its impact on individual life is apparent. Improved communication, advent of the internet, and development of sophisticated products attribute their existence to technological advancements, which is an aspect of globalization.

On the other hand, factors like high mobility of individuals and technological advancements have increased the market and environment where individuals can acquire employment or engage in businesses. In contemporary societies, a number of individuals acquire employment in other regions or engage in businesses that do not focus on a single region. As such, the individuals enjoy the benefits that globalization presents in the form of increased marketing and working environments.

Although globalization has presented several positive impacts that have transformed the lives of individuals, it also has come with a number of negative influences that pose as challenges in execution of day-to-day individual activities. Some of the challenges also known as drawbacks include pollution, divergent expectations, views, cultures, as well as ineffective legal systems.

Pollution is one of the major drawbacks that not only affect firms and governments, but also affect individuals living in respective environments. Air, water, soil, and noise pollution are increasingly affecting the execution of individual activities in contemporary societies. Consequently, differences in expectations, living standards, cultures, and values have acted as drawbacks of globalization. In the quest to transform the world into a global village characterized by free trade and exchange of ideas, conflicting cultures, views, and expectations, hamper the process.

Moreover, the presence of ineffective legal systems that cripple free trade and mobility in some regions is a negative influence associated with globalization. It is important to explain that these drawbacks or negative influences are felt at individual levels and affect the day-to-day activities of individuals.

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A positive influence.

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older brother Neil has had an incredible impact on my life. He has taught me many virtues, influenced my actions, and helped to mold me into the person I am today. Throughout my childhood Neil has inspired and encouraged me to become a more generous, moral, and confident person. . Neil's sheer generosity has helped to establish a similar quality within my actions. When I was ten or eleven years old, Neil paid me to assist him in cutting yards around the neighborhood. Years later I realized that my help was unnecessary and that he had paid me out of his own pocket just so I could make extra money. On another occasion Neil drove from Baton Rouge to New Orleans to bring me a bag that I had left at his apartment. That incredible favor is yet another example of the generosity he has shown me throughout my life. Although Neil's generosity is enough to impress many people, his morals have left an even larger impression upon me. . Neil's moral behavior has inspired me to become a more honorable and moral person. . Soon after I began Jesuit High School, Neil wrote me letters about the great amount of respect . that young girls deserve. His words touched me in a way that made me realize the importance of . his morals, and that realization allowed me to have a greater admiration for him. A year after . those letters, Neil wrote me again in reference to the use of drugs and alcohol. He explained how . the use of those harmful substances could ruin the rest of my life, and his approach was . convincing enough to keep me away from making destructive decisions. Moral behavior is not . 2. an easy task to achieve in today's society, but Neil's superior confidence has given him the . strength to live up to his own moral standards. . Neil's display of confidence has allowed me to become more confident in myself and in . my ability to make wise decisions. When Neil began his lawn care business, I observed his .

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