Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.

Ever since I was little, my nana has had an immense influence on my life. She is the person who has always been there, navigating me through the difficult as well as successful moments.

Nana became my legal guardian when my mom, who is a single mother, became unable to handle the enormous tasks of motherhood. Nana left her career in the fitness industry and became my full-time “Nana-Mom”.

Through several difficult situations, nana has always exhibited grace and strength and has taught me to deal with challenges and successes with openness and spaciousness, not with paralyzing fixation. She has a sense of humor which transcends the difficulties and uplifts the spirit.

Nana has taught me generosity. She has taught me honor and integrity. I have learned that generosity does not need to embrace material things. Generosity with one’s time and energy are equally important. Nana has always given me not only her time and energy but her ears for listening when I need guidance or help. She has also shared her wisdom and life experience, which are priceless.

I have learned that honor involves honesty with oneself as well as with others. It is one thing to learn not to steal or take from others. My nana has taught me that it is equally important to give, and that giving is not necessarily of a materialistic nature.

Nana has shown me how to take “lemons and make lemonade”. When I was younger, we were living in a bad housing situation due to our low income. I had to sleep on the sofa in the living room. Raccoons were in the attic and one night several raccoons fell through the roof into our bathtub. This was scary but I went to school the next day laughing about this silly event.

Nana, however, realized we had to