Being influenced by someone is very easy, but being influenced by someone positively is very hard to do. Taking orders 363 days a year at his shop, my stepdad has been accompaniment more than half of his life.

As I battled through high school, I found myself using my stepdad as to arise into the person I am today. If I could have one friend for the rest of my life, I would choose my stepdad. He has taught me countless things in life that my sperm donor would have never done.

It took me years to realize what an extraordinary influence my stepdad has been on my life. Growing up with such a strong influential role model, I developed many of his 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 stepdad always taught me to stand up for what I believed in. They raised their children with strong morals and values.

As a fifteen year old, I often accompanied my stepdad, Harlem Lewis, a local business owner. While he attended meetings, I ran the shop without any supervision. Having finally perfected the "business woman material" trick, I began work as a full time. It is here that I met a diversity of people which enhanced my social skills.

Everything that my stepdad has ever done has been overshadowed by the thought behind it. While the raw experiences I have had at home and abroad