Quentin Minard 1

Quentin Minard

Mrs. Cramer

College Comp 1 Pd. 6b

18 Oct. 2019

CAN Essay

People are shaped and melded by their environment and the personalities that surround

them. All my life there have been two people who have influenced me. These people are my

mother and father. People tend to not like to admit how much their parents have influenced them.

My mother has been the main influence when it comes to school. She has pushed me to do my

best on my academics, even when I didn’t want her to. I am glad she did because if she hadn’t, I

would not be where I am now, taking upper level classes. She is where I get my sense of

presentability. She is why I won’t show up to an interview wearing a hoodie and shorts. She is

why I prefer my home clean and presentable. I am lucky to have grown up in a loving and caring

household with both my parents. My father has been there for just as much as my mother has.

My mother has influenced my academic and social mindset, my father has influenced my

philosophical mindset and my beliefs.

My father has been a huge influence on my beliefs and my way of thinking. I credit my

father for my sense of common sense. He has made me appreciate efficiency. He is why I do my

best to find the most direct and productive route to my goals. My father is why I don’t get

stressed. He has granted me the mindset to step out of a situation and take an unbiased, third

person look on the problem to see how bad or good it is. This has allowed me to bounce back

and improve on my mistakes. My father has always been one for an intellectual or philosophical
 Quentin Minard 2

conversion, which has helped me to broaden my view on life and the world. I always want to

learn about everything I can, academic or not. He has helped me to learn and think for myself

and develop my own opinions. He has taught me to not take much at face value but to always try

to look deeper and behind the curtain. Which is why I often ask, “why.” I don’t mean it as an

argument, nor do I do it to get on people’s nerves. I am genuinely curious and would like to

understand why that people are doing or saying whatever they are doing or saying. The lessons

my father has taught me will and already have helped me get through events that have been a

challenge for me. My mother and father have been huge influences on my childhood and the

person I am today.

Both of my parents have been a huge influence on me. I get much of myself from them,

good and bad. I am lucky to have these two people in my life. They have supported me when I

do good and punished me accordingly when I mess up. I deserved every punishment and I am

thankful. I am thankful that my parents didn’t give me everything I wanted and cover me in a

blanket and cuddle at every given moment. One of the greatest gifts that my parents gave me was

making me work for what I wanted. Showing me, everything has its price, nothing is truly and

utterly free. I am thankful they didn’t fully shelter me from the challenges this world could

present. My parents are why I am trying to work as hard as I can to achieve my goals.