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A Speech on the Significant Influences that Helped Shape My Life

Have you ever taken a moment to reflect on the people, things and experiences that have molded you into the person you are today? Well, I do it all the time. Come to think of it; it is mind-blowing to think about how the people, places and encounters that I have gone through have shaped me into the being I am today. I believe that we all have a special purpose that we should fulfill during our time on earth, and fulfilling it would not be possible if one does not allow their environment around them and experiences to shape them. Some of my experiences were positive, while some were negative. All in all, I would not be who I am today had it not been for the people and experiences in my life. Today, I am taking this opportunity to talk to you about the life influences that have shaped me into the being I am today. As I proceed with my speech, I will talk about my mother, the church and life-threatening surgery as the factors that have significantly influenced my life.

To begin with, I would like to talk to you about the most important person in my life, my mother. Without a doubt, she has had the biggest influence on my life. I admire her for various reasons. I hope to turn out as half the woman she is in the future. She is my source of inspiration and hope. She has molded me into a diligent person, and for that, I hold her as a treasure close in my heart. One of the reasons why I admire her is her strength. My mother is the strongest person I know. Growing up, life was not always easy for us. She single-handedly ensured that my siblings had everything we needed despite all the shortcomings. Although we did not have the best things that money could buy, she ensured we lived comfortably. As a single mother, she had to put in twice the effort to provide for us. I remember her working three or four jobs at times to give us everything we needed. She put us through college education and has supported my siblings and me in all our endeavors. I have so much respect for her. In due time, I plan to repay her by buying her a house and providing her with everything she needs. She is my source of inspiration and she truly deserves the best things that life can offer. Additionally, my mother has instilled in me the values of honesty, hard work, faith, and love. She set an excellent example for my siblings and me. She led by example. She is a true leader and she has taught me to believe in myself. To date, she still encourages me to be self-confident and reminds me that I am a work in progress. She also taught me to be content with what I have and to live fearlessly.

Next, I will talk about the places I feel have contributed most to the person I am today. I could think of half a dozen places that have been precious to me, including our family home, high school, and my auntie’s home. However, I feel that the church has had the most influence on me had has shaped me into who I am today. I would not describe myself as a very religious person but I am certainly a believer. I was raised by my mother, who is a Christian. I was baptized at an early age, and since then, my mother has always ensured that we attended mass every Sunday. I was always interested in church activities growing up. I was the kind of child that volunteered to give people a hand during church sermons. I would help usher people into the church and help them locate seats. I feel the church honed me into the person I am today as it instilled in me the virtues of patience, faith, honesty, prayerfulness, and dedication. I was very close to the Reverend in the church I attended growing up. She eventually became my mentor and has taught me a lot do with life. Whenever I had a personal problem, I would always talk to her and she would advise me on how to handle the matter. Even today, whenever I feel discouraged or face a life problem, I always turn to God for assistance. Because of my background in the church, I am prayerful to date and I firmly believe that God is the answer to most of the problems we face in society.

Finally, I will talk about an encounter that changed my life completely. When I was thirteen years old, I was involved in a road accident. I must say that this was the most devastating point of my life as I had to undergo life-threatening surgery to rectify my limb. In the accident, my leg was severely injured. At some point, the doctor recommended that the leg be amputated, but my mother stood with me and ensured I got the necessary surgery. At this point, I was scared for my life; I thought I would die. I am different because of this experience as I learned the value of life. I realized how fragile life could be and I am just grateful that I overcame the darkest moment of my life. One person lost their life during the accident and I was among the lucky few that survived. I am grateful to God for saving me on that day. I learned to live life to the fullest and appreciate the little things that matter most. For me, family is everything. I appreciate my family for standing by my side and always being with me through thick and thin.

In closing, today, I have opened up about the significant influences in my life. I mentioned how my mother has honed me into the person I am today and taught me various values, including hard work and self-confidence. We also discussed how the church contributed to the spiritual being I am today and how undergoing a life-threatening surgery changed my life for the better. Looking back at all the people, things and experiences that have shaped my life, I cannot help but wonder what the future has in store for me. I cannot wait to meet new people, explore, and hopefully experience positive life-changing experiences that will shape me as a person even further.