Influences

Growing up, there have been many influences in my life, but I am just going to touch on the ones that have had the biggest impact on my life.  It is safe to start with my family.  I am a 50/50 combination of my mom and my dad who have had very large influences on how I think, socialize, and view life.  I take after my mom in that I am very positive and love people, while my dad is very intellectual.  I approach life logically, and I hope to be a lawyer like him one day.  My four siblings have also greatly shaped me.  I am the epitome of a middle child who is easy going and close with all my siblings in different ways.  
My faith has also greatly influenced me through various organizations such as Kanakuk or the Catholic Church.  And other Christians have encouraged me along this journey, allowing me to develop the world view, relationship with Christ, and wisdom I have today.  Such people include Bekah Blume, Mariah Ballweber, Adele Edmonds, and Rachel Mustain.  
And of course I have my best friends in the entire world who have shaped who I am as a person.  My three best friends from grade school, Mallory Grossman, Skylar Singer, and Natalie Elliott, have been some of my longest friends who I know will never leave my side.  They have taught me to be confident in who I am, and I can easily say that without them I would be a completely different person.  In high school my friends Katie Doan, Sydney Foster, and Mary Kate Morrissey also helped me come out of my shell even more.  They love me for who I truly am, and that is why they have influenced me so much.
Since college, I have made many new friends, but it's hard to say who has had a considerable influence on me, considering I have only been here for a month.  Most of my friends have been made in my sorority, and I have found so much joy through that.  And this joy affects how I act and treat others, thus creating an influence.