The Most Influential Person in My Life
Teresa (Powell) Reed wrote this paper for her English class at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado during her Junior year. It was 1977, four years after she and her family had moved to Littleton from St. Louis, Missouri.
It was a bright, sunny, August afternoon when my family and I walked into the new church building. That Sunday, when the invitation song was sung, our family went to the front and acknowledged to the congregation that we wanted to become members, and we were accepted with open arms. That was the day that I met the person who has influenced my life the most.
After service, I walked into the youth center for class, and I was greeted by a happy, smiling man. I asked one of the girls, Jill, who he was, and she said, “That’s our youth minister,” From that moment on, I was to have many opportunities to see this man as he was--a man after God’s own heart. I must say that Mike Myers is the person who influenced my life the most because he patterned his life after Christ; he was always there to talk to, and he helped me form some important foundations for my life.
During the last four years, there were times when I found myself feeling sorry for myself, but I either talked to, or just saw Mike, and I felt much better. I remember one time our youth group had just returned [to the church building] from a retreat in the mountains, and everyone was going to an area-wide youth meeting. I had told some of my friends that I would see them there, and I had gotten my parents’ permission. When it came time to leave for the area-wide, my dad said that I couldn’t go. I was very upset and stomped out to the car so that I could be by myself. About the time I got to the car, Mike came strolling by and said, “Hey, what’s wrong?” I just stood there, staring straight ahead into the darkness, feeling stupid. Mike, though, being the understanding man he was, said “Your parents just want you to be with them for a while; you have been gone all weekend.” As Mike walked back into the church building, I began to think about the things that are most important in my life. I was excited and happy to know I had a friend to whom I could talk. Mike always seemed to say the words of encouragement that Christ would speak if he was still on Earth.
Mostly, Mike helped me form many foundations for my life. There was something in Mike’s life that showed me the way in which I should pattern my life--although Mike made it a point to tell me, “It’s not me that you are patterning your life after; it’s Christ.”
Throughout Junior High, I began setting some guidelines for myself. There were so many limitations on activities that I was allowed to do; I was confused. I did not understand, at that time, why I wasn’t allowed to smoke, drink, or dance. I had just been told I couldn’t. I was torn between the “parties” that my peers encouraged me to be a part of and a Christian life which focused on keeping away from “going along with the crowd,” staying away from peer pressure, and standing up for what I believe. So many times I would have jumped at the chance to “join the crowd.” but there was someone that kept me from it: Mike. He was always confident, he knew where he was going in life, and he knew exactly what his purpose was--to serve Christ.
I wanted so much to know what my real purpose in life was. I had many times seen people with temporary happiness, but I wanted long-lasting happiness. That is what Mike led me to by helping me find an eternal happiness with Christ.
To conclude, I don’t believe that I would know my purpose or be as happy with my life as I am without Mike. I have always told myself, “I sure would like to be like Mike.” Without him, I don’t know where I would be. He helped me form foundations for my life, was a friend to me, and helped to set me on the right path toward heaven. Without a person like Mike Myers, I am sure I would have given into my peers. I am thankful--and will always be thankful--to him.
After service, I walked into the youth center for class, and I was greeted by a happy, smiling man. I asked one of the girls, Jill, who he was, and she said, “That’s our youth minister,” From that moment on, I was to have many opportunities to see this man as he was--a man after God’s own heart. I must say that Mike Myers is the person who influenced my life the most because he patterned his life after Christ; he was always there to talk to, and he helped me form some important foundations for my life.
During the last four years, there were times when I found myself feeling sorry for myself, but I either talked to, or just saw Mike, and I felt much better. I remember one time our youth group had just returned [to the church building] from a retreat in the mountains, and everyone was going to an area-wide youth meeting. I had told some of my friends that I would see them there, and I had gotten my parents’ permission. When it came time to leave for the area-wide, my dad said that I couldn’t go. I was very upset and stomped out to the car so that I could be by myself. About the time I got to the car, Mike came strolling by and said, “Hey, what’s wrong?” I just stood there, staring straight ahead into the darkness, feeling stupid. Mike, though, being the understanding man he was, said “Your parents just want you to be with them for a while; you have been gone all weekend.” As Mike walked back into the church building, I began to think about the things that are most important in my life. I was excited and happy to know I had a friend to whom I could talk. Mike always seemed to say the words of encouragement that Christ would speak if he was still on Earth.
Mostly, Mike helped me form many foundations for my life. There was something in Mike’s life that showed me the way in which I should pattern my life--although Mike made it a point to tell me, “It’s not me that you are patterning your life after; it’s Christ.”
Throughout Junior High, I began setting some guidelines for myself. There were so many limitations on activities that I was allowed to do; I was confused. I did not understand, at that time, why I wasn’t allowed to smoke, drink, or dance. I had just been told I couldn’t. I was torn between the “parties” that my peers encouraged me to be a part of and a Christian life which focused on keeping away from “going along with the crowd,” staying away from peer pressure, and standing up for what I believe. So many times I would have jumped at the chance to “join the crowd.” but there was someone that kept me from it: Mike. He was always confident, he knew where he was going in life, and he knew exactly what his purpose was--to serve Christ.
I wanted so much to know what my real purpose in life was. I had many times seen people with temporary happiness, but I wanted long-lasting happiness. That is what Mike led me to by helping me find an eternal happiness with Christ.
To conclude, I don’t believe that I would know my purpose or be as happy with my life as I am without Mike. I have always told myself, “I sure would like to be like Mike.” Without him, I don’t know where I would be. He helped me form foundations for my life, was a friend to me, and helped to set me on the right path toward heaven. Without a person like Mike Myers, I am sure I would have given into my peers. I am thankful--and will always be thankful--to him.