Personal Childhood Web

5 people who influenced me to be the person I am today:

1. My mother: My mother was a homemaker. She took care of the house, and my sisters and I. She was a great cook. I can remember eating at home and rarely eating out at restaurants. She loved my sisters and I very much. (She passed in 1998).  

2. My father: My father was the bread-winner for my family. He was (and still is) a hard-working man. Although he worked a lot, he still provided for my family. He was not very affectionate when I was growing up. But since my mother's passing, we have become close and I always enjoy spending time with him. He loves my husband and my sons, and enjoys spending time with all of us.
 
Growing up, my dad made sure we had what we needed. He felt family was important. We would visit his brother's family (my uncle and aunt) at least twice a year. We would also take vacations with them to other places as well.

3. The music teacher/director at my grade school and church: Her name was Mrs. Kinsey. And she always made music fun plus she was a great singer. She inspired me to become a teacher. When I was in middle school, I began helping her with the music program at our church's vacation bible school. She saw how I interacted with the smaller children, and thought I was so good at it that she suggested I become a teacher.

4. My sister, Leisa: Leisa is 7 years older than me. My parents adopted her when she was a baby because my mother had a hard time becoming pregnant. Obviously, that wasn't an issue because my mother became with me and other sister, who's 4 years older than me.

I looked up to Leisa a lot, more when I was in middle school. I used to sit and watch her get ready for her dates. We used to play with her Barbies, too. (She had them until college!) She wasn't always the best influence, but that's how sisters are. We are closer now than ever, mainly due to us having similar personalities and her adopting 2 children of her own.

5. My fourth grade teacher: Sister Finn (yes, I went to Catholic school). I had a lot of test anxiety, especially in this grade. I guess because I remember to this day. I used to cry when looking at tests that were given. Sister Finn, who wasn't the most affectionate nor very attractive, would have to calm me down. One thing I do remember is what she wrote in my yearbook at the end of the school year: "I was sweet and kind, and always willing to help. Take a deep breathe when it comes taking those tests, and you'll do fine". I don't many paper and pencil tests anymore, but my life is my test. I still have to take a deep breathe at times to stay level-headed.