Inspiring Voices
Those Who Have Inspired Me
Family Member
A family member that has inspired me is my little sister, Anna. She has inspired me ever since we were very young and continues to do so everyday. Anna has loved soccer her entire life but because she is little, coaches and college recruiters have looked past her. However, this has never brought her down and she continues to fight and gets better and better with every game. Together, Anna and I have conquered a big move across the country and have tackled high school. She is my best friend and she makes me proud to be her big sister every single day.
Political Leader
A political leader that inspires me is Sarah Palin. Although we have no relation, she is someone in politics that I can look up to. I was first introduced to Palin when she ran for Vice President alongside John McCain in 2008. She is an inspiration to me because although she is ridiculed constantly in the media, she has never wavered on her beliefs and won't let anyone change who she is and what she believes in. I don't plan on going into politics, but I do have the opportunity to vote starting next year and I will keep an eye out for candidates like her.
Celebrity Inspired by a Family Member
Taylor Swift is one of the biggest pop stars in the world today. When she was very young, she was inspired by her grandmother, Marjorie Finlay, who sang at church. Her mother inspired her to be confident and introduced her to writing and storytelling.
Teacher
A teacher who has inspired me is my 8th grade science teacher, Mrs. Morrison. She made an impact on my life pretty quickly when she taught me (as well as the rest of the class) the importance of education and hard work. Unknown at the time, Mrs. Morrison had been battling breast cancer throughout the year. She didn't want to worry her students but early that summer, she tragically passed away. It has been almost 4 years since her death and she still has a huge impact on me. She cared about her students more than anything else in the world and I hope that she is proud of her former students and all that we have accomplished.
Student
Someone that I have had the pleasure of meeting in high school and has greatly inspired me is a student named Dominic Cianciosa. I met him my sophomore year through theater and he has inspired me every day since. Dominic has a mental illness that makes everyday things more difficult, but that has not slowed him down. An item on his bucket list was to be a cast member of every play/musical during his time at CHS and he accomplished this. He was a dedicated member of a number of shows and he was someone that was truly going to be missed in the theater program when he graduated last year. He still has a love for theater and I hope that the CHS program can continue to make him proud.
Celebrity Inspired by Their Teacher
Patti LaBelle is a legendary Grammy Award-winning singer. She says that her high school teacher, Ms. Eileen Brown helped not only herself, but her family as well. Ms. Brown mentored Patti to a singing career and the two still have a relationship today.
Religious Figure #1
Although she is not necessarily a religious figure, someone spiritual who inspires me is my mom. Every since my sister and I were little, she has taught us the difference between right and wrong and has practiced what she preaches. My mom has a very strong code of ethics and what she teaches her children is what she practices herself. I hope to continue following her moral code and later pass it on to children of my own.
Religious Figure #2
Another figure that inspires me is the pastor of my church, Steven Furtick. I remember the first time I attended Elevation Church and his message touched me in a way that I have never experienced before. He has a way of spreading the word of God that makes it easy for young people to understand and relate to. He also practices what he preaches and is raising his kids to also be leaders of God. Because of Pastor Steven, I love attending Church on Sundays and I plan on keeping my faith alive through college and for the rest of my life.
Celebrity Inspired by their Faith
Someone in the spotlight who has been inspired by their faith is Billy Graham. Graham is a Christian evangelist and Southern Baptist minister. He rose to fame by holding large indoor and outdoor rallies that reached millions of people. His faith and teachings have inspired his listeners for decades and his legacy will continue to live on.
Additional Figure
An additional figure that inspires me is Lupita Nyong'o. The first time I was introduced to the Mexican-Kenyan actress was her Oscar winning performance in 12 Years a Slave. Her role in this film skyrocketed her to fame but she has never lost touch with who she is. You can tell that she is very grateful for everything that has happened to her and continues to use her status for the benefit of others. I hope that one day I can be as successful and humble as Lupita, and I am excited to see where this talented actress takes her career next.
Reflection
All of my inspirations are important to my life because they are good role models that I can look up to when I need help or a little bit of motivation. Something that they all have in common is that they have never given up. Even if they were met with obstacles, all of my inspirations have persevered and kept pushing on. However, they all have unique traits that set them apart as well. Some are related to me, while others I will probably never have the chance to meet but I can admire them from afar. With their collective inspiration I plan to work hard every day and strive to become just as inspirational and successful as they are.
Category for the Additional Figure
Lupita Nyong'o would fit into the acting category. She has acted in multiple short and feature-length films and uses her celebrity status for the better good. Other people that would fit into this category are Jennifer Lawrence, Anne Hathaway, and Angelina Jolie.