Who is the most influential NON-family member in your life?

We all have someone in our lives who has influenced us and perhaps helped shape us into the person we are today. A lot of times we name our parents, grandparents, siblings, even aunts and uncles...but what about the non family members?

Who has helped you become who you are today and not because they are related to you?

Re: Who is the most influential NON-family member in your life?

My friends. I have friends from childhood, high school, college, law school and more recently who have all shaped who I am.

Re: Who is the most influential NON-family member in your life?

My best friend in AZ.

Re: Who is the most influential NON-family member in your life?

A woman I babysat for for years. She became somewhat of a friend and confidante for me - an adult I could actually talk to - and was very positive and encouraging. And she and her husband were a wonderful example of a strong married relationship and good parenting. I looked to them in my formative years as I was figuring out what I wanted my future to look like.

Re: Who is the most influential NON-family member in your life?

I suppose DH counts as family?

Re: Who is the most influential NON-family member in your life?

My friend Francesca, she is a very special person to me.

Re: Who is the most influential NON-family member in your life?

Actually, I had a 'friend' in college who was always smarter, prettier, etc. than me (but not funner!). I didn't give a damn about school until I met her and than we sort of had an unspoken competition with grades. She's still smarter than me but b/c of our competition, I found my inner intellect and did fab in college, scored a great job and have being doing really well ever since. I don't know if I would have found it if I hadn't met her.

Than I had an older friend in early college who was very open and social. She helped me come out of my shell and become the social person I am today.

However, I don't speak to either of these girls anymore. I think they were just there for me for those specific purposes but there was no true friendship.

Re: Who is the most influential NON-family member in your life?

My boss/best friend

Re: Who is the most influential NON-family member in your life?

My friends, every single one of them since childhood...

Re: Who is the most influential NON-family member in your life?

A high school teacher who I am still in contact with to this day. She really helped to shape who I am today. She helped with my college decision, my past job and my current career. For that I will always be thankful.

Re: Who is the most influential NON-family member in your life?

probably my best friend

Re: Who is the most influential NON-family member in your life?

this woman

my best friend/roomate from college..

this person CONSTANLY reminds me to love life.

Message edited 2/7/2008 2:53:03 PM.

Re: Who is the most influential NON-family member in your life?

A high school english teacher.

Re: Who is the most influential NON-family member in your life?

Posted by Stefanie

My best friend in AZ.

Re: Who is the most influential NON-family member in your life?

Definitley my friends.

Re: Who is the most influential NON-family member in your life?

I can't believe I can not think of one person
Is that a bad thing?

Re: Who is the most influential NON-family member in your life?

A couple of close friends, a few former co-workers/mentors and a college professor.

Re: Who is the most influential NON-family member in your life?

Posted by neenie

A high school english teacher.

Re: Who is the most influential NON-family member in your life?

can it be someone famous?

for me - june carter cash

Re: Who is the most influential NON-family member in your life?

Posted by DaniRella

can it be someone famous?

for me - june carter cash

Re: Who is the most influential NON-family member in your life?

Close friend. She's a survivor of her own childhood, many obstacles in her way. She worked hard & fought for every inch of success she has. Of course there are people who still think of her as "lucky".

Right lucky enough to:

Be literally abandoned as an infant by her mother, lucky enough to be raised by an alcoholic father who abandoned her at the age of 10.

Lucky enough to study all of the time & never have friends over her apartment in the projects because she never knew when the landlord would be throwing them out.

Lucky enough to get a job in a grocery store where she could steal mac & cheese for her & her brother.

Lucky enough to get a scholarship she worked her tush off for to Fordham.

Lucky enough to have her stepbrother die the weekend he was supposed to be visiting her at school.

Lucky enough to get a scholarship for grad school.

Lucky enough to do well in grad school & score a jobs which led to her promotions to VP of a major investment bank.

In my opinion the only "luck" she had was being lucky enough to look at the mistakes everyone around her was making & lucky for her she had enough sense not to make them.

If I saw her life story in a movie, I would think it was completely made up. Having met her & what family members she still has contact with, I know it's completely the truth.

Re: Who is the most influential NON-family member in your life?

Posted by MissingLI

Posted by Stefanie

My best friend in AZ.

Awwwe Stef I feel the same way about you girl!!!

Re: Who is the most influential NON-family member in your life?

my best friend...she lives in Maine now