Exercise #4 Part 1

            I am blessed to say that my community fosters a surplus of genuine people, all of whom inspire me. However, there is one person in particular who I greatly look up to. She is a close friend of mine in the senior class who I really got to know better just this year. There are so many wonderful qualities that she possesses that makes me inspired to be a better person, and to be more like her. She is a genuine, good natured, hard working, funny, smart, and an all around beautiful person. I am extremely lucky to not only have her in my life, but to also call her my friend.

            This girl is an authentic person, who doesn’t have a phony bone in her body. That is extremely enlightening, because in today’s society where materialism and wealth infiltrates and corrupts even the best of people, it can be hard to find a person who is incorrigible to fakeness. Her strength to be her own person is a quality that I value and respect. Sometimes I do fall victim to societal pressures, conforming and altering who I am, due to normal teen-aged self confidence issues. However, this girl does not. Never have I once seen her falter or stray even the slightest from who she is, or show any hint of confidence issues. I look up to the quality, wishing that I too can one day be that confident in myself like she is in herself. When I am in her presence, because she is so comfortable with herself, it makes me more comfortable with myself. To have the power to make others feel more confident in them by just being so real is truly amazing. But she can.

            She is also one of the nicest people I know. It’s not the fake and forced niceness that one can read a mile away, but rather a true kind that you know is genuine. Her kindness makes people around her, even those she does not know, like her. She is extremely well liked and known for her good nature, by simply performing random acts of kindness as minute as holding the door open for everyone, saying a surplus of “thank you”s, and complimenting her friends regularly. When I am with her, I begin to mirror her kind ways, taking on a piece of her good spirit. It makes me feel better about myself and my actions when I see the happiness I am bringing to others lives. Her kindness is a pure force that infects all who is lucky enough to be around her to not only mirror her good actions, but she also makes people genuinely happier. She brings out the best and me, inspiring me to be nicer.

            Another quality of hers that I am inspired by is her strong work ethic. She has an extremely balanced life; juggling a tough academic schedule, a social life, and extra curricular involvement with Theatre. She is extremely pragmatic, and it shows through her immaculate academic profile and stock full afterschool schedule. Yet, she never is too stressed out or frantic, unlike me who finds myself breaking down on a biweekly basis. I wish that I could be as hard working and balanced as she is. I am truly inspired by her talent to keep up a full schedule, both academically and socially, while also maintaining a calm nature.

            If I were to possess the qualities that inspire me about my friend, I would find myself doing some great things. I would have more confidence in myself and my abilities, which would allow me to take more risks, and thus reap more rewards. I would not be fearful of failing or embarrassment, two things that currently hold me back from doing certain activities. I would also have a more balanced schedule and thus have more time to help others in my community, bringing happiness not only to their lives but also to mine. I am going to make a conscience effort to be more like my friend, and to better my life and the lives’ of those around me.