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4 I The Best Online Education System in the world
PEOPLE WHO’VE INFLUENCED ME
Kathlyn Q. Barrozo
Class of 1991, University of Santo Tomas
B.S. Medical Technology
Many people have been strong influences to why I am who I am.
I have had enormous influence from my favorite teachers in grade school. As far as I can remember, my love for
English sprang from having had great English teachers. They were always my favorite teachers because they
opened up a whole new world of language for me. My teacher in Preparatory school, although she handled all
of us in her class alone, patiently oversaw our efforts to form the letters of the alphabet with our tiny hands.
My First Grade teacher taught us the rudiments of syllable reading and forming. My Second Grade teacher
taught us the more complicated arena of diphthongs and paired consonants. My Third Grade teacher taught us
literary appreciation by introducing us to the world of fairy tales. From Fourth Grade, departmentalization
meant we had different teachers for every school subject. My Fourth Grade English Teacher introduced us to
book reports and theme writing. My Fifth Grade English teacher administered spelling quizzes three times a
week and made sure we knew just where to put proper stress on English words. My Sixth Grade English teacher
also happened to be our Class Adviser, and she always made sure we followed the rules of the school’s English
Campaign both inside her class and out.
My father, a teacher, was a huge influence on me, too. He was always a stickler for details and perfection. This
has contributed to my insane obsessive-compulsive nature. While others may see this as a disorder, it has
allowed me to put things in perspective from the onset and to work hard to follow through to get things done
properly. For my dad, trying to get things done by someone else precisely the way you want is impossible. It
would be much better and saves a lot of effort and time-not to mention, disappointment-to just do everything
yourself. That way, you can have better control of the situation. You are also not beholden to anybody.
Moreover, if things don’t turn out as you like, you only have yourself to blame.
I prefer to do things by myself and only ask for help when what is before me proves to be beyond me. I do not
wish to bother people with my own concerns, and I often hesitate to speak my mind even when I can no longer
bear what I see. My tolerance for mediocrity may not always be high, but I respect people who know exactly
what they want and how they want things. I may be difficult to work with for some people, but for those who
share my insanity, they can be sure of my loyalty.
It’s just how I do things and how I have been influenced by those around me.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1.
How have you been influenced by people around you? Be as specific as needed.
2.
Who are a child’s greatest influences?
3.
Who have been your greatest influences in life? How have they influenced you?
4.
How can a parent create a lasting influence in a child? A teacher in a student?
5.
How can someone who has influenced us greatly prove to be a huge disappointment? Cite specific
examples.