Malinda Scott
Advanced Comp
January 29, 2012
Before I could even talk or walk I somehow managed to follow my sister sound. Growing up ten and a half months younger than Olivia, it would have been have been impossible not to look up to her. I have become the person who I am today from the example that she set for me long ago. Whether it was taking the same dance classes as her when we were younger or looking up to the decisions she makes now, the person who has made the most impact on my life is my sister.
Olivia always strives to do her best, and it makes me also want to try to do my best. Physically, she is an extremely talented runner. She has faced injuries from stress fractures to a rare leg disorder. Through all of her struggles, she is always able to return to running faster than before. Mentally, she is even tougher. Nothing can ever get in her way of achieving the things she sets out for. Her determination and passion for sport made me want to be successful in my own running career. Without her, I probably would not have even continued running cross country all four years of high school.
Beyond running, Olivia’s determination carries throughout everything she does. She is currently a student at Denison University. Most students who are freshmen in college do not have motivation that is comparable to my sister’s. She is able to balance school, sports and a social life extremely well. Olivia makes this balancing act seem easy and is constantly joining new activities on campus. She does not let the stress affect her, and continues challenging and pushing herself to new levels daily. Watching her success in college gives me the drive to want to succeed just like she is. She pushes me to do as well as she does, even if that means a little bit of competition between us. Olivia has made me the driven, motivated person who I am just from leading by example.
Olivia always knows what to say if I am ever having a problem with school or anything in my life. Without a doubt she is the one person who I can trust with anything. I always look to her for advice. Before she went away to college, we would sometimes sit in her room for hours talking about anything and everything. There was never a dull moment at home, because we always had each other to talk with. Now that she is away at school, I can call her at any time of the day and she will always make the time to talk to her little sister. It is not a chore for her to help me, even if it is not the most convenient time for her. The value Olivia places on her family and other relationships is one of the characteristics that I have admired about her for my entire life. She is constantly thinking of others. Olivia always does what she can to assist people in any given situation, even if that means helping a complete stranger. My sister has influenced me to be the caring person who I am today, and to do whatever I can to help people.
My sister, Olivia, is the person who has made the greatest impact on my life. I have looked up to her for longer than I can remember. She has shaped me into the person I am from being an example to follow and a shoulder for me to cry on. Olivia has influenced me by her hardworking ways, determination and caring attitude. Without my sister, I would not be the person who I am today.
