It took me eighteen years to realize what an extraordinary influence my mother had on my life. She's the kind of person who has thoughtful discussions about which artist she would most like to see her portrait painted by (Sargent), the kind of mother who always has time for her four children, and the kind of community leader who has a seat on the board of directors of every major project aimed at helping poor citizens of Washington. Growing up with such a strong role model, I developed many of his enthusiasms. Not only did I come to love the excitement of learning simply for the sake of experiencing something new, but I also understood the idea of ​​giving back to the community in exchange for a new meaning in life , love and wit. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay My mother's enthusiasm for learning is most evident in traveling. I was nine years old when my family came to Greece. Every evening for three weeks before the trip, my older brother Peter and I sat with my mother on her bed, reading Greek myths and taking notes about the Greek gods. Despite the fact that we were traveling with fourteen month old twins, we managed to be present at each ruin when the site opened at sunrise. I vividly remember standing in an empty amphitheater pretending to be an ancient tragedian, choosing my favorite sculpture in the Acropolis museum, and inserting our family into altered accounts of the Battle of Troy. Eight years and a half-dozen passport stamps later, I have come to value what I learned on these travels about world history, politics and culture, as well as about my family and myself. While I cherish the different worlds my mother opened up to me abroad. , my life was also transformed by what she showed me just three kilometers from home. When I was ten years old, I often accompanied my mother to (name removed), a local soup kitchen and children's center. While she attended meetings, I helped with the summer program by chasing the kids around the building and performing magic tricks on them. Having finally perfected the “floating paintbrush” trick, I began working as a full-time volunteer with five and six year olds last June. It was here that I met Jane Doe, an exceptionally strong girl with contagious vigor. At the end of the summer, I decided to continue my work at (name removed) as Jane's tutor. Although the position is often difficult, the personal rewards are unimaginable. In the seven years since I first walked through the doors of (name removed), I have learned not only the idea of ​​giving to others, but also of drawing from them a feeling of spirit..