I would have to say the one person who inspired my life the most actually did it by accident.

When I was about  14 years old I ran away from home. My Mom had died......my Dad was drinking fairly heavy, and I figured what was out there had to be better then what I had at home. So I packed some clothes and got on a bus to Chicago.

I walked  around til I found the YWCA. I got a room...unpacked and left to find a job. After many tries I finally got a job at a dime store. When I went back to the Y there was a message on my door to see the Director. 

We just sat and talked for awhile...then she started to question me about my family and schooling. Being the naive "child" that I was I told her what she wanted to know.  After a few hours I finally broke down and told her I was a runaway and why. After calling my Dad to come and get me....she started talking to me about my future and how being a runaway could ruin it for me. And then she told me that I was the only one in charge of my future....that I could be or do anything I wanted. She told me I was so adamant about not going home that she saw a survivor....not a child. She then told me not to let anyone take that away from me.

So I spent the rest of these years thanking her for believing in me. I am a survivor...will always be a survivor....no matter what. When things got tough I remembered her telling me I was in charge of my own future...and did what I thought was best for me. Her advice never failed me. I passed this advice on to my eldest Grand-daughter and she is living this also. She will always be a survivor. I could have told you many stories about the people that have inspired me....but this Lady gave me a future. I will always be grateful to her.