Someone important to me who has shaped the person I am to this day is my Stepfather, Chris. He’s a dork, he likes to joke around, and sometimes, he can infuriate me, but I don’t think I’d be the classy, polite girl I am today without him. When I was in 4th grade, I would intentionally misspell everything on my schoolwork so that it would be funny. But Chris talked some sense into me and told me not to do that, because it’s very disrespectful. Now, all the time, whenever I’m writing an essay or an email to a teacher or boss, I always write it formally, with correct grammar and spelling. 

   Another thing he does is tell me when I’m being an idiot or when I’m being rude to someone. If I’m making a crude joke, Chris tells me to stop, and to apologise. My mother does that too, but Chris does it a lot.

   Not only does Chris shape my manners and style, but he also inspires me a lot. This last year has been really difficult for him, but he still stays strong for my mother, my sisters, and me. He’s started a very successful business and helps a lot of people. Even though he’s very busy with his new job, he still has time to help me and my mother when we need him most. Whenever he has the chance, he’s always happy to check my schoolwork and he always listens when I tell him what I learned. He’s always happy to teach me something too. If I need his help with maths, or if I need him to check my computer when it’s acting up, he always finishes what he does to make sure that I understand and learn from my mistakes. 

   Chris may not be my biological father, and I don’t love him any more than my biological father, but I have no idea what my life would be like if Chris hadn’t shown up in my mother’s life. I don’t know where I’d be, how smart I’d be, how polite I’d be, and how happy I’d be. I am grateful for Chris everyday of my life, even if he can be a bit of a pain sometimes. And that is why I chose to write about him for my essay.