Influential people
In more or less chronological order...
1. My momma-
She wasn't exactly a good influence, but she had a big impact on how I grew up. She's the one what put me into acting, and who kept me from a lot of the things I wanted to do as a child. It influenced my early life, and the person I became. So ... she makes the list. Her death was also an influence on me- it made me rethink my life, made me free of a lot of my past.
2. My dad -
When I was little he was some kind of mythical figure. They'd gotten divorced when I was small, and he lived with his new family in Seattle while we were still in LA. So... it was more that I saw him as some sort of ideal, and that was the influence on me- that ifI was good enough that someday I'd get to go live with him and be part of his new life. Now that I'm older and I have more of an actual relationship with him, we talk and all that -so I guess he's influencing me in a more direct, positive way now.
3. My grandparents -
My grandma and grandpa on the Varner side are dead now but when I was small they were a big influence on me. They showed me love and taught me all kinda things. It's from my grandpa that I got my love of jazz. They taught me values, and to try and be a good person even when the world around me was full of falsness and bad things. Even after I wasn't able to see them that much, and after they died, I thought about those things. So they were very influential.
4. Uncle Hans-
Uncle Hans took me in when I come to live with him, even though he didn't know anything about me. He pushed me to apply to colleges, and paid for my tuition so I could get the best education for my future. He taught me that no matter what your past, you have the ability to make good with your present and future. He taught me what it was to have a parental type figure who loves and cares about you, and wants what is best for you.
5. Mister Ellis-
Ellis has taught me how to be a man. How to stand on my own two feet, be responsible for my actions. He has taught me how to defend myself, he's made playing music possible for me, he's supported all my dreams. He's taught me what it's like to love someone unconditionally, and be loved the same way in return. He's taught me that I need to take care of my body and my mind, and not hide from / put off the problems I'm having out of fear. He's been the biggest influence on my life overall, and he continues to be.
6. Professor Chester -
One of my professors at Columbia, Professor Chester took an interest in me. He helped me get a special studies program to help me catch up my music learning to where it should be, and supported my entry into the jazz studies concentration. I've worked with his spring music program every year, helping intercity kids learn to play instruments and to be exposed to music history. He helped me solidify what I wanted to do with my life.
When you think about it really, almost everyone you know for any period of time has some influence over your life. Folks like my cousins , like Ambria, have had influence over me. Friends like Greg, Jay, all them. Friends I met through Ellis like Jones and the Dillons. Spike, Fritz, Katie, Dot, Al -- lots of friends have influenced me in some way. Even people I've had troubles with like my evil math professor and Daniel. Everyone you meet has some bit of influence just by their presence in your life, and you are an influence over other people in the same way. I guess that's part of why I try to be a good person, though I don't always succeed - and why I always try to help my friends where I can. I want to be a positive influence on their lives, to make them better by being in them. Never the opposite.
1. My momma-
She wasn't exactly a good influence, but she had a big impact on how I grew up. She's the one what put me into acting, and who kept me from a lot of the things I wanted to do as a child. It influenced my early life, and the person I became. So ... she makes the list. Her death was also an influence on me- it made me rethink my life, made me free of a lot of my past.
2. My dad -
When I was little he was some kind of mythical figure. They'd gotten divorced when I was small, and he lived with his new family in Seattle while we were still in LA. So... it was more that I saw him as some sort of ideal, and that was the influence on me- that ifI was good enough that someday I'd get to go live with him and be part of his new life. Now that I'm older and I have more of an actual relationship with him, we talk and all that -so I guess he's influencing me in a more direct, positive way now.
3. My grandparents -
My grandma and grandpa on the Varner side are dead now but when I was small they were a big influence on me. They showed me love and taught me all kinda things. It's from my grandpa that I got my love of jazz. They taught me values, and to try and be a good person even when the world around me was full of falsness and bad things. Even after I wasn't able to see them that much, and after they died, I thought about those things. So they were very influential.
4. Uncle Hans-
Uncle Hans took me in when I come to live with him, even though he didn't know anything about me. He pushed me to apply to colleges, and paid for my tuition so I could get the best education for my future. He taught me that no matter what your past, you have the ability to make good with your present and future. He taught me what it was to have a parental type figure who loves and cares about you, and wants what is best for you.
5. Mister Ellis-
Ellis has taught me how to be a man. How to stand on my own two feet, be responsible for my actions. He has taught me how to defend myself, he's made playing music possible for me, he's supported all my dreams. He's taught me what it's like to love someone unconditionally, and be loved the same way in return. He's taught me that I need to take care of my body and my mind, and not hide from / put off the problems I'm having out of fear. He's been the biggest influence on my life overall, and he continues to be.
6. Professor Chester -
One of my professors at Columbia, Professor Chester took an interest in me. He helped me get a special studies program to help me catch up my music learning to where it should be, and supported my entry into the jazz studies concentration. I've worked with his spring music program every year, helping intercity kids learn to play instruments and to be exposed to music history. He helped me solidify what I wanted to do with my life.
When you think about it really, almost everyone you know for any period of time has some influence over your life. Folks like my cousins , like Ambria, have had influence over me. Friends like Greg, Jay, all them. Friends I met through Ellis like Jones and the Dillons. Spike, Fritz, Katie, Dot, Al -- lots of friends have influenced me in some way. Even people I've had troubles with like my evil math professor and Daniel. Everyone you meet has some bit of influence just by their presence in your life, and you are an influence over other people in the same way. I guess that's part of why I try to be a good person, though I don't always succeed - and why I always try to help my friends where I can. I want to be a positive influence on their lives, to make them better by being in them. Never the opposite.