Katie Madson Week 11: Influence

I have always been a family person. Family is one of the most important things in life, and I was taught that at a very young age. I admire everyone in my family, but most importantly, my Poppop. Pete Manzo is a seventy-four-year-old grandfather, father, friend, and leader. His mother died when he was very young from cancer. His older sister raised him as her own, as she was twenty years older. He lived and worked in New York City at Guardian Insurance where he met my grandmother, Helen. They had four kids together and adopted two. He dedicates his time to helping others and his faith.

My Poppop has been a hero of mine since I was a little girl. I developed my love for many things through him. I fell in love with the beach walking with him along the coast of Cape May. He introduced me to Broadway and Music, both things that hold a precedent in my life. He taught me how to live through my faith and help others whenever possible. Most importantly, he showed me what I want my future to look like.

I want to be able to have a job in New York City but still raise a family. I plan to join a church and devote time to helping those in my community through it. My Poppop has many friends of all kinds. He seems to know everyone everywhere we go, and on a personal level. Who doesn’t want relationships like that?

The moment I realized what a good man he was, I was thirteen. I was spending the summer with him in Cape May, New Jersey. There was this elderly man he took care of, Benny his name was. He started just watering his plants outside his house, my Poppop loves gardening. Throughout his years helping him, he became Benny’s best friend. He would stop by every day to check in on how he was doing. He would bring Benny to church on Sundays. He started as a stranger who needed his plants to be watered and became a good friend of my Poppop. Benny died a year later, but my Poppop was there with him until the end.

My Poppop has shown me what kind of person I should aim to be. He is someone who likes to have fun, works hard, cares for others, has a strong faith and loves his family dearly. What else could a person aim to be?

Who is the most influential person in your life?