Influence? Why is it that the people who influence us most, influence us in ways that are
not easily noticeable? I came to America when I was 10 years old. At first if I had any trouble in
school I had to go and ask one of my cousins, Bhoomi and Rima, who had been here for 6 years,
or my uncle. My cousin Tilak, who I first met in 5th grade, who is 4 years older than me was
an inspiring male role model at a time when I needed one most. By being approachable and
interesting, he, in my freshman year of junior high school helped me learn about the way things
If I wrote a list of how all the people who influenced me there would be only one person
who I actually think did change me. Ray, the best friend I have ever had, changed me, and
I changed him at one of the most crucial times in our lives: the seventh and eighth grade. We
developed our personalities, our senses of humor, and our love for girls at the same time and in
Ray transferred to my school, I.S.125, in the seventh grade, and we immediately clicked.
Before he came, I didn't feel like an outcast by any means, as I had my friends and
acquaintances. However, until Ray, I never had anyone my age to identify with completely. We
both were obsessed by movies and shared a sense of humor. We had the same problems and
the same thoughts. Halfway through that seventh grade, Ray and I became inseparable. I
became a staple at his house and he at mine. On weekdays, we usually walked over to his
house, which was near school, and hung out there till I had to go home.
Of course, as two seventh grade boys, it wasn't all fun and games either. We
were extremely competitive, in almost everything we did. I think that our connection was so
intense that we could not have normal emotions toward each other. As friends, we were best
friends, but in an argument, we wanted to fight each other to the death. S
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