People Who Changed Your Life for the Better

Lets get an appreciation thread going.. Lets talk about the people Who have enriched or changed our lives for the Better.
I'm on a thread creating rampage helping to get this place going again.. Geo help me out mann!!
There have been several people throughout my life that have helped me become the person I am today. I want to focus on the positive actions that molded our lives. My second grade teacher is the first memory of good advice I recieved that to this day I remain grateful for. I came to the US from mexico at 6 years old, started in the 1st grade and of course didnt speak a lick of english. My second grade teacher told me that if I wanted to learn the english language faster I should pick up reading. It was then that I discovered my passion for books. Well damned if it didnt work. Took me a year to learn enough english to carry a converstion, and two to learn perfect english. Ever since I havent stopped devouring book after book. I was determined to not be just like every other kid I grew up with. not caring about my education. half my graduating class were at a 5th grade reading level. i kinda saw the wrong turn my life could have taken by seeing the kids I went to elementary school with lives. The stupidest part is that they actually resented me for it.
The other person is my former best friend. Even though we parted ways under bad circumstances and I kinda hate him, I love him. he let me be my true self and never once dampered my spirit. he was also the person who introduced me to marijuana, and that its okay to show affection. Because of him, I met his mother, who showed me what it feels like to have a loving maternal figure. she is my momma, and I love her to death and she loves me. that to me is priceless. because of him I had the most fun years of my life, because of him I met my beautiful, wonderful bestest friend a girl could ask for. because of him, my sister and I are closer than ever.
Goddamit, I feel like crying again. Your turn..

hmm. i'd say those who stuck by me through my rough highschool years.. although they may not be present in my life right now, i'll always look back at how nice they were to me, when i didnt have my shit together. everyday as i change to be a better person i'll never forget their kindness.

My family. weep, weep, God I love them. lol.

My human sexuality teacher. She made me change what I want to do with my life and she is giving me a great opportunity by having me as her TA next semester.
My theatre teacher in high school never asked questions in a time of my life where it was really painful to talk about some of the things that everyone else was asking me about
My AP government teacher wouldnt get off my back about applying to colleges. I wouldnt have done it without her bothering me about it every day

My journalism teacher in high school
My dad
Two of my journalism professors and one biology professor in college. They encouraged me to follow my dreams and encouraged me to be a better writer and, in the case of the biology professor, to not be afraid to apply to pursue pre-med or med school just because it didn't come to me as easily as verbal stuff.
My older sister
The people, over the years, I've worked with at the county crisis center. They've made me appreciate my own life and circumstances even more.
My husband, who is always solidly behind me and supportive
My cardio-electrophysiologist

I changed my life for the better, it was all me.
My life sucked until I was 38 and all of my past influences were what drove me over the edge to a life of drugs and despair. They made me want to die, I fixed myself.
Now I have my wife to help me with life and she is all I need.;)

the birth of my 1st daughter is what influenced my life for the better..

then my 2nd daughter

Thats so sweet. do tell