David Maslow's essay for his Writing Foundations class

David Maslow
T3
Essay 1
RVD

Don’t Take Family For Granted

Having a dramatic influence in my life, Alex Maslow has motivated me to be a leader, to thoroughly enjoy spending time with family and friends without worrying about winning, and to always give one hundred percent. Alex was my sixteen-year-old cousin. Tragically, he was killed in a car crash on the Fourth of July. Of all the boy cousins, Alex was the oldest. Why is Alex such an immeasurable influence in my life?
First of all, Alex has taught me to be a leader. My family has numerous gatherings. Whenever we did, Alex always commanded lot of the boy cousins. We had myriad wars with the girls or each other. Alex always was general or commander of his side. Alex led us in many successful attacks against the girls. We consistently won. One time, the girls managed to capture me. Alex then swiftly planned and commanded a cunning surprise attack on the girls, which resulted in my escape. When it was time to eat, all the boy cousins would sit wherever Alex did. After dinner, we would proceed to have another battle. We often played cowboys and Indians. Immediately, Alex would seize command and lead the cowboys on ferocious raids against the Indians. Whatever we did, Alex always led by example. Thus Alex has demonstrated how to be a leader.
Secondly, Alex has demonstrated how to have fun with family and friends without worrying about winning. My family has an annual softball game on the Fourth of July. Alex was one of the best hitters in my extended family. Swiftly Alex would slaughter the ball. After Alex crushed the ball, instead of sprinting around the bases, he would do a hilarious home run trot. Laughing while trying to spin around cousins attempting to block him, Alex didn’t care if he got tagged out. Alex always enjoyed the softball games. He showed that having fun with family and friends is more important then winning.
Finally, Alex showed me how to give one hundred percent. On Christmas and the Fourth of July my family has annual gatherings at which we frequently have religious or political discussions, which included parents and older kids. When this occurred, Alex was always in the middle asking questions and fully participating. Also, Alex desperately desired to demonstrate that he deserved to make the varsity basketball team at Trinity School. Swiftly Alex obtained a job at the YMCA so he could lift weights and work on improving his game. Alex also was a hurdler for Trinity’s track team. Alex constructed his own hurdles so he could practice hurdling at home. Because of Alex’s example, I have been driven to give my all no matter what I’m doing.
In closing, Alex has had a dramatic, lasting influence in my life by teaching me how to be a courageous and dynamic leader, to have fun with family and friends without worrying about winning, and to always give one hundred percent. Because we grew up together living only five blocks apart, I spent more time with Alex than with my other cousins. Tragically, it took losing Alex to perceive how much he influenced me. I have learned not to take family and friends for granted because I just never know what the future holds.