How Andrew Calton Influenced My Life

Burns Bissell
My biggest influence: Andrew Calton
I have had multiple influential people in my life, but I'm not going to say my parents or a great teacher, but rather someone closer to my age. Andrew Calton, a good friend and great influence. Andrew helped me “get back on my feet” when I was scared to kayak. I would stay on the lake and not go on rivers because I had no confidence in myself. Late at night he and Jack White, another good friend, came to my cabin at camp and told me there was a spot on a trip and he wanted me to go. I went on the trip and the fact that they wanted me to go boosted my confidence. We went on harder rivers I had never been on and I did not swim, or bail out of by boat once.
That year when I came to camp, I felt inept to go on hard rivers. Every day when I was on the lake, I was told that I should go be adventurous and go on new rivers. I would never listen and make excuses for not wanting to go on new difficult rivers. I was scared of broadening my horizons because the past year I would kayak on rivers and every time I would flip I would bail out of my boat and not flip back up. This was very discouraging because everyone would have to wait for me while I emptied out my boat and while the counselors had to rescue my boat. Andrew was the person that influenced me to start
kayaking again. He influenced me because he just started and he wanted to kayak with me. Andrew knew I was a good kayaker and me knew I could do it if I believed in myself. This made me a better person because I learned how to persevere and I learned to influence people in the right direction. This also taught me how to believe in others and believe in yourself.
One night I was chilling in my cabin, hanging out with friends, when suddenly I hear "Bunzie! There's a spot on the mystery three day trip, and you are coming!" I had basically no say in the matter because I looked up to Andrew and Jack and couldn't say no. I was very hesitant but Andrew said something along the lines of "you are coming now or we will carry you there." I went to the Lower lake to go get my kayak and gear on the trailer, and the next morning I waited anxiously. Andrew was a big influence on me at this point because he taught me not to quit and never give up on your dreams, and if you keep going through the rough spots, there will be happiness and fun on the other side.
The van ride to the first mystery river made my stomach turn because I was nervous, but as Andrew Calton once told me, perseverance is key. I went on the first two rivers without flipping at all, but the third river came. On this river I was messing up lines and routes, I probably looked like a chicken with its head cut off paddling around having no idea what I was doing. The first time I flipped and came back up, I instantly said to myself “I can do this”. I flipped at least two times but I wanted to prove to Andrew that his lessons and the things he told me were paying off and I had to prove to him that I am capable of being a better paddler than I ever believed I was. I came up both times and haven't had to bail out of my boat ever since. Andrew made my confidence go up a lot when he taught me these lessons and when he influenced me. Andrew believed in my ability and that really helped me want to prove that I could be the best I can be.
In conclusion, Andrew Calton is probably the biggest influence in my life because he taught me valuable lessons that I can now help people my age or older or younger learn to be better, more capable people.
Andrew taught me that perseverance is key when you are doubting yourself, he taught me to never quit or give up. Andrew influenced me in too many ways to explain, and that is probably why my parents think I'm such a great teacher. Andrew also taught me to be patient and what I want will come with time and patience. Andrew is the biggest influence that I have had because he is older than me, he has great life lessons, and he influenced me to be the person I am
today.