Minutes a day n e w y o r k

S a m p l e   E s s a y   E x a m   # 2
Assignment: Complete the sentence above with an appropriate phrase. Then write an essay supporting your com-
pleted statement.
Time allowed: 45 minutes
Response #1
Have you ever imagined how your life would be different if a key person were not in it, like a mother, father, spouse,
or child? Some people are so integral to making us who we are that without them, our very identity would be
changed. My grandmother is a key figure in my life who has left an indelible impression on me. She is a woman of
great influence because of her stability, her work ethic, and her independent spirit.
Grandma is the matriarch of our family. Because she has a close relationship with us and a great deal of
wisdom, her seven children and 16 grandchildren often seek her out for advice. We look to her for advice on every-
thing from how to potty-train a toddler to how to break up with a boyfriend. Grandma relishes the fact that we
ask her for advice, but she never offers it without being sought out. She is like a rock: never changing. My own
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