I was on Oprah's show recently talking about the people who

In the words of Andrew Shue, spoken with gratitude and reflection, there lies a timeless truth: “I was on Oprah’s show recently talking about the people who impacted me the most. One was a teacher and one was my soccer coach. I didn’t even go into my family, who had the most influence.” These words reveal the layered nature of human growth, and the way a life is shaped not by one influence alone, but by many voices, each guiding the spirit in its own way. They remind us that no person rises alone, and that behind every success are unseen pillars of guidance, sacrifice, and love.

The mention of the teacher honors one of humanity’s oldest callings. A teacher does more than transfer knowledge; they ignite vision. In the classroom, a teacher may speak words that live forever in the heart of a student, shaping choices and planting seeds of character. Shue’s remembrance of a teacher shows us that while family nurtures the roots, the teacher helps direct the growth of the branches, teaching discipline, curiosity, and courage. The great philosophers of old—Socrates, Confucius, and their disciples—understood that teaching is not simply instruction but the awakening of the soul.

Likewise, the soccer coach represents the guiding hand that forms discipline through action, teamwork, and perseverance. A coach is often the one who instills resilience, who demands more than the student believes possible, who teaches not by words alone but by pushing the body and spirit toward excellence. In Shue’s life, this figure stood alongside the teacher, embodying the truth that wisdom comes not only from books but also from the field of struggle, sweat, and shared effort. The coach, like the generals of ancient armies, trains not only the body but the will.

Yet Shue admits he did not even mention his family, though they were the greatest influence of all. Here lies the humility of his words: for family is often the silent foundation upon which all other influences rest. The mother who nurtures, the father who provides, the siblings who challenge—all these form the earliest and deepest shaping of a soul. Their influence may not always be spoken, for it is so vast that it becomes the very air one breathes. Just as the earth supports the tree without fanfare, so too the family sustains growth quietly, unseen but indispensable.

History reflects this layered truth in countless lives. Consider Alexander the Great, whose father Philip trained him in strategy, whose mother Olympias instilled fiery ambition, and whose teacher Aristotle gave him philosophy. Or reflect on Abraham Lincoln, who spoke often of his mother’s guiding hand, yet was also shaped by mentors, colleagues, and rivals. In each case, the greatness of a figure was the sum of many influences: family, teachers, coaches, and countless others, woven together into destiny.

The deeper meaning of Shue’s words is this: no life is formed in isolation. The shaping of character comes from a chorus of voices—some personal, some professional, some born of love, others born of discipline. Each person we encounter holds the power to change us, and each influence builds upon the others. Even when family is the strongest, the teacher and the coach, the friend and the mentor, all contribute to the fullness of who we become.

The lesson, then, is twofold. First, we must live with gratitude, remembering that our journey is supported by countless others. Second, we must strive to be such influences ourselves—teachers to those who need guidance, coaches to those who need encouragement, and family to those who need love. In daily life, this means speaking words of encouragement, offering patience, showing discipline, and living as examples, for we never know whose path we are shaping.

Thus, Andrew Shue’s reflection is not simply a personal story—it is a universal truth: our greatness is never our own, but the harvest of many influences. Let us honor the teachers and coaches, cherish the family, and remember that the most powerful legacy we leave is the influence we have upon others. In this way, the cycle continues, and wisdom flows from one generation to the next, unbroken like the eternal river.