As other have said, not one person. My father always tried to instill in me to value education but I didn’t really get it until I was in my 30s. He also had great honesty and integrity and I see him as an important role model in this area of my life.
I also have two colleagues who inadvertently influenced me greatly. They were lecturers when I started my undergraduate degree and showed such faith in me. Faith I didn’t have in myself at that time. They have both continued to be mentors but one especially has always been there and still is and is both a wonderful female role model but she continues to offer me guidance. She has been instrumental in many of the decisions and paths I have taken and I am very grateful for her support. I should write to her and tell her this.
My children have also had a huge influence on my life. My ex hated me studying and tried to put a lot of road blocks in my way. In the back of my mind constantly was the knowledge that I was a role model for my children and the way I responded to his behaviour would model the way they should behave and the things they should accept. This thought stopped me giving in and kept me moving forward towards my goals. I was also keenly aware that I needed to support them financially and didn’t have the luxury of failing.