One unexpected influence that I still remember fondly is from when I was a little girl in AWANA. I was a pretty awkward kid--chubby, quiet, had acne, wore glasses, had no fashion sense, always had my nose in a book, and always felt uncomfortable in social situations. Anyway, once, one of the AWANA leaders asked me if I needed help with the week's lesson, and when I said "No, thank you," she said, "I didn't think so. You're a pretty smart cookie."
It was a quick, innocuous comment, but it actually meant a lot to me at the time that somebody outside of my family noticed and approved of one of the few things about myself that I thought were worthwhile. I still remember that and feel grateful for it. :)