She showed me how to think well. She is amazing at writing in a clear, precise way that demonstrates the thinking process of a rational person. She taught me

She showed me how to think well. She is amazing at writing in a clear, precise way that demonstrates the thinking process of a rational person. She taught me to face reality and deal with it rationally, instead of flinching away from it and trying to ignore/rationalize things. To solve problems by thinking about things deeply, determining the best course of action, and then pursuing it. To think for myself, from the first principles, to rely on my own judgement, to have the courage to believe in what makes sense to me. To take responsibility for my life(for my choices and their results). She taught me about determining my values and optimizing for them, choosing a purpose and pursuing it, stepping on a path to mastery and striving to become an expert at what I do. She inspired my interest in engineering, science, entrepreneurship, rationality. Her heroes(Dagny, Hank Rearden) gave me a vision for the kind of person I want to be. The massive impact Atlas Shrugged had on my life, and the amazing quality of her writing, made me want to become a good writer.