Describe a Person Who Inspired You to Do Something Interesting: IELTS Cue Card

I’d like to talk about a former colleague of mine called Marco, who inspired me to do something I never imagined I’d do: run a half marathon.

We worked in the same office a few years ago, and he was the kind of person who seemed to have endless energy. He’d already run several marathons, and every Monday he’d tell us, quite casually, that he’d done twenty kilometres over the weekend. At first I just found it amusing, because I could barely run for a bus.

Then one day he said something that stuck with me. He told me that he’d started running in his thirties, after a doctor warned him about his health, and that the first time he tried, he couldn’t even run for five minutes. That really changed my perspective, because I’d always assumed people like him were just naturally sporty.

So, with his encouragement, I joined a local running club. We trained three times a week for about five months. It wasn’t easy at all; I pulled a muscle halfway through and had to take three weeks off, which was really frustrating. But Marco kept checking in on me and gave me a realistic plan to get back on track.

When I finally crossed the finish line, I felt a mixture of exhaustion and pure pride. More than the race itself, though, it taught me that discipline matters far more than talent, and I’ve carried that lesson into my studies as well. I still run twice a week, and I owe that habit to him.

Useful language:endless energysomething that stuck with mechanged my perspectivenaturally sportyget back on tracka mixture of exhaustion and pure prideI owe that habit to him

For many young people, the main sources of inspiration are probably sports stars and successful entrepreneurs, especially those who started with very little. Increasingly, though, ordinary people on social media inspire them too, for instance someone who documents learning a language from scratch. Those stories feel more achievable than a billionaire’s success.

Useful language:sources of inspirationfrom scratchfeel more achievable

I think a stranger can spark an idea, maybe through a talk or a book, but a friend is more likely to keep you going. Inspiration on its own fades quickly; what turns it into action is having someone who checks in on you and notices your progress. So strangers are good at starting things, while friends are better at sustaining them.

Useful language:spark an ideakeep you goingsustaining

Both have value. Famous people show you what is possible at the very top, which can be motivating. But people you know show you the realistic path, including the mistakes, and that’s often more useful. Personally, I find people around me more inspiring, because their success feels like something I could actually reach.

Useful language:what is possiblethe realistic path

It cuts both ways. On the one hand, there’s endless content showing people achieving things, which can be a great push. On the other hand, constantly comparing yourself with highlight reels can make people feel inadequate and actually discourage them. I think the key is to follow a few accounts that teach you something, rather than ones that simply show off.

Useful language:it cuts both wayshighlight reelsfeel inadequate