Role Models: Who is your role model?

This could mean an idol, mentor, hero or someone you look up to, admire and would like to be like in the future. Most kids, tweens and teens, if asked who their role model is, will mention a popular musician, actor, a footballer, model, or any other superstars. Very few, if any, will mention a Doctor, Pastor, Lawyer, and Teacher, a News anchor or an Accountant among many others. There are a number of factors that lead to this but the leading ones are the fact that these celebrities are given a lot of publicity unlike the professionals. It should be the parents and teachers’ responsibility to instill virtues that will help young stars to identify a role model that is worth being one. Who is an ideal role model?An ideal role model is one that is respected, admired, exemplary, morally upright and generally successful in their area of expertise. It should also be someone that has got good reputation, charisma and character in society and if you mentioned them to your parents, they would be happy about your choice. Good reputation doesn’t necessarily mean that your role model is perfect since everyone has their own flaws and not even the Pope can claim to be perfect.However, that doesn’t mean we can use that as an excuse to get role models that can’t even respect themselves. Your role model reflects who you are and does make a big statement about you. People will judge you according to who your role model is. If you choose a drunkard, indecently dressed, violent and vulgar for a role model, then you are more likely to become like them. No one will respect you and they will think you depict the same ugly habits. If one chooses a role model that is respected in society, then they are bound to live the same respectful and exemplary lives. How to choose your role modelAs a teenager, one should first of all identify what they would like to become in the future, career wise and how they want to lead their lives. Your role model should be someone you look up to, really admire and just want to be like. It should be someone that society respects. Most importantly, it should be a person you are proud of and can happily tell your parents, teachers or religious leaders that this person is my role model. m.kaitesi@yahoo.com