Role Model

Role models
Role models mean a number of things to many different people. Over the years, the concept of a role model has changed from fictional “heroes” seen in movies, comics, and stories to average people that make an exceptional impact on someone’s life. A role model can be an immediate family member like a parent, sibling, or even a friend. It could also be someone acting as a professional mentor through a working facility or an organization designed to provide positive influences on young people. Whether it’s a fictional person or someone in real life they both inspire people to have goals and want to achieve something in life. Children seek out people in their lives that they want to be like when they grow up, even if it may be their mother or father. As they grow up they see their parents providing from them, making decisions, and helping them through the good and rough times. But what they don’t see is the struggle parents go through trying to get ahead in a career to provide for their family. I have watched my mother go through a series of events such as cancer, foreclosure, being divorced, surgery, and car accidents but to this day she has been one of the biggest role models in my life. She has supported me throughout my life both psychically and mentally and has always been right by my side to help me through any obstacles. No matter what life throws at her she still seems to find the strength to get up the next morning and keep pushing harder to make her life better. My mother may have never gone to college, but the amount of compassion and support she provides for me is enough inspiration to keep reaching for every goal I have. There are many different organizations that support people and help them succeed in life. Big Brothers Big Sisters is volunteer-supported youth mentoring organization that strives to help children do better in school, or even just to have a friend to talk to. The youth meet with their mentor about three times a month for a year. For example my god brother Kyle lives in a house with all women, and does not have a positive male role model to look up to. Kyle’s “Big Brother” has boosted his confidence, helped work on his anger-management and helped him discover how to become a man. After a year of being involved with a Big Brother or Big Sister statistics state their confidence and self-esteem has gained which creates better grades in school and better relationships with parents and siblings at home. They have reported that 64 percent of students developed more positive attitudes towards school, 58 percent achieved higher grades, and 62 percent where more likely to trust their teachers. In addition to that 77 percent of teachers, parents, and volunteers involved in the program reported increases in the students’ self-esteem. I have encountered some wonderful educational role models that have left a lasting impression on me. For example when I went to Bellamy Middle school I had a vice principle and his name was Mr. Such. He was very energetic and ambitious person, and loved working with kids and helping them succeed in their future. One day we were talking and he asked me what my future plans where when I graduated high school, I looked over at him and told him I wanted to be a professional piercer and tattoo artist. He peered over his glasses at me and said can you draw? I laughed and told him I couldn’t draw but I was intrigued to be a professional piercer and I know a lot of places are both a piercing and tattoo shop. He started typing on his computer and told me to come over. He had researched how much a professional piercer and tattoo artists make and it was less than 30,000 dollars a year, I was very discouraged to know that it was such a low paying job. He then told me to not be upset but to think of it in a positive way that I didn’t waste years in a profession that didn’t pay enough and one I wasn’t really talented in to begin with. He told me think about things that are interesting to me and from there to choose something you are passionate about out of those interests. After that day I really thought about what it was I wanted to do when I went to college, I knew I was interested in cosmetology and photography but I wasn’t sure what I actually loved to do. After a few years I have found that cosmetology and photography where both of my passions and I wanted to pursue both of them as a career. Not only did Mr. Such put me in perspective with the real world, but he made me understand the concept of what it means to truly love a career and be passionate about moving forward in life and never having any regrets. Even though the concept of a role model has changed from a fictional character to average people in everyday life, the impact they have on people has not changed. Role models give people the influence needed to succeed and have goal oriented productivity in achieving future accomplishments. Inspiration and encouragement along with education and guidance from role models and other advisors can provide paths to an exceptional career and life.