Who is Your Role Model?
Who do you admire? The list of people who influence our lives is made up of heroes and mentors, famous and not so famous, fictional and historic. According to recent studies, the role models teens choose play a large part in how much confidence they have in their ability to succeed. Someone we look up to can encourage us to lead healthier, more focused lives.You can admire someone for their accomplishments, their beliefs, their knowledge, their abilities, and what they do for other people. Some may be celebrities whom you admire for their looks, their talent and how they deal with their fame. Ideally when you find yourself wanting to be like this person, it's someone who can inspire you to avoid making negative choices, as well as encouraging you to strive toward your goals.
Over 56% of American teens said they had a role model; 42% said it was a parent or a relative. Almost 40% said their role model was a sports figure, singer or someone in the entertainment industry. Nineteen percent said it was a friend, doctor or someone else they knew personally. All benefited by having this person in their lives, with higher grades and a stronger sense of self- esteem.
Role models are those you admire but have never met. Mentors are people you get to know. Choose both carefully. Many celebrities are considered not so much for what they are but for their images. Much of what is admired doesn't actually exist. Those worthy of emulating are distinguished by their achievement, not their image. Real mentors are big people, not just big names.
The media doesn't create them; they create themselves. Think over your list. What moral positions have they taken? What personal risks? If you can't come up with much, maybe you should rethink their inclusion. While boys are influenced by their role models to succeed and excel in all areas, too many girls are taught from childhood (90% of American girls ages 3-11 owned Barbie dolls!), to value beauty and thinness over strength and character. It's all well and good to fantasize about being Kate Moss but it's the women you will meet who will prove critical in showing you what you can aspire to and what you can achieve.
The numbers to keep in mind, however, are that only 8 out of 3 million actually look like a supermodel....and even they, without airbrushing, professional grooming and plastic surgery, don't look much like the media version of themselves.
If you have the opportunity to work with a quality person, you will evolve to a higher level. If you're lucky enough to meet a potential mentor, ask lots of questions. What did it take to get where he or she is today? What challenges does a person face and how does he or she deal with them? What lessons has the person learned? We bet anyone worthy of your respect will be happy to share his or her experiences. Research shows that most mentors have had mentors themselves.
Info from BeingGirl.com
