Issue 4 |
Who We Look Up To
The sad thing is, not all role models today are positive. For example, a character on a TV show or a movie that a child thinks is cool or neat. A public figure or a villain might make a child want to do the things that this person does. Even teenagers can take on negative role models like older kids in high school or gang members. A teenager might be pressured into doing something all the other kids do. Many people have role models; all people do even if they don't know it. I did a survey on some of my friends to see who they thought is the best role model for kids today. Most people said their parents were the biggest influences of their life. Here are a few responses... "My best role model is my dad because he always teaches me to stay out of trouble and warns me of the consequences that come with making the wrong decisions. But he also teaches me about the good consequences and where you can go when you make the right decisions. He shares his personal stories of when he made a wrong decision, and I learn from that." "I think sports stars and athletes are the best role models for kids today. Athletes everywhere spend time working with charitable organizations and donate to the cause of needy children. They are healthy with their mental decisions and physical well being. They make you want to be like them in many ways, they are very successful people." "The biggest role models for kids today are their parents. Every child asks their parents for advice and even if they don't they still follow their parent's ways. Parents have a big role in their child's life and some parents don't take it seriously. If parents don't take their lifelong tasks, with their child, seriously the child will think that their parents don't care about them. The child will go out and do bad things for attention, and all they will receive is negative attention." "If the parent neglects their child, or if a child receives negative attention from their parents (meaning the parent is a bad role model), the child must look up to someone else to achieve, a well behaved and a high achieving child must have a good role model." This last response for the best role model is the reason "role model" leads into gambling, stealing, lying, cheating, and all sorts of various negative behaviors a child might commit or resort to for attention. Role models are the most important thing in a child's life when growing up. Everyone needs someone to look up to. You could be a role model some day; you probably are one now to a younger brother, sister, relative or friend. Set positive examples for kids to follow, try to be the best role model you can be.
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