Who To Follow Essay, Research Paper

By Andrea

The Need For A Role Model

In today’s world society is filled with more violence, hate and crime.

The confusion of what is right and wrong can be inflicted onto a child’s set

of morals. When a child has someone older to look up to he/she is able to

take in and learn positive values from a responsible role model. The child can

be properly informed on decisions they should make in there life. A good

role model holds a high importance in a child’s growing times so that they

can learn the difference between good and bad and begin to practice a

positive and healthy life style.

While growing up, a child may be around good people, but that do

things that they shouldn’t do. A child who has been raised by smokers may

have a better chance of starting to smoke then one that has been always

taught the harm of it. But with the exposure of a positive influence, there

is still hope that the child can learn better, such that smoking is bad and

that they won’t start. He/she can learn through their mentor postive ideas

giving them a higher self-esteem, confidence, and goals to work for when

they are older. Also by beginning to lead a healthy lifestyle, they are more

likely to set a good example for children later on in their life. Surviving in

the home and learning a healthy family life style is more difficult now then

before. In many homes both parents work and the time they have now to

spend with their children is limited. Before when women used to stay at

home, they were able to teach their children the cultural view’s and religon

that particular family followed. Children now don’t learn manners that their

grandparents may have learned and Ms. Manner, an author of an article in

the paper, would be dissapointed in today’s kids manners.

If the role model happens to be a celebrity often the child wishes to

be just like them. If the ’star’ advertises alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, etc…,

then the child will believe that those things are not as bad as some others

think they are. They may get on the wrong track that it is okay to steal and

do things for pleasure when in reality it is only hurting themselves pyshically

and mentally. Its important for celebrities to stay on the correct path and

set examples for young fans. If one admires a particular basketball player

they are likely to go out and shoot hoops rather than going out and causing

trouble. Today, children do not need a Dennis Rodman figure as an exotic

character with a criminal record, but more of a Tiger Woods because he

challenged himself in pursuing a career in a sport that was usually considered

a “white sport”. He shows pride and prestige in his accomplishments. It

shows them leadership and to set out to acheive positive goals. A Dennis

Rodman figure is not needed because children are not as well behaved as

they used to be and need to be shown a more moral tradition. In the past

children had a more strict enviroment and disciplinary code.

Its amazing how children pick a person to look up to, and at times the

‘role model’ does not even know they are being looked upon and imitated. So

when they are not doing the right things, they are sending a negative

message without even knowing they are hurting the child’s morals. It is very

important that role models portray htemselves to children as good people

who go far in life without doing the wrong things. Through the correct role

model, the child hopefully will have the chance to develop responsibility and

morals that will last them a life time, despite the corruption existing in

today’s society.