Thoughts on role models and modelling a lifestyle worthy of emulation
Everyone has at least one person they admire and perhaps, even model their life after. As human beings, we all have the desire to strive for excellence in all aspects of our lives. When we see someone who looks like the picture we desire for ourselves, it is only natural to aspire to be like that person. Perhaps, one day in the future, we will look like them.
People see some qualities that they admire in other people and consider them worthy of emulation. Oftentimes, they have either interacted directly with this person or they have connected with them from afar. Most times, the role model doesn’t even know they have been elevated to a position of value and respect. They’re just living their lives and people they don’t know, just have this expectation of them based on what they can see and assume of them. It places some weight on such people.
Role models can come from any part of society. It is usually easier to identify people who are close to us, so our earliest role models are likely to be either family members or prominent people in our immediate community. My earliest role models were my parents and some older relatives. And as I went to school, some teachers and older students became role models. I remember especially one senior in my first year in secondary school. He was different from all the other seniors. He was quiet and studious, very patient and kind. He always did his chores by himself, and he didn’t take advantage of any juniors. He stood out to me and I remember thinking I wanted to become like him when I became a senior. I know I tried but I wonder what my juniors would have to say!
The media also has a great impact on influencing our choice of role models. We are exposed to prominent people on television, radio, and the internet, and we make assumptions about their personalities based on whatever information we have about them. We see them living their lives, we hear stories about their work and personalities, and we just want to be like them. People in entertainment, politics, business, and sports very easily come to mind. Many of these individuals are celebrated for their presence in and/ or contribution to society. Ask the average child who their role models are and you are likely to hear the names of many prominent people.
The choice of a role model is largely influenced by our self-image: not just how we see ourselves but also how we hope to see ourselves. Some people choose role models based on the personalities, careers, or achievements that they desire to emulate. I cannot say for sure that this is often a logical decision though as we form impressions based on what we see and hear, and we are also heavily influenced by emotions.
At the end of the day, choosing a role model is a personal decision. One just has to be honest about the values one desires to exemplify and that would guide them towards their choice. It is important to also note that not all role models are good people. We are all attracted to different qualities in other people and not all of these qualities are good. Stories abound of so many delinquents who copycat the misdemeanours of famous criminals simply because they idolised them. Good role models have qualities that endear people to them. People connect with them easily because they sense these qualities. Passion, hard work, honesty, integrity, and resilience are just some of the qualities that attract people.
Role models hold a critical role in society as they can influence behaviour all around, either encouraging good values or promoting bad ones. Unfortunately, many people select role models because of the signs of success they portray. Not many people are interested in knowing how people have achieved their success because the mentality appears to be “the end justifies the means”. Many of the people who engage in social vices were attracted by the lifestyles of others without giving proper thought as to what exactly such people were doing. There are however many others who are not moved by just the signs they see and desire to emulate good values.
It is important to reiterate the role that the media plays in celebrating people. Not just traditional media but also social media, and I dare say that the impact of social networking sites is even more significant. With traditional media, we are regaled by the achievements of people. We see and hear, but we may not attach as much significance to it. With social media, however, we very often establish a faux sense of connection with the personalities we interact with. We see them as they choose to portray themselves and we very often may not be able to determine whether we are getting their true selves or their public persona. Many of these influential social media personalities promote values that people would ordinarily not adopt if they didn’t see a person of influence validate them. And then consider how impressionable many young people are and you begin to understand why some behaviours don’t make sense.
That being said, role models are also human and they can fall from grace too. I remember once when I attempted to jump a queue. It didn’t seem like a big deal at the time because the people ahead in the queue were willing to let me in. However, someone at the back of the queue expressed his disappointment. I didn’t know him but he had seen me before and he had formed a good impression about me which I had now tainted. No one is perfect and we need to remember this before we castigate someone we have held in high esteem but may have gone against the values they exemplified. Some of these people can rebound and their stories could serve as a greater reason to look up to them.
Much more than finding a role model is also being a role model. We don’t talk enough about this. We may not realise it but many of us focus on other people, forgetting that there are people who are also focused on us. The truth is that every one of us is a role model. There is at least one person who admires you and is looking up to you for guidance, even if they have never met you before. What type of values do you portray? Do you display qualities worthy of emulation? Are there areas of your life that can influence people, positively or negatively, and how do you manage these areas?
Someone out there is looking up to you, are you concerned enough to model the values that could help them live a better life? Think about society and all the issues you have with it. Wouldn’t life be much better if we had more credible role models? You can influence the direction of the people around you by making the right choices which lead to genuine success. Think about it, this is the way I see things today.
