ROLE MODELS: WHAT ARE THEY?

Role models are people who possess qualities and abilities that we admire and would like to have. They show us what is possible and motivate us to achieve greater things.

Over the years I have had several role models, but only a few have stood the test of time. Like most children, my earliest role models were influenced by the media – celebrity athletes, pop stars and footballers. These were the people I idolized and wanted to emulate.

In hindsight, I realize that the value of these role models was very limited. Their fame subsided and their achievements faded. Sometimes the media unearthed a more unhealthy side to their character.

But there were some role models whose long-term effects on me have been profoundly life-changing.