Be a Role Model

I've always been the strongest advocate of each person having someone that they can look up to or admire. Whether it be someone older, younger, more or less successful, or whatever they may be, it is imperative to have these people in your life to shape yourself.

When I was younger, my role model for years were my camp counselors, Autumn and Jenny. They were probably only high schoolers at the time, but I was always so in awe of their "coolness" and humor and how they were always trying to have a good time. They made me feel good about myself and let me hang with the "older kids". I always wanted to be the best I could be in their eyes.

As I got older, i started looking for more intrinsic qualities in those that I admired, and I found myself becoming mangetized towards people with certain values and ethics. My youth group leader, Kelly, was probably one of my main role models during those ugly years of adolecense, always keeping us "kids" on the same adult level and giving us complete respect, but mentoring us with love and wisdom along the way. She taught me so much just through her actions about unconditional love and forgiveness. I was always striving to be the best person I could be to thank her for teaching me these things and really molding me into what I am today.

Recently, I found myself realizing that whether I realized it growing up, my mom has been a critical part of creating who i am today. We didn't see eye to eye much of my growing up years, but now that I am older and can understand where she has come from and why she is the way she is, I realize that I have definitely learned the most valuable lessons from her.

All of the people in my past who have contributed to my growth were mostly embedding moral values into me which I now practice on my own, but I recognize where they come from. Now is the time where I am looking to grow in other ways, practicing the values I previously learned while exploring different places and meeting new people. Now the individuals I look to as role models are those who know that they want out of life and are pursuing it, growing and accepting change.