To youngsters, positive role models act very systematically in encasing configuration for success, morality, and growth. They act as a source of strength, direction, and provision for the most important activities in life.
Whether in individuals, who are unfamous revolutionaries or in icons, their influence is felt on the children for good actions, victories over, and achievements to the complete capacity of potentiality such as rising to become the president. In this article we will elaborate who a positive role model is, why is it necessary and how these people influence the molding of young individuals.
What Is Considered a Positive Role Model?
Diabase Ashbery said that positive role model is the person who is being towards other people and that people themselves move forward, develop, and achieve their goals with greater determination. It is also important to note where the role models come from – in most cases, they maintain the ethical, social essence in their words and actions.
The core feature of such exemplary character templates which is attributes to the relevant models is the dependability on moral principles such as fairness, compassion, and perseverance at all times. Role models can be parents, instructors, places of worship leaders, local leaders, and even celebrities.
The essence is that more often than not, one is expected in a positive way by those someone surrounds oneself with especially the youngsters when placed in high or difficult situations and the person maintains dignity, determination and ethicality.
Why Are Positive Role Models Important for Youth Development?
Young people are very vulnerable and are often influenced by adults and peers on how to conduct themselves within the society. They look for role models to bring out the best in them. Positive role models help young people develop self-esteem and self-confidence by showing what it is like to be dedicated to self-improvement and moral integrity.
Also, role models teach the young the significance of hard work, focus, and determination for any undertaking and its success. Positive role models serve as the guides to young people on the right behavior, inspiration, and encourage a growth-oriented thinking among the young people.
Emotional Attachment and the Power of Motivation.
Positive role models in society tend to turn everything in to a center of affection as they encourage a number of people. People with such positive qualities are themselves very well endowed with a lot of energy. As infusing passion to whatever people undertake is encouraging, individuals especially the youth are open to it.
A good example is a teacher who enjoys teaching and therefore attempts to interest students in studies. Rob Lewis goes on stating that there is nothing demotivating about doing what you love with a lot of energy. It isn’t only helpful and gratifying to ones’ goals it is, in fact, mandatory.
Moral Principles and Professionalism
Integrity can be seen as the essence of a person who inspires others. Such people are guided by core beliefs, for example, that of honesty, basic respect towards everyone and fairness, and make all actions in accordance with these beliefs.
Young people are inspired by those who are not afraid to speak their minds, irrespective of opposition, as they understand that integrity is essential in all that one does. Strong value systems in role models brings trust, demonstrating that achievement is not only self-centered but achievement whilst upholding values.
Commitment to Community and Service
A lesson on the importance of community and service is the other lasting trait of a positive role model. They are active members of their societies by either volunteering or helping out in some local initiatives or being a caring neighbor.
They promote the idea that achievement is not only based on personal accomplishments, but also the achievements that other members of society attain. For instance, this could be seen where a business executive develops housing projects in the region or where a student spends time in the community center offering his services.
Belonging somewhere and fulfilling a sense of duty to others is something that every person would want to pursue in their lifetime.
Altruism and Tolerance
Along with many other qualities, altruism and tolerance are crucial for any positive figure. These are the people who are selfless, placing the wants of others above their needs and showing compassion, love, and understanding to everyone irrespective of who they are or their situation.
In so doing, they promote diversity and inclusion and teach the young ones how to be fairly liberal and considerate. For example, a selfless and accepting mentor will understand the different worlds of the mentees and work with them without judging.
Resilience: When All Else Fails, More Can Still Be Achieved
A resilient personality, one that recovers readily from adversity, is one of the positive aspects of a good role model. Such persons do not try and run away from challenges or even from failures. Rather, they approach them positively as an opportunity to improve and develop further.
While exhibiting resilience, they help the young people to appreciate that barriers to progress are not permanent but can be breached through tireless efforts. For instance, athletes who spare no effort and resources to enhance fitness after an injury or leaders who take the movement of the organization hand in hand with hard times go through an example of resiliency.
This quality teaches youth that there are hurdles in life but one has just to keep plodding on and putting on a positive attitude in order to succeed, encouraging an attitude that is both positive and investigative.
Positive Role Models and Their Examples
In every sector, there are always positive role models, each having a different impact. People like Malala Yousafzai who is seen promoting girls’ education as a celebrity or LeBron James who is even more active in the building of the community are perfect examples of how one can bring about positive change and speak out for issues that matter.
Even those who are not well-known, for instance, teachers, parents or volunteers are able to inspire the young people through their tiny acts of kindness, courage and leadership. Experts in medicine, science, business and other areas of work are also positive influences as they tend to be people of good character, great ideas and cutting-edge determination.
Examples of Positive Role Models in Various Situations
Your positive role models can be found in many situations, and their impact can be felt in different places. In the school setting, teachers, and trainers who show kindness, encouragement, and real interest in the knowledge they are imparting to the students make the students hungry for knowledge and improvement.
In offices, managers who emphasize ethics, collaboration, and personal growth help younger employees imbibe the same culture. Caring adults such as parents and guardians who possess compassion, endurance, and active listening skills help in shaping such personality and decision making of their young ones.
The Effects of Positive Role Models on the Youth’s Behavior
There are several ways in which positive role models have positive effects on youth behavior and development. Or, young people strive to earn positive feelings by observing the success and the moral uprightness of such people. They also inspire them to aim high and pursue that excellence and that achievement-oriented and growth-building attitude is induced within them.
Moreover, role models become helpful in building up empathy and sense of social responsibility by how they themselves interact with people showing respect, kindness and understanding. This kind of influence is very important in the way they raise children who are socially responsible and able to take their place in the society wisely.
Negative Role Models: What Not to Do
In the same way as positive role models promote and advocate for health and development, negative role models have a detrimental effect on youth. These individuals also tend to practice behaviors that include lying, anger and abuse, and total disregard for other people’s feelings which can lead the youths in the harmful way.
For example, one might cite a political or media personality whose quite unethical or plain obnoxious behavior may come off as encouraging such behavior in easily influenceable youths. Therefore, it is crucial to determine what these are and how to avoid them in order for the young people to be exposed to the right, helpful and healthy role models.
Becoming a Positive Role Model in the Society
When it comes to being a positive role model, it does not come easily as it needs conscious effort and devotion to self-improvement as well as practicing good behavior. Make it a principle to act with honor and treat people with respect, make sure your actions are aligned with your convictions and be truthful and fair as much as possible.
Be passionate and zealous about your pursuits so that even the people around you can pursue their dreams with the same zeal. Give some of your time and resources to the community, being prepared to help and take action on issues that need attention. Be courteous and understanding, being inclined towards affection and warmth towards people and being non-judgmental.
Conclusion
Role models are important for the youth as they model respectable behavior, attitude and other commendable attributes that inspire development and growth.They help young people develop great virtues such as passion, integrity, commitment, altruism, and resilience and help them in their quest for purposeful living and social service.
It is crucial to acknowledge the significant role that positive role models play in people’s lives as well as to seek to behave like positive role models in society. It is possible to create a world where positive reinforcements exist and the young people are inspired to achieve their fullest potential.
FAQs
Q1. Who can be a positive role model?
A: Positive role-models can be anyone or things that possess exemplary positive traits or actions, not limited to parents or teachers — even famous people or people of influence, social workers, etc.
Q2: In your opinion, how do role models help to improve the behavior of youth?
A: Youth model behavior through role models who get to showcase core values and demonstrate qualities such as integrity, determination and compassion for them to adopt.
Q3. What actions I should avoid to make sure that I would not turn out to be a negative role model?
A: People should refrain from dishonesty, aggression, selfishness is for example undesirable as such actions would socially corrupt young impressionable minds and promote negative characteristics.
Q4. What will I do to help my child find positive role models?
A: Participating in an open conversation with the children regarding the attributes they admire in others, help them appreciate the values of empathy, kindness, and integrity. Offer examples of positive role players and tell them what makes such behavior or attitude amenable.
Russell F. Jones, holding a Master in psychology from the University of Florida. He writes for Smart Parent Solutions, offering practical advice on parenting and child development. His engaging content helps parents navigate family life with confidence and ease. Russell enjoys sharing his knowledge and spending quality time with his family.