Role Models: What is the Purpose?

The whole purpose of a role model is to draw a young person toward a certain direction.

It is the quality that the child must adopt – not the whole persona. The persona is too advanced and developed.

If we can encourage a child to work hard, for example, this is a good result. If we can encourage a young person to have higher standards, this is a good result. If we can encourage a young person to read more, then this is a good result.

The whole point is to encourage the young person to take steps in the right direction, and then reward those steps as they take them.

The role model is the catalyst. Begin this process in the child, young person, adult – whomever.

We cannot expect young people to understand the many virtues of Gandhi or Marie Curie – however, we can influence them to take steps in that direction.

The first step is the most important. Once the first step is  taken…many more will follow.