|
Role Models
"...Though I may not have decades of life experience, the fact that my cousin turns to me for advice must means I’m doing something right. "
By Melody Or, 17
August 12, 2007
Listen
to this Commentary!
As a child, Youth radio’s Melody Or chose a liking for the pink Ranger of the “Power Rangers” as a role model. She didn’t look to an elder or close relatives, so when she found her younger cousin looked up to her she felt slightly awkward. She says, "I’m just a teenager myself, trying to deal with my own problems, so I felt weird giving my cousin advice when I don’t even know what I’m doing most of the time."
When I was eight-years-old, my greatest role model wasn’t my mom, or one of my teachers, it wasn’t even a real person. It was the pink power ranger.
Looking back on those days, I learned that role models don’t have to be rich or powerful to have an impact. I admired the pink power ranger because she was confident and she never gave up no matter how complicated the situation.
And recently I discovered that sometimes role models don’t even know that other people look up to them. A few months ago, my fourteen-year-old cousin starting calling me constantly for advice. From school to boys to her relationship with her mom, it turned out I had become the person she looked up to.
Of course I wanted to help her, but I didn’t know what to say. I’m just a teenager myself, trying to deal with my own problems, so I felt weird giving my cousin advice when I don’t even know what I’m doing most of the time.
The more I talked to my cousin, the more I realized I did have something to offer. Because even though I may not have decades of life experience, the fact that my cousin turns to me for advice must means I’m doing something right.
|
|
