What a Difference You Made In My Life
Most people would agree that the media has a major effect on our
society as a whole and on individuals. On any given day, on any
given station, in local or national print you will find celebrities,
athletes, or the guy next door trying to influence you in what you
buy, wear, or whom to vote for. The media has even placed the label
of role model on people who may or may not deserve it.
Just what makes a role model can be as simple or complex as you want
it to be. Does a role model have to be a famous athlete or noted
personality? When we think of role models do we picture Michael
Jordan seemingly hanging in mid air, Payton Manning completing a pass,
or Jackie Joiner Kersey on the track? Still others may envision a political
figure, educator, pastor, or friend. I personally have role models
that are well known people. Even with famous role models I am
reminded that I have some role models that are very close. I have
parents, grandparents, colleagues and a God who loves me. Each of
these fit my picture of a role model.
There are four qualities that I look for in a role model, a
measuring stick if you will. These four are a personal relationship,
character, a caring attitude, and respect.
As a high school and college football player I always looked up to
Jack Rudney as a role model. The fact that he played the same
position and for the Kansas City Chiefs had a lot to do with the role
I put him in. Later in life I was able to meet him and spend some
time speaking with him. In the summer of 1987 he agreed to speak
with the athletes attending my football camp. In the time he spent
with these young men he did more than talk about football. He spent
time on what it took to be a good person and what it took to reach
your goals. This person that I had looked up to as a young person
was just as I had imagined him to be.
There was another time I was privileged to meet one of my role
models. It happened in the fall of 1988. Mr. Bush was running for
the presidency and was on a campaign trip through the state of
Missouri. Little did I know when I got up that morning I would be
meeting the Vice President of the United States. It was a normal
afternoon until a man in a dark suit came into the office and
informed me that the Vice President would be stopping by and would
like to address the football team and the student body. In looking
back I wish words came in flavors, they would have tasted better. My
response as I remember was “yeah, right.” At that moment he pulled
out his secret service badge. In a short time we assembled the band,
went through protocol, and prepared the students for the visit. Mr.
Bush was noted as having the longest resume in Washington, but he
took time to speak with students regarding their education and to the
football team about what it takes to be a winner. The students were
drawn to him like a moth to a porch light. I believe it was not so
much for the power he had, but his presence. I later received a note
from Mr. Bush thanking me for the opportunity to meet with my
players. Imagine that, him thanking me. I still have the note, it
is framed and hanging in my office.
The personal time I was able to spend with these two role models
helped to solidify the fact that they deserved to be placed in that
position.
The second criterion is that of character. Do they do more than
talk the talk? Do they walk the walk? It is very easy to tell
someone do as I say and not as I do. It is another matter to put
into action what you say. True role models are able to do this. I
know they are not perfect, but they do live a life that causes people
to want to emulate them.
The third is an attitude of caring. No man stands so tall as when
he kneels down to help someone. A role model must care for people.
In the time I was able to spend with Jack Rudney and Mr. Bush I found
them to have a caring attitude. There was a passion in what they
said and in what they did. They were able to step outside of the
mystique that surrounded them and reach out to a young person.
One of the secret service men told us not to approach the Vice
President but let him come to you. This didn’t last very long
because as soon as he was done speaking students ran toward him.
Instead of pushing them away, he reached out with open arms. That
one act told me more about him as a person than any political speech.
I have chosen as the fourth aspect of being a role model, respect.
For a person to be a true role model they must be respected for what
they do and how they live their lives. You can’t demand respect; it
is something that must be earned. A role model works to earn that
respect and then continues to work to keep it.
I believe that role models are important in the lives of people.
They inspire us to achieve more than we thought we could. They stand
as examples of what can be done if we work hard enough to achieve our
goals. I am reminded of a story I was told by my father. My father
was my high school coach and before every game, as most coaches do,
he spoke to us before going onto the field. What he said has stuck
with me so much that I told it to my players before they went on the
field. He said that there were three people unknown to us that
wanted to be just like us. They watched us and looked to us for
direction. At that moment it hit me that what I did and said might
make a difference in someone’s life. After all, I had people I
looked up to that didn’t know who I was.
You may question this story but I would submit to you that there are
adults, young people, and children that are looking to you to show
them by example the difference between right and wrong. They are
looking for that personal relationship, character, caring attitude
and respect in your life. The question then is not so much who is
your role model, but whose role model will you be?
Dr. Arnold is the Coordinator for Educational Administration
at Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, Missouri.
– Michael David Arnold, Ed.D.