The Importance of Positive Role Models

A couple of days ago I heard about a kid who died from drug overdose. The kid(whose name I won't mention) went to high school with me and graduated the year after me(2010). He hadn't even been out of high school for even a whole year.

I remember him in my Biology Honors class which I took when I was a Junior. Basically everyone else was sophomores. I recall him often making comments about doing drugs, drinking beer and being violent. It seemed to me that he had some masculinity issues, not in the sense that he was feminine but that he thought you had to those things to be a "man." I remember one time him making a reference to how his dad was an alcoholic.

These observations made me realize that he probably didn't have any positive role models in his life. Its really a sad thing.

Some people aren't given the chance to see the bigger picture, to realize they can accomplish so much in life. I honestly feel that a huge problem with youth delinquency is caused by having negative role models(or none at all) in their lives. Broken families(even ones with families still together) can have tremendously negative roles in the lives of young people. After a certain time period, there would theoretically be a ripple effect thats created. The only way to reverse these effects are to impact the lives of youth at an even greater rate than the ripple effect. The longer people wait to intervene the more intervention is needed. It increases exponentially.

About a month ago I saw a movie called "Waiting for Superman" which outlines the problems with the education system in America. The movie was really good but had some opinionated statements which are debatable but I feel that all of them had at least some merit. The main point I took from the movie was that I can play a role in countering the problem. As a college student I can serve as a role model, who can relate to young people because I am still young. My role doesn't stop there, I can also serve as a mentor which will help close the education gap(and therefore delinquency rate) in America.

I urge each of to ask yourself "what is my role in this problem" and "what can I do about it." People complain about these problems all the time but rarely do something about it. Thats called hypocrisy.