009 | ROLE MODELS
YOU AREN’T DEFINED BY YOUR SPORT, SO YOUR ROLE MODELS SHOULDN’T BE EITHER.
When aiming to accomplish anything it is important to have someone to look up to or model yourself after. A big part of life is learning what is right or wrong through the mistakes you make. However, if you can learn from another person's experience, why wouldn’t you? If we have a look at the official Dictionary.com definition here is what we see.
Role Model [rōl ˈmädl] n. a person whose behavior, example, or success is or can be emulated by others, especially by younger people.
When choosing role models it is important to recognize the core values needed to reach your goal, and then line those up with theirs. Ask yourself these questions. Why is this person someone I admire? How did they get to where they are today? Did they stay true to their core values along the way? As you start to naturally look up to certain people you will be able to see these questions answer themselves. A role model doesn't HAVE to tick all these boxes, but if they aren't ticking any, then should you really put them on a pedestal?
The best part about having role models is that they don't have to be readily accessible in any form. Using their journey like a road map just might help you avoid some dead ends. With that being said, be aware of the athletes and celebrities you admire because you may only be seeing one side of the coin. So don't aim to be the same person, just take what you enjoy about their game or career (the side of the coin you can see) and use that to model off of. Remember, most of these athletes are defined by their sport. While sports can be a big part of your life, like anything, they eventually come to an end. Your character, on the other hand, lasts forever.
Sometimes the highest version of ourselves can be found through looking up to the people we are closest to. Family members, teachers, coaches, and older teammates are some of the best options. With these people, not only do we get to see both sides of the coin, we get to see the day-to-day and know their true character. We can ask these people questions, take notes on how they interact with others, look at how they problem-solve, and the most important of all, just chat.
Having said that, as you get older, remember something very important — you may be someone else's role model. So be aware of the way you carry yourself and stick true to your values, they don't only make a difference in your life, but maybe someone else’s too.