Athletes, singers, and celebrities were given the gift of a distinctive and unique talent. When thinking of the topic of role models the very first person who comes to mind, is that of a professional athlete. There are a lot of arguments arising on whether or not athletes should be considered role models. Many believe that a role model must be someone who has a personal relationship or bond with one another; however, a role model is someone who an individual aspires to be. Sports figures are admirable role models both on and off the field although mass media portrays athletes negatively, they set a good example for children to follow.
A role model is a person who serves as an example and their behavior is often copied by others. Good role models are ones who have a successful career and have made good life choices. Younger people often choose role models by having the same life goals and objectives. A young high school quarterback would most likely look up to and admire someone like Payton Manning or Aaron Rogers. Both Manning and Rogers are professional quarterback in the National Football League. Don’t get me wrong parents are the most influential, and it is their job to direct children on the right path.
Typically parents are the first role models in a child’s life, they are the ones who teach the most important lessons. Parents are the first to build relationships and guide children through upbringing. As children develop, some become interested in sports and the parents are the ones to teach who the good and bad role models are. Many believe who they are is a result of how their parents raised them (Joyner-Kersee, 2007). Young children view their parents as role models and as they grow into adolescences they seek someone who shares the same aspirations.
Parents have a close relationship and play an important part in shaping our identities (Vinales, 2015). Athletes are admired and their skills are emulated by many children. When it comes to goals and aspirations, athletes are a great inspiration on the field. In America some of the most exciting days are the Super Bowl, World Series, or the World Cup. Weather it is football, golf, track, or wrestling they are all recognized as a completive sport and require a lot of practice. These athletes endure broken bones and dreams not only doing what they love, but providing entertainment to billions of people.
Becoming a professional athlete takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Athletes make great role models for young adults that aspire to become an athlete themselves. Athletes are role models whether or not they take the responsibility of making a good example, because children are watching. Athletes are in the public eye and their lives are being watched by many young children. Statistics show that a small amount of student-athletes will become professional athletes; however, this does not mean students should be discouraged from participating in sports (Caulfield, 2011).
Being a professional athlete isn’t something that comes easy, it take a lot of hard work. Professional athletes are required to maintain physical agility, strength, and stamina. Some athletes can have the natural ability or they train to be the very best. Playing a sport takes a lot of skill and practice. Athletes compete at the highest levels they are trained and skilled in the sport. Professional athletes eat, sleep, and live sports, when they are not sweating on the field they devote a lot of time to the community.
Sports athletes inspire young people not only with the goals of one day becoming a professional athlete, but they also influence daily decisions. Athletes not only inspire us as they battle on the court or field but with motivating words of encouragement. “There may be people who have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do – and I believe that,” said Derek Jeter Athletes may not be perfect, they are human and all humans make mistakes. Athletes inspire young children and influence them to be their very best. “A role model is a person you admire and want to emulate.
He or she will have some of the same interests and talents that you have. You may want to learn as much as possible about this person” (Donahue, 2002). Learning about the sports figure morals and values are key when it comes to considering someone a role model. Many athletes excelled in their education and contribute greatly to the community. Athletes are a great example of a role model as the inspire children to give it all they got. Having a professional athlete as a role model will not only inspire children to pursue their dream, but lead them in the right direction to obtain their goals.
The importance of both athletics and academics is instilled from an early age (Keels, 2005). During grade school if you played sports you were expected to stay several hours a day for practice and keep a 3. 0 grade point average. When athletes go on to college it is essential for them to compete at the highest level in order to make it as a professional. The term role model has been transformed because of mass media. Media has given names and faces to the athletes who play the game. Media loves to cover negative and controversial topics especially when it pertains to famous people.
Mass media can be both negative and positive for athletes. Media as a whole focuses primarily on bad news. The media obsesses over people like Ray Rice who has been in the news for beating his wife, Tom Brady for cheating during a football game, or Tiger Woods for cheating on his wife. However there are people John Cena and David Beckham who devotes an enormous amount of time helping children and never get acknowledgement for what they contribute. Mass media has a lot to do with how the term role model has formed.
Years ago children only knew of parents or teachers as being influential models in their lives. Now because of media children are introduced to so many influential people. Athletes whether they like it or not are role models for many young children. Some athletes behave and pose as good role models as others do not. Media studies show that bad news outweighs good news and this has made a huge impact on whether or not athletes are worthy of being role models. A role model can be a hero, someone in our hearts, or home. Role models are chosen because of their behavior, beliefs, and achievements.
Athletes make great role models for young people who have the same goals and dreams. A role model is a person who serves as an example and their behavior is often copied by others. Athletes are idolized and their dreams and goals are imitated by young people. Therefore, athletes make great role models. Mass media has a lot to do with how a role model is perceived; media has both negative and positive attributes, however the noble acts of an athlete prevail. Professional athletes have a very important job both on and off the field and they are all seen as role models if the like it or not.
Sports athletes inspire young people not only with the goals of one day becoming a professional athlete, but they also influence daily decisions. Sports figures encourage adolescences that hard work pays off and education is important. Athletes promote good behavior by volunteering their time and donating to charities. Furthermore, athletes are looked up to and idolized which is the main characteristic of a role model. Athletes make great role models because they are in the public eye and can contribute so much to the community.
