How does someone become a role model?  With the recent news of Tiger Woods personal troubles I felt the need to express my views on more of the generality of being a role model.  I feel that a person never chooses to become a role model; that label is always given to them after doing something grand or awesome; or achieving a status that has never been achieved before; or it is given to them when they surpass some goal that was set before them.  It’s really a title that is for the outstanding individual; the one who can proclaim exclusivity in an area or expertise or genre that ultimately becomes branded with their image or ability.  Does that mean that person is now responsible or beholden to some category of being?  Does that person get a choice in the beginning of whether or not they want to even take on that role?  Why is society or even the media for that matter the ones who are given the power to bestow this category onto someone?

I wholeheartedly feel that none of us are judge and jury and not a single person or entity has the right to label someone as a role model unless that individual decides to take on that title themselves.  It’s not for us to decide folks!  Just because someone is incredibly talented in a sport (here’s where we can really open the gates to players like Kobe Bryant, Charles Barkley, Andre Agassi, Steve McNair, Pete Rose, etc…I mean the list will go on and on) does that mean that we should automatically put them on a pedestal or somehow elevate them beyond a human?  No we shouldn’t!!!  Ever!!!  They are who they are…great sports individuals or great intellectual thinkers or great speakers or great entertainers…they are not then through osmosis going to be great role models in the grand scheme of things so why are we setting that stage when in fact that’s not the stage where they’re performing.

Everyone has flaws; everyone has weaknesses; that’s human nature.  Just because you excel beyond belief in one area does not mean that you are an exceptional person in every aspect of your life.  If you want to find a role model…I’m sorry to tell you that there is no one individual who would fit the bill if you’re looking for a perfect person because that’s not human.  Instead why don’t we find the things we admire in alot of different folks and leave it at that.

Here are some other things that I would like to propose that we do…

1.  No one likes others to meddle in their personal affairs…why should famous folks be any different…leave their personal lives out of the public eye; if you can’t you need to get your own life

2.  Don’t bestow titles on people unless they choose it for themselves

3.  Quit allowing the media to skew your opinions

4.  Live in the real world…not in someone elses

5.  Do live up to your personal goals…don’t live up to a false or unachievable standard