Ashlynn+R’s+2015+OpEd+Article

 **Role** **Models** Role models are people that we look up to be cause they have reached a goal that we have, they seem like they have life figured out or maybe it is even as simple as they are rich and famous. Role models, are something that everyone at any age can have and do have. For little kids, it might be someone like Captain America. For others, it might be a professional athlete like Mike Trout or David Beckham, or someone like Jennifer Lawrence. Maybe for some it is someone like Oprah or Ellen DeGeneres. No matter who your role model is, there is some trait that stands out in them that makes you idolize them. Today, a lot of children and teens are looking up to professional athletes. Becoming a professional athlete, seems to be just about every kids dream, especially for teens. With the big interest in athletes as their children’s role model, parents are worried about the effect these athletes will have on their children, especially because there always seems to be numerous stories on the news about the wrong doings of athletes. What should be the concern, is what they are teaching kids is okay to do on the court. In a study conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, it found that 74% of kids and teens when asked said that it is common for a professional athlete to yell at a referee leading to 56% of them to yell at referees in their own games. The same group, also found that 24% of those asked said that studying yet alone finishing school is not necessary if you’re good at sports. This should raise concern for parents. Not all kids will play in high school sports, and those that play in high school sports, will not all play in college sports, and even fewer will play in professional sports. The other effect that these professional athletes can have on kids, is how they look at drug use. It is a well-known fact, that many professional athletes use performance enhancing drugs. According to Kaiser Family Foundation, 52% of professio nal athletes use steroids or other banned substances. Because of this, multiple other reports have been able to discover that if a kid or teen was to see a professional athlete or celebrity use drugs, they are more likely to use drugs themselves. Although professional athletes are the biggest role models around right now, celebrities are also popular role models. These celebrity role models, can vary from actors to musicians even to producers and directors. The celebrity role models though, can have the same negative effects that professional athletes can have. Celebrities might not yell at referees in gams and cheap shot their opponents, but they do get caught constantly drinking and getting arrested for numerous things. Musicians can sometimes have more of a negative effect than actors can as role models. Musicians, can have influence through their music or even through their music videos. If they sing about getting drunk and starting fights, it is more than likely that someone who looks up to this artist would think that just because their singing about it, and glorifying it in a song, it is okay to do. Having professional athletes and celebrities as role models, is not all bad. For example, athletes, can have a positive influence over kids and teens to want to exercise more, to get up and go for a run instead of sitting on the couch watching Netflix. Athletes, can also influence kids and teens to do charity work. Many athletes, rather do good than be caught doing drugs or getting drunk every night. Some, rather do some charity work, or give to an organization, that is close to their heart. Many athletes and celebrities are always photographed visiting children’s hospitals, volunteering at a shelter or even being around kids at places like Boys and Girls Club. Some athletes, enjoy being role models. They enjoy being able to know that what they do, influences someone to become just like them. David Beckham once said, “I love little kids looking up to me, young players looking to me, respecting me.” Although there are many athletes that enjoy being role models, and make it part of their job to be someone that their fans can appreciate, look up to, and be proud of, some athletes, don’t make it part of their job, and do only the job they signed up for. Charles Barkley once said, “I am not a role model. I am not paid to be a role model. I am paid to wreak havoc on the basketball court. Parents should be role models. Just because I dunk a basketball does not mean I should raise your kids.” This makes you want to question who your child or who you are looking up to is actually a good role model or not. You have to consider if they were to do something bad, if it would influence you to do the same thing as them, and risk getting in trouble yourself, or would it push you to be better. Role models are good to have for anyone no matter if you’re five or fifty, it is just a matter of finding a role model that will have a positive effect on you. That is why, those that take the time to create a clean cut image that their proud of, are better role models to have than those that like to create problems. Sometimes, it is not the celebrity or the professional athlete that is the best role model to have. Sometimes, it is a family member or friend that is the best person to look up to, so take into account what a role model should have when you choose one, because it can actually have an effect on who you are or who you become.