By Rowland Scherman - Public Domain, Wikimedia
Life is full of distractions. Sometimes we may not have a clear picture of our life goals and aspirations. Sometimes we see people spend a lot of time trying out different things before they finally find their feet in one. And some people may not even find their destination at the end.
Role models act as a road map in our journey. With a role model, you can have the picture of the end from the beginning. It helps one to stay focused on the goal.
Role models also give us the motivation to pursue our goals. Sometimes we may have a dream which we may consider too big and unattainable. But when we have role models who have gone through the paths and achieved similar goals, we then gain encouragement that yes, we can do it.
Though we must not be exactly like our role models in all ramifications, we can choose the attributes that interest us and follow them. If you want to excel in any profession, you can choose someone who has excelled in that particular profession. Likewise, you can choose role models in leadership, religion, family life, and all paths of life. He or she must not be a global figure, even your parents, relatives, teachers, or pastors can be good role models to emulate.
By Mcasiwakuni, Public Domain, Wikimedia
One of the individuals whose life has appealed to me in many dimensions is Martin Luther King Jnr. My choice of Dr. Martin Luther King Jnr as my role model is influenced by his exceptional personality, courage, determination, intelligence, and excellent leadership qualities. And most importantly, his approach to social change through nonviolence and love.
He is a man who stood tall amid oppression and persevered through persecution and challenges. He had a dream and never gave up on his dreams. Even when it seemed impossible he stood up to fight the existing order and establish a new order of social change through his demonstration of love and peace.
He is a man who believed in God and followed Christ's teachings in his social advocacy. I so much love his method of nonviolence. The experience of the civil war in my country from 1967-1970 was very devastating for the people and in the end, the desired result was not even achieved. Some countries are still employing war today as a means to achieve their aims. Wars have done more harm than good and we must all employ this message of peace and love in achieving our desired social change.
By Nobel Foundation, Public Domain, Wikimedia
He is passionate about giving back to society rather than taking from it. His inspirational life can be seen in his many motivational quotes and his numerous books and speeches.
Some of his quotes and powerful words that I admire so much are:
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed — we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.
The quality, not the longevity, of one’s life, is what is important.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
I have studied and followed his life principles and ideas and I make bold to talk about him as my role model any time any day. Emulating him has helped to shape my life of today into the life I want to live tomorrow.
Thanks so much for reading. Please feel free to share your opinions of this great leader in the comment section below.
