The characteristics of a role model are availability, caring, inviting, intellecutal, and inclusive. The role model also has to be consistent keeping up with the mentee. The role model needs to be realistic with their mentee by telling them the right or wrong way of doing things. I have a lot of role models in my life that I look up to.

 My family is my role model because they constantly tell me that I need to focus on school and nothing else. One of my supervisors from my job at Residential Life named Steve Lampedusa is my role model due to the fact he's always telling me ways I need to improve myself. He always challenge me on a daily basis with interview questions, health, and life planning. Although I don't keep in contact with him, one of my pastors from my church spoke to a group of us one time and his story stuck onto me.

Chris Fernando is also another role model of mine because he changes students life on a daily basis. When senior year came, I was feeling as though I didn't accomplish anything. He talked some sense into me and showed me that I am more than what I think I am. Claudio and Stephon are two more mentors that I tend to keep up with and they also provide words of encouragement to me. There are many role models in my life that a lot of people don't know they possess  those qualities.

 In school I tend to look at other students and try do as much as they do or even more than what they do. If that person had two jobs, participated in clubs, and achieved good grades then I tend to look at myself and say I can do exactly what they are doing. I believe that everyone should have a role model that they can look up to because at times everyone needs coaching in life. Life isn't easy especially in the world we live in and people need guidance in their life on how to deal with the challenges life has to offer. At times even role models can be depressed about something and they need coaching from their mentors or even their mentees as well.

Characteristics of a role model:
    Positive
    Humble
    Integrity
    Honesty
    Perseverance

One person that has motivated me in my life is my sister Jonelle. She is very intelligent, optimistic and has shown me that hard work pays off. She has not only been a great sister to me but has guided me through many obstacles. 

Everyone should have a role model in life because they need someone who they can look up to and one who can motivate them to be a better person. 

If I had to pick anyone to consider as my role model I would choose my mother. My mother is the epitome of how a woman should behave, think and carry herself. One of the most important characteristics a role mole should own is good leadership skills. One has to know how to set a positive example because with the title role model one is held to a different standard. Role models also have to be responsible and be accountable for their actions. No one is perfect but to be a good role model you have to strive for excellence and try to excel in everything you do.

 Everyone needs a role model. Whether it's an academic role model or a social role model, having someone to look up to shapes a person's life for the better or sometimes for the worst. As C-STEP/ STEP scholars we need to always be conscious of how we care ourselves and react to situations. We maybe be someone's role model and not even know it.

Its very important how a role model portrays themselves in front of other. There are many things that makes one a role model! It's important for them to always stay positive for the fact that others put them high on the pedestal and follow their footsteps. Role models are expected to be notorious in the eyes of others. They are intellectual and influential. They do positive things in life . They are caring and trustworthy. Role models have the power to help change another person's view. People look up to them for examples. I feel like everyone need a role model, someone whose going to change that person life in a beneficial way. 

I believe the great characteristics of role models are their qualities of success, poise, reverence for their talents and honoring their journey in life that led them to the “role model” position. A role model is someone who becomes a threshold or a goal post for the onlooker who would like to “follow in his or her footsteps”. That’s a lot of responsibility. 

A lot of great leaders, teachers, mentors, actually, any influential person does not become a role model but stumbles upon becoming a role model. The responsibility of being a role model comes from turning into someone’s mirror. The role model is the litmus test of greatness.

In my life, my role models have been my gifted and very motivational teachers, advisors, family members and Jesus. I think everyone should have a role model. One should look carefully into their journey in life and ask themselves: “who has made me think about my future more deeply than before?”, “why do I want to study a certain profession?” and “what qualities make me a good person?”.  With these questions, I think, one can discern who is a good role model and one can find themselves stumbling upon becoming a role model for the next generation.

Great characteristics of role models are those characteristics that make people want to become better persons; characteristics such as kindness, patience, those with caring personalities, and even those with a good sense of humor. A role model should be an example of someone you would like to become, someone who inspires you. 

The role models in my life are my parents because they've struggled in life and no matter what they go through they keep a positive perspective. They always encourage others to do better and stay positive by showing us to never to give up.

Another role model in my life is Alicia Keys because she' s a symbol of a strong woman, and the things she enjoys speaking and singing about are things such as the struggles on the other side of the world; those are things that keep me interested and inspire me to want to learn through her music.I think everyone needs someone to look up to, everyone needs a role model in life.

Q: Since we are role models to the students, what are great characteristics of role models? Who are the role models in your life? Does everyone need a role model in life?

I believe that a good role model most of all should have a positive attitude. I think that one thing that really deters people is believing that they can not do something. I sometimes feel that way and I find that my greatest motivators are my role models; the people I look up to everyday. I also think that a good role model needs to be determined and a bit fearless. When I say fearless I do not mean jumping off a bridge I mean that they cannot fear success because once you begin to fear success the fear will not let you prevail. Being the best you can be is not something you fear, it is something you admire.


 I learned these qualities from my role models, which include my biggest role model, my mother. She has endured so many obstacles but she does not let those obstacles control her life; she lets those challenges lead her to success. She has a very positive outlook on life and no matter what she is faced , she is determined. I hope to have her ability to prevail no matter the challenge. I also think that I surround myself by many role models everyday which include my peers, co-workers and bosses. I feel that this university is full of such hardworking people and many students have three and four jobs and still maintain their school work. Many students have been through so much but still seem to have the drive to succeed. Those people inspire me to do more, because when you believe you are doing a lot you can always do so much more. 

A role model is a person you not only look up to but value their opinion. A role model is not a saint, it is a person who understands making mistakes and is able to figure out a way to grow from it and help you do the same. Sometimes role models are not aware of their importance to someone else. It could be that two people share a common experience that one needs guidance in and this person admires the way it was handled.

My older sister is my role model. My family is hands down the most critical group of people I know. For as long as I know, she has done well for herself despite their constant judging; though she had her share of mistakes. She definitely taught me to not pay attention to what people say because what you do will not always please everyone.

I think everyone needs a role model. We do not have enough time in our lives to make every mistake possible and learn from them. Role models help you find solutions and preventions to problems big and small whether they are aware of their influence or not. Certainly makes life a little easier.

Having a role modes is important for people of all ages, but especially for young people.  They give you something to strive for, somebody to look up to, somebody to believe in.  A role model doesn't have to be perfect... if anything they probably shouldn't be.  It's important to see both the positive and negatives of your role models, after all everybody is human.  All in all, a role model should simply be somebody you look up to who strives to do their best.  My father was by no means the perfect role model... in fact he has countless flaws.  However, he always does what he can for his family... always does his best.  Despite all of his shortcomings, he has always been and always be my biggest role model.

Since we are role models to the students, what are great characteristics of role models? Who are the role models in your life? Does everyone need a role model in life?

Ever since I was young, I’ve looked up to my older brothers. If they weren’t in the house, I know I would be a totally different person. I looked up to my parents too, but there’s something special and unique about the bond between siblings. My oldest brother Jonathan was always the ‘genius’ of the family - the firstborn child of an Indian household is a big deal.  Whatever he liked, I liked. It wasn’t even intentional usually- it just turned out that way. From the games we played, to the television shows we watched, his likes became mine and we developed similar interests. In fact, if not for my oldest brother I probably wouldn’t have gone to the same high school or joined the track team – two very big influences that have shaped who I’ve become.

My other brother David has also been a big influence on me, but in a much less direct way. When we were young, he was much more tactful about getting what he wanted – he was able to see the big picture as opposed to the immediate situation. He didn’t exactly teach me his ways, but he showed me the importance of tact. Also, I know I never would have mastered (or at least gotten a handle on) my temper if not for him – where I was brash, he was cool-headed. And he was also much more observant about things. He was the type to have eyes in the back of his head, and I like to think he couldn’t help but instill some of this awareness in me. Part of this was also that he was more socially mindful, and so, if not for him I cringe at the thought of what I might have become – the content of my character might have remained the same but it wouldn’t be presented very tidily.

Not everyone may need a role model, but having someone in your life that you can look up to is certainly beneficial in the long run. Role models have the potential to be a powerful influence - one that can even shape the course of a life. Already it’s been true for me and I’m thankful for it.

What are great characteristics of role models? Who are the role models in your life? Does everyone need a role model in life?

I would personally say that my role models in my life consist of my Great Aunt and my Mother. I consider these two women to be my role models because they both raised me and have attributes that I inspire to have or to be.

My mother in particular is always persistent, independent, and optimistic; she is willing to take risks and dream big. At her current age my Mom is still working to acquire all her dreams and making sure that my sisters and I create and acquire all of ours. One thing that I can say about my Mother is that she has always vouched for our family, regardless of the circumstances.

Meanwhile, my Great Aunt is my role model, because she maintains the family. She is the backbone and historian of our family and keeps us sane and going strong. I can say that she values the idea of family and I admire that the most about her. In addition, I might even mention my Dad as my role model, because he acquires the values, which are core to my everyday life; one being punctuality and the second being maintaining a job and supporting yourself. My Dad is a hardworking man and probably as honest as they come and that’s important to me, especially when you’re dealing with a world as chaotic as this one.  

            To specifically describe great characteristics of a role model, I might say that is dependent on personal opinion. A role model is someone that you don’t necessarily aspire to be, but someone that has traits or values you aspire to have; whether it is independence, or punctuality. The characteristic of your role model depends entirely on you and the path you depend on taking in your future. In addition, those role model characteristics also depend on how you want the world to perceive you. For example if you want to be perceived as a kind giving person, you won’t have a role model whose characteristics are perceived as self-centered and greedy.

            I personally don’t feel like a role model is needed in order to succeed in life. Maybe thus far you have failed to identify anyone or haven’t met the right person who you would consider to be a role model. Being role model less, doesn’t make you a directionless, disoriented human being, it just means that no one has had that privilege of being so vital to your life. One thing that can rectify not having a role model, would be knowing who you don’t want to be like and what values you don’t want to have. Identifying what you don’t want makes it easier to find what you do want, and kind of creates a standard or bar of acceptance. Having a role model is cool, but not having one is cool too because at least you know you have standards and you know what you don’t want to be and who don’t want to have around. 

I Look up to Shane from the Walking Dead (This is a plug, go watch Walking Dead and you will understand this).

A little background on the show for anyone who doesn't know it. The Walking Dead is a running tv show about the zombie apocalypse happening and the following of a certain group of survivors who are trying to fend of the horde of zombies while also trying to find a way in making a living for themselves and their families. While the survivors include the most ridiculous group of people ever, I'd have to find one of their characters to fit perfectly.

Shane, being one of the main characters of season 1 & 2, is a survivor. Plain and simple. He shows during the evolution of his character that he will manipulate the people surrounding him as well as the surroundings to his advanatage to ensure his survival and the survival of anyone he sees fit. While doing all of this, his decisions may be presented in an over-the-top fashion, but he does what is needed to be done for the sake of the group and to make sure no more of the group gets killed off.

For the sake of those he loved, he has sacrificed his mentality and his principles to benefit those and try to make even the slightest ounce of difference for their lives.

He does all of this while nearly getting bitten by brainless, insane, dead walkers on what seems like a daily basis. HOW DO YOU KEEP YOURSELF AND OTHERS SAFE LIKE THAT??!?

Role Models

I feel that a good role model is someone who may influence you in a constructive way.  However, a great role model is not only a person that another may feel they can relate to, but someone who has positive outlooks on life and allows for others to feel the same way. It may be someone who inspires as well as motivates you to do your best and always encourages you when you may not necessarily want to hear it.  A good role model may inspire you, but a great role model pushes you to pursue things that you may not have been able to achieve on your own. 

My role model is my mother as she has always been there and always will be there for me.  She always pushes me to do my best and encourages me to continue on even when I don’t feel that I can.  She also ALWAYS gives me constructive criticism to allow me to do my best in life even when I don’t necessarily want to hear it.  Looking back, everything that she has pushed me to achieve in life may not have seemed important to me at the time, but proved to be greatly significant and allowed for me to be a better person.  I feel that everyone has a role model in their life, but not all of them may be positive role models. It is important for everyone to have a role model that has a positive influence on their life as everyone needs a little extra encouragement and motivation sometime.  

 Someone is always watching you.  You might not know it, you might not see the end result but someone will be influenced by every decision you make.  There are negative role models, ones who lead you to trouble, and ones that leads you to do morally wrong things.  Then there are positive role models, ones that lead you to the “promise land”, ones that leads you out of poverty, ones that have led me to college, to a degree, to having a job.  I’ve been around both, I’ve seen where both can lead you.   I think everyone in their own way is one.  The only real question you face is, do you want to be that person to lead someone down a destructive path, or do you want to be that light, that saving grace that might turn someone’s life around. 

            A wise man once told me “A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them and strong enough to correct them.”   I believe a role model best quality is represented in that quotes above.  I think that sums up my definition of a leader.  Role models in my opinion are someone who not necessarily someone who is outspoken, or is the leader or the president of an organization, but is someone who moves quietly in the night, for lack of a better term, and is someone who is mostly seen but rarely heard.  They proceed to talk only when necessary.  They come, get their work done, promptly and efficiently and then leave.  They are the people who are always cognizant that their actions not only affect themselves but leave an impression on the world, our own carbon footprint, so to speak.   To say that all things are interconnected is an understatement. Really, everything you do, say, and think is part of the whole and, in some way, affects not only yourself, but everyone and everything else. 

            I have a lot of role models in my life.  I take lessons from all of them and use them to help guide my life in an attempt to be at least half as successful as them.  They didn’t choose to be a role model, a leader, it just happened.  Through certain aspects of my life, during the times when I was down, and my outlook at life seemed bleak, I sought out my counselor in college to help me through those difficult times.  Without him, I wouldn’t be the man I am today.  He was my “saving grace” as I alluded to before.  He isn’t the flashiest of guys.  He most certainly isn’t the most outspoken or courageous of the bunch.  However, he was the most level headed, the most influential person I met, the most genuine individual I am blessed to know.  Though my time in college is drawing to an end, I foresee my relationship with him to continue to blossom and continue to thrive until the end of time.  I respect him as a counselor, as a friend, but most importantly as a man and a human being. 

            The second most influential role model in my life, not to sound egoistical, but is myself.  From where I came from, from the path I was going down, to the path where I’m going now, I look at myself as a role model.  I use my past experience to motivate myself to never go down that path again.  I use my past experiences to make sure none of you go down that destructive path.  If I can reach out and touch one person life and help them change for the better, life will be that much better.  It’s not enough being “awesome” and doing “awesome” things (sorry, I really couldn’t think of a better word lol) if you can’t share in awesomeness with others.  The world doesn’t revolve around you.  I thought I was poor, and then I went abroad and saw death.  Not just people dying due to shootings and stabbings but people dying because of lack of vaccines and lack of food… something we should be entitled to, something that should be a basic necessity.  That being said, to wrap up my idea of a role model… role models should put others people before themselves, and genuinely care about the safety, the happiness,  and the health of others. 

Role models come in all shapes, sizes and influences. Usually role models are portrayed in positive light in form of a hero of sorts. As traditionally portrayed, a role model can be someone with positive attributes or a role model can be someone you don’t want to end up like. Role models are not only necessary, but they are everywhere. Their necessity comes from avoiding errors and obtaining motivation to accomplish various things in life.

 My mother is a role model for me in the sense of her perseverance, determination and hard work. Many times when I just want to slide by through mediocrity her example motivates me to put my best foot forward in every situation. My sister on the other hand is a role model for me in the sense that her wasted intelligence and constant mediocrity has led her down a rough road. I know through her example what errors to avoid. Both of these women in my life have helped me maintain my success through my academic and personal life. 

                The best role models to keep close are those who motivate you to do better. There is enough negative influence to go around. There are many characteristics of a good role model. The characteristics I look for are usually for strong independent people. I look for people who are hardworking, determined, wise and persevere. I admire those who go out to get what they want in a legitimate manner and don’t give up because of a few hurdles. It doesn’t matter how big or small the goal is as long as it gets accomplished. Along with those signs of strength and independence, I admire those who have compassion for others, exude professionalism and are trustworthy. Your word should be more valuable than money.

                In my life I have a few role models.  My mother is one of my long lasting role models. Since I can remember, my mom has been determined and always changing for the better. She isn’t perfect, and I can count her flaws out but the good outweighs the bad. She started off as an immigrant 20+ years ago with an English vocabulary of 3 words. She had four children, two disabled and soon became a single parent. My mother has worked all sorts of jobs to keep food on the table. She has worked double shifts in retail, and even on a farm cleaning up after animals. Then she became a taxi driver and evolved from there as a saleswoman in a car dealership where she worked for almost a decade and even had an ad on a radio station. Currently, my mother is a small business owner with her same four children and helping me finance my way through college. She never gave up regardless of how hard it became. She has motivated me through the years and reminded me of the importance of education. Whenever I think about taking a break all I have to do is remember her story.