Who inspires you to pursue your dreams or improve your life?
Do you have a role model: a person who has a good influence on you and who motivates you to do your best? Is this person someone you know personally or one you admire from afar? How do you think your role model has shaped your life?
In “As Mikaela Shiffrin Considers How to Top Herself, She Studies Taylor Swift,” Bill Pennington writes about the influence Ms. Swift has had on Ms. Shiffrin, a champion ski racer:
A Swiftie since she was 13, Shiffrin, like legions of other girls and women, sees herself in Swift and has come to recognize elemental parallels in their careers and lives. For perspective, Shiffrin, 28, turns to her idol.
In July, Shiffrin rented a suite for Swift’s Eras Tour concert in Denver, an event Shiffrin described as “three hours of jumping up and down while singing every song at the top of my lungs.” Within that experience, Shiffrin pondered if there was a lesson that would help shape the next “era” of her own luminous career.
Had Swift, the teen prodigy who is now 34, helped point the way from one stage to another?
“Absolutely, because I’ve spent 15 years studying Taylor Swift and she has been guiding me a little bit every step of the way,” Shiffrin said in a recent interview in Vermont, where she claimed the 90th of her 93 career World Cup victories. “It’s why most Swifties become Swifties. It feels like her music is speaking directly to you. Her experiences resonate; I’ve always tried to learn from them.”
Shiffrin’s mother, Eileen, a former ski racer who is also one of her coaches, insisted that Swift had provided guidance that is more multifaceted and sophisticated than it might seem.
“Miki’s sport and career thrives on creativity,” Eileen wrote in an email last month, using Mikaela’s family nickname. She added that “every new Taylor Swift song, concert and video,” is an inspiration and motivation to her daughter.
Eileen Shiffrin, who praised Swift’s “street smarts” and business acumen, continued: “She keeps Miki ticking like she does the whole world. And she stands her ground, as she should, and that’s a great role model.”
As Mikaela Shiffrin, who has never met Swift, recalled various chapters of her public journey — stunning racing successes, ill-timed flops, the perils of fame, the accidental death of her father in 2020 — Shiffrin readily identified ways Swift had influenced her responses to each situation.
That long-distance tutelage began when the preternaturally gifted Shiffrin, nurtured in the Colorado mountains and at a venerable Vermont ski academy, won three World Cup races and a world championship gold medal as a high school senior. A year later, in 2014, she became the youngest slalom champion in Olympic history, at 18, and was thrust into an international sporting spotlight that has only seemed to magnify with each season.
But since her days as a 13-year-old listening to Swift’s 2008 album “Fearless” on repeat, she said, she has looked for clues on how to live as a celebrity.
“Granted, Taylor is a big fish in a big pond and I’m more of a big fish in a small pond,” Shiffrin said. “But you can see how she’s handled the attention, because she was a teenager too. She was able to hold up and work on her music. And while she’s very comfortable sharing a lot of her life, she builds a layer of protection when she needs it. She can disappear. That does seem to give her energy.
“I took all that in and kind of assimilated it. Although it was hard for me because I had to go from being an extreme introvert to being comfortable around a lot of cameras and microphones. It’s a bit funny having to go through life quantifying yourself as an introvert but having to live it in an extroverted way.”
My students, read the entire article and then tell me:
Mikaela Shiffrin said she tries to learn from Taylor Swift’s life experiences. Whose life serves as an example to you? What have you taken from that person and applied to your own actions and decisions?
Is your hero a family member, friend or acquaintance? How do you think this experience compares to having a hero who is famous and whom you have never met? And, if your hero is someone you know, does this person know they play that role for you?
Can you give an example or two of how your idol has influenced you?
What specific qualities do you look for in a role model? Why?
Are you a role model to anyone, or do you think you might be? What is it like to be a person whom someone else looks up to?
My idol is my dad. I've looked up to my dad since I was little and considering that I think there are many ways that my dad has influenced me. One way that my dad has influenced me is how I treat others. My dad always encouraged me to be kind to others, empathetic, and look for the best in people. Always having this force that encourages me to treat others kindly. Another way that my father has influenced me is my striving. My dad is very hardworking and driven. My dad has always supported me and encouraged me to do well in lots of aspects of life. Whether it's in school, work, or just life in general. In the end, I'm grateful that my dad has supported me and encouraged me in many different ways, and that he is my idol.
Someone life that serves as an example to me is Spike Spiegel from the show "Cowboy Bebop". This is because of the tribulations that he goes through as a character that had taught me life lessons. In the article, Mikaela Shiffrin had never met Taylor Swift, but she had influenced her life still. I agree with her on this point where you don't need to meet your heroes for them to impact you, but I believe she can put more emphasis on how her hero impacted her because many people believe you must know your hero or must meet them. With me, Spike Spiegel goes through many struggles in his life but still can remain laid back and happy, even when close to death he says the famous words: "Whatever happens, happens". This is what resonated with me the most because even though I would most likely never be in the situations Spike had been in since he was a character in fantasy, I can implement them to go through life in a better way. I believe I am a role model in a way to my younger relatives and being in that position inspires me to be a better version of my role model, showing those who look up to me a way to go through life.
My hero will always be my dad. I believe he compares to a hero because he is the most reliable person in my life which I think is a big part of playing the role of a “hero”. My dad is also such a kind hearted and thoughtful guy, he really stands out and makes an impact on the people around him. No words could explain how much my dad means to me, he’s my everything. I don't think that he knows he is my hero but I think he knows how much I love him, I think he understands how important he is to me, and I think he will never not be there for me.
When it comes to thinking of someone who resembles a hero in my life, I couldn't just choose one. Both my mom and dad have greatly influenced and encouraged me throughout my life. Coming from a second-generation Mexican/American family, my parents have sacrificed a lot to provide for me and my siblings. Growing up, I observed my parents' dedication when trying to succeed and perseverance through hardships. Their commitment to responsibilities has caused them to achieve many of their goals, which inspires me to strive for success. My parents' efforts in shaping my upbringing have not only turned me into the person that I am today but also led me on that path of wanting to fulfill a purposeful life. I truly admire my parents for their hard work, unconditional love, and guidance throughout my life. My mom and dad are the true definition of heroes in my life.
My hero's are my Great Grandparents and their children my grandmother and my aunts and uncles. My great grandparents owned one of the biggest sugarcane plantations in Cuba before it was taken over by the dictator Fidel Castro. They where one of the richest families in Cuba owning over thousands of acres and a sugar can mill. In 1962 they where forced to send there four kids to America by themselves with relatively nothing as part of the peter pan project. They stayed in Miami Florida with strangers fro 2 years until 1964 while my great grandparents fought with the people of Cuba. as we know that they where unsuccessful they came to the united states to reunite with their children in 1664. This is when they moved to the one place they where comfortable with being Baton Rouge Louisiana because that is where they all went to college for sugar can engineering. My great grandparents moved into a tiny apartment with their four kids with nothing nut 40 dollars and a a drive to become successful. since then their son my uncle is a multimillionaire a daughter that is a Spanish teacher and another daughter who runs multiple banks. My family is the definition of the American dream. They show me that i become anything with hard work and determination.
My role model is my grandfather. My grandfather possesses an incredible work ethic that I greatly admire. He works tirelessly to provide for family and taught me the importance of hard work and perseverance. He instilled in me the belief that success comes from dedication and determination. He shows it every day. He is one of the most kind-hearted and selfless people, he constantly puts others before himself and is always willing to lend a helping hand. His generosity extends not only to our family but also to those who need it.He has shaped me into the person I am today by setting an example of how to live a meaningful and fulfilling life. I am forever grateful for his influence on me and strive every day to have the qualities that make him such an amazing role model. I continue daily to attempt to please people and potentially be someone's role model in the future.
My idol would probably have to be Brent Faiyaz. He is a singer but very good with a very soothing voice. Not only do I like his singing and his music but I like how he is as a person and him in general. He is a very laid back person and just very to himself he doesn't talk much he just keeps his peace. I'm not saying it's bad to talk but I like being silent just like how he is. You just keep that peace and do your work and move on with your day that's what he does and this is very smart and so relaxing in a way. He influenced me to be a calm and chill person and to not care much about problems in the world and focus on yourself.
In my opinion having a role model is someone to look up to and is very special. I think a role model is helpful, and gives guidance to an abundance of people. My friend / instructor has always been someone who influences me in a positive manner. I admire how incredibly dedicated she is with her passion and helping others to succeed. A role model/idol could be someone famous who accomplished incredible things. Additionally, having a famous person as a role model could also benefit someone because they can learn from their mistakes and use them as guidance for a career. Although people might not know their role models they still serve as an example, and give inspiration to someone. Many people benefit from having a role model. It is statistically proven that 68% of people who have a role model have a more established career, compared to 32% who don’t have a role model (Brower). A role model influence has a huge impact on everyone, especially kids. A role model sets an example, and helps kids do the right thing. My role model influences me and inspires me. She is aware I view her as a role model through personal communication. “My role model didn’t tell me, he/she showed me”- unknown.
My sister has been a guiding light in my life since I was little, her influence shaping my journey in ways I'm continually grateful for. From a young age, I've walked in her footsteps, drawn to her passion for art and creativity. I also feel I got my sense of humor from her; without my sister, my life would be dull and she brings a beacon of light into my life. I see traces of her humor woven into mine, her determination, and her brightening energy even in the dullest moments. My life is richer because of her presence, illuminating every moment as we have grown up together. She watched me grow up, and while I hadn't noticed, her influence shaped to to be the person I am today. Even though there are some tough times, as siblings have, such as the youngest sibling getting the number 2 Wii remote and the oldest getting the number 1, I still see the light that she brings into my life. Now, she is in college, and graduating this June. Today, I look up to her more than I ever have, from her determination throughout the years to follow her dreams. I have never seen her give up, from small, to big; her dream, Broadway. She always sees the light at the end of the tunnel and strives to accomplish her goals. She embodies the spirit of never giving up, and that's why, Renee isn't just an older sister; she's my idol, a constant reminder that even in life's toughest moments, there's always hope and support to be found.
In my eyes, a hero is someone who you aspire to be. An individual who motivates you to be the best version of yourself. Someone who is willing to protect you no matter what. In my life, my hero is my mom. She has always inspired me to keep working hard for my future. Although I agree with Mikaela on the aspect that we should learn from our hero's experiences, it is also important to not base our lives on others' personal experiences. My mom came to the United States with very little. She left her family in El Salvador to provide a better life and opportunity for her children. My mother has learned and always emphasized to me that without working hard, you won't be able to achieve your goals. Due to the big risks my mother took while coming to this new country, she now prefers to continue her peaceful and comfortable life surrounded by her family. Although I will always recognize the hard work my mom put to allow me and my siblings to seek higher education and opportunities, I will continue to take risks to better my future. I believe that there will always be a chance of obtaining a better outcome by taking risks yet, you won't ever realize it without pushing yourself to take it.
Who is my idol? I don’t have one idol, I have two. Although they are not Taylor Swift they are the reason I work hard every morning. My mother and my sister are my idols, the two influential women that have shaped the way I look at my education, lifestyle, and my beliefs. My mother is a Guatemalan immigrant who came to this country with nothing but the clothes on her back. She is a very catholic woman who introduced me to religion at a young age, her morals along with the church taught my sister and I our sense of right from wrong. My sister the first-generation trail blazer and the first person in her family to graduate college. My mother and my sister both taught me the importance of education. My mother who worked and payed her way up to 9th grade taught me to take advantage of my resources. My sister guided me on the journey, with tips and tricks she knew before going to a higher education. These woman have guided the importance of living a “successful life”. I agree that “Swift had provided guidance that is more multifaceted and sophisticated than it might seem”, is a point that needs emphasizing since so many people believe, artists like Swift are overrated and “make fun” of the impact she holds. Like many believe that calling you mother and sister your idols is to “basic” but it is true to me, just like Taylor Swift being her idol is true to Eileen.
I think I'm a role model to a family friend. He’s like my little brother and he always asks questions about how my life is. I like to think that he looks up to me and I’ll be able to pass my wisdom down to him so he can be ready for the future. I believe that knowing that someone is looking up to me is a responsibility. It’s a responsibility because you always have to do the right thing so you can show that person looking up to you what is right and wrong. It makes you acknowledge that whatever you do doesn't only affect you, but everyone around you, especially the people looking up to you.
What is it like to be a person whom someone else looks up to? My cheer coach talked with me, and the other girls in my grade (the upcoming seniors on our team, about leadership. She talked about how we’re the oldest on the team, and we have to show an example of what we want to have success this cheer season. A couple of days after our State Cheer competition, one of the freshman girls sent me a text that said “Hey Mallory, just wanted to thank you for being a good influence on what we need for the season, excited for your senior year!” That text made me feel not only really good and proud, but a sense of good responsibility - that me and the girls on my team are role models and we have to exemplify what we want and who we are. It feels good to be looked up to and it also feels like good work.
My idol is my dad. My dad is such an important part of my life because of everything he’s done for my family. When my dad went to college he went for something he loved, mechanical engineering. He had wanted to be a mechanic and work on cars. Whilst he was in college he had to work to pay for it and he eventually got to a point where he was given a job offer from a company, but it was a desk job. This was something that he never wanted to do, but he chose to take the job because he knew that it would provide a better life for my mom, and his future children, me and my sisters. To me this was such an incredible thing for my dad to do, he put the needs of his future family before something that he had been working towards for nearly three years. My dad never graduated college, but he provided an amazing life for his family and I aspire to be as selfless as him one day to make that same sacrifice if necessary.
My idol is Noah Kahan. I discovered Noah from his famous song Stick Season. This was last August, when it blew up on TikTok. Becoming a Noah fan has connected me to so many cool people. I have met friends, discovered amazing new music, and fixed my mental health. Music has such an interesting way of fixing your mental health. I never understood it until I listened to his music. I started to listen to his deep music and fell more in love with the words of his songs. He has stories in every song he has. Last October, I went to Nashville to watch one of his converts. Best night of my life. Being able to have a person influence you, is so interesting and I am so glad I was able to experience it.
Is your hero a family member, friend, or acquaintance? How do you think this experience compares to having a hero who is famous and whom you have never met? And, if your hero is someone you know, does this person know they play that role for you? My role model, or I guess you could say hero is my brother. Yes, I know him and a lot of people might think that’s a basic answer, but I have looked up to him ever since I was born. He’s the big brother who will make fun of you but also spoil and protect you. He’s not a famous songwriter or actor, he’s just my brother does seem to make a difference to me because I know his heart. I can see what is actually going on in his life and we share the same experiences together, rather than me trying to make a connection to someone I don’t know. Now I do have some celebrity heroes, but siblings are there from the very start and pretty much to the very end. I don’t think he knows he plays such importance to me because he just doesn’t stop to think for a second, he just keeps going. Like the connection Mikaela made with Taylor, he just keeps living life getting better and learning more every day. We find more and more about ourselves throughout life and that’s why I look
In “As Mikaela Shiffrin Considers How to Top Herself, She Studies Taylor Swift,” Bill Pennington writes about the influence Ms. Swift has had on Ms. Shiffrin, a champion ski racer:
A Swiftie since she was 13, Shiffrin, like legions of other girls and women, sees herself in Swift and has come to recognize elemental parallels in their careers and lives. For perspective, Shiffrin, 28, turns to her idol.
In July, Shiffrin rented a suite for Swift’s Eras Tour concert in Denver, an event Shiffrin described as “three hours of jumping up and down while singing every song at the top of my lungs.” Within that experience, Shiffrin pondered if there was a lesson that would help shape the next “era” of her own luminous career.
Had Swift, the teen prodigy who is now 34, helped point the way from one stage to another?
“Absolutely, because I’ve spent 15 years studying Taylor Swift and she has been guiding me a little bit every step of the way,” Shiffrin said in a recent interview in Vermont, where she claimed the 90th of her 93 career World Cup victories. “It’s why most Swifties become Swifties. It feels like her music is speaking directly to you. Her experiences resonate; I’ve always tried to learn from them.”
Shiffrin’s mother, Eileen, a former ski racer who is also one of her coaches, insisted that Swift had provided guidance that is more multifaceted and sophisticated than it might seem.
“Miki’s sport and career thrives on creativity,” Eileen wrote in an email last month, using Mikaela’s family nickname. She added that “every new Taylor Swift song, concert and video,” is an inspiration and motivation to her daughter.
Eileen Shiffrin, who praised Swift’s “street smarts” and business acumen, continued: “She keeps Miki ticking like she does the whole world. And she stands her ground, as she should, and that’s a great role model.”
As Mikaela Shiffrin, who has never met Swift, recalled various chapters of her public journey — stunning racing successes, ill-timed flops, the perils of fame, the accidental death of her father in 2020 — Shiffrin readily identified ways Swift had influenced her responses to each situation.
That long-distance tutelage began when the preternaturally gifted Shiffrin, nurtured in the Colorado mountains and at a venerable Vermont ski academy, won three World Cup races and a world championship gold medal as a high school senior. A year later, in 2014, she became the youngest slalom champion in Olympic history, at 18, and was thrust into an international sporting spotlight that has only seemed to magnify with each season.
But since her days as a 13-year-old listening to Swift’s 2008 album “Fearless” on repeat, she said, she has looked for clues on how to live as a celebrity.
“Granted, Taylor is a big fish in a big pond and I’m more of a big fish in a small pond,” Shiffrin said. “But you can see how she’s handled the attention, because she was a teenager too. She was able to hold up and work on her music. And while she’s very comfortable sharing a lot of her life, she builds a layer of protection when she needs it. She can disappear. That does seem to give her energy.
“I took all that in and kind of assimilated it. Although it was hard for me because I had to go from being an extreme introvert to being comfortable around a lot of cameras and microphones. It’s a bit funny having to go through life quantifying yourself as an introvert but having to live it in an extroverted way.”
My students, read the entire article and then tell me:
Mikaela Shiffrin said she tries to learn from Taylor Swift’s life experiences. Whose life serves as an example to you? What have you taken from that person and applied to your own actions and decisions?
Is your hero a family member, friend or acquaintance? How do you think this experience compares to having a hero who is famous and whom you have never met? And, if your hero is someone you know, does this person know they play that role for you?
Can you give an example or two of how your idol has influenced you?
What specific qualities do you look for in a role model? Why?
Are you a role model to anyone, or do you think you might be? What is it like to be a person whom someone else looks up to?
My idol is my dad. I've looked up to my dad since I was little and considering that I think there are many ways that my dad has influenced me. One way that my dad has influenced me is how I treat others. My dad always encouraged me to be kind to others, empathetic, and look for the best in people. Always having this force that encourages me to treat others kindly. Another way that my father has influenced me is my striving. My dad is very hardworking and driven. My dad has always supported me and encouraged me to do well in lots of aspects of life. Whether it's in school, work, or just life in general. In the end, I'm grateful that my dad has supported me and encouraged me in many different ways, and that he is my idol.
Someone life that serves as an example to me is Spike Spiegel from the show "Cowboy Bebop". This is because of the tribulations that he goes through as a character that had taught me life lessons. In the article, Mikaela Shiffrin had never met Taylor Swift, but she had influenced her life still. I agree with her on this point where you don't need to meet your heroes for them to impact you, but I believe she can put more emphasis on how her hero impacted her because many people believe you must know your hero or must meet them. With me, Spike Spiegel goes through many struggles in his life but still can remain laid back and happy, even when close to death he says the famous words: "Whatever happens, happens". This is what resonated with me the most because even though I would most likely never be in the situations Spike had been in since he was a character in fantasy, I can implement them to go through life in a better way. I believe I am a role model in a way to my younger relatives and being in that position inspires me to be a better version of my role model, showing those who look up to me a way to go through life.
My hero will always be my dad. I believe he compares to a hero because he is the most reliable person in my life which I think is a big part of playing the role of a “hero”. My dad is also such a kind hearted and thoughtful guy, he really stands out and makes an impact on the people around him. No words could explain how much my dad means to me, he’s my everything. I don't think that he knows he is my hero but I think he knows how much I love him, I think he understands how important he is to me, and I think he will never not be there for me.
When it comes to thinking of someone who resembles a hero in my life, I couldn't just choose one. Both my mom and dad have greatly influenced and encouraged me throughout my life. Coming from a second-generation Mexican/American family, my parents have sacrificed a lot to provide for me and my siblings. Growing up, I observed my parents' dedication when trying to succeed and perseverance through hardships. Their commitment to responsibilities has caused them to achieve many of their goals, which inspires me to strive for success. My parents' efforts in shaping my upbringing have not only turned me into the person that I am today but also led me on that path of wanting to fulfill a purposeful life. I truly admire my parents for their hard work, unconditional love, and guidance throughout my life. My mom and dad are the true definition of heroes in my life.
My hero's are my Great Grandparents and their children my grandmother and my aunts and uncles. My great grandparents owned one of the biggest sugarcane plantations in Cuba before it was taken over by the dictator Fidel Castro. They where one of the richest families in Cuba owning over thousands of acres and a sugar can mill. In 1962 they where forced to send there four kids to America by themselves with relatively nothing as part of the peter pan project. They stayed in Miami Florida with strangers fro 2 years until 1964 while my great grandparents fought with the people of Cuba. as we know that they where unsuccessful they came to the united states to reunite with their children in 1664. This is when they moved to the one place they where comfortable with being Baton Rouge Louisiana because that is where they all went to college for sugar can engineering. My great grandparents moved into a tiny apartment with their four kids with nothing nut 40 dollars and a a drive to become successful. since then their son my uncle is a multimillionaire a daughter that is a Spanish teacher and another daughter who runs multiple banks. My family is the definition of the American dream. They show me that i become anything with hard work and determination.
My role model is my grandfather. My grandfather possesses an incredible work ethic that I greatly admire. He works tirelessly to provide for family and taught me the importance of hard work and perseverance. He instilled in me the belief that success comes from dedication and determination. He shows it every day. He is one of the most kind-hearted and selfless people, he constantly puts others before himself and is always willing to lend a helping hand. His generosity extends not only to our family but also to those who need it.He has shaped me into the person I am today by setting an example of how to live a meaningful and fulfilling life. I am forever grateful for his influence on me and strive every day to have the qualities that make him such an amazing role model. I continue daily to attempt to please people and potentially be someone's role model in the future.
My idol would probably have to be Brent Faiyaz. He is a singer but very good with a very soothing voice. Not only do I like his singing and his music but I like how he is as a person and him in general. He is a very laid back person and just very to himself he doesn't talk much he just keeps his peace. I'm not saying it's bad to talk but I like being silent just like how he is. You just keep that peace and do your work and move on with your day that's what he does and this is very smart and so relaxing in a way. He influenced me to be a calm and chill person and to not care much about problems in the world and focus on yourself.
In my opinion having a role model is someone to look up to and is very special. I think a role model is helpful, and gives guidance to an abundance of people. My friend / instructor has always been someone who influences me in a positive manner. I admire how incredibly dedicated she is with her passion and helping others to succeed. A role model/idol could be someone famous who accomplished incredible things. Additionally, having a famous person as a role model could also benefit someone because they can learn from their mistakes and use them as guidance for a career. Although people might not know their role models they still serve as an example, and give inspiration to someone. Many people benefit from having a role model. It is statistically proven that 68% of people who have a role model have a more established career, compared to 32% who don’t have a role model (Brower). A role model influence has a huge impact on everyone, especially kids. A role model sets an example, and helps kids do the right thing. My role model influences me and inspires me. She is aware I view her as a role model through personal communication. “My role model didn’t tell me, he/she showed me”- unknown.
My sister has been a guiding light in my life since I was little, her influence shaping my journey in ways I'm continually grateful for. From a young age, I've walked in her footsteps, drawn to her passion for art and creativity. I also feel I got my sense of humor from her; without my sister, my life would be dull and she brings a beacon of light into my life. I see traces of her humor woven into mine, her determination, and her brightening energy even in the dullest moments. My life is richer because of her presence, illuminating every moment as we have grown up together. She watched me grow up, and while I hadn't noticed, her influence shaped to to be the person I am today. Even though there are some tough times, as siblings have, such as the youngest sibling getting the number 2 Wii remote and the oldest getting the number 1, I still see the light that she brings into my life. Now, she is in college, and graduating this June. Today, I look up to her more than I ever have, from her determination throughout the years to follow her dreams. I have never seen her give up, from small, to big; her dream, Broadway. She always sees the light at the end of the tunnel and strives to accomplish her goals. She embodies the spirit of never giving up, and that's why, Renee isn't just an older sister; she's my idol, a constant reminder that even in life's toughest moments, there's always hope and support to be found.
In my eyes, a hero is someone who you aspire to be. An individual who motivates you to be the best version of yourself. Someone who is willing to protect you no matter what. In my life, my hero is my mom. She has always inspired me to keep working hard for my future. Although I agree with Mikaela on the aspect that we should learn from our hero's experiences, it is also important to not base our lives on others' personal experiences. My mom came to the United States with very little. She left her family in El Salvador to provide a better life and opportunity for her children. My mother has learned and always emphasized to me that without working hard, you won't be able to achieve your goals. Due to the big risks my mother took while coming to this new country, she now prefers to continue her peaceful and comfortable life surrounded by her family. Although I will always recognize the hard work my mom put to allow me and my siblings to seek higher education and opportunities, I will continue to take risks to better my future. I believe that there will always be a chance of obtaining a better outcome by taking risks yet, you won't ever realize it without pushing yourself to take it.
Who is my idol? I don’t have one idol, I have two. Although they are not Taylor Swift they are the reason I work hard every morning. My mother and my sister are my idols, the two influential women that have shaped the way I look at my education, lifestyle, and my beliefs. My mother is a Guatemalan immigrant who came to this country with nothing but the clothes on her back. She is a very catholic woman who introduced me to religion at a young age, her morals along with the church taught my sister and I our sense of right from wrong. My sister the first-generation trail blazer and the first person in her family to graduate college. My mother and my sister both taught me the importance of education. My mother who worked and payed her way up to 9th grade taught me to take advantage of my resources. My sister guided me on the journey, with tips and tricks she knew before going to a higher education. These woman have guided the importance of living a “successful life”. I agree that “Swift had provided guidance that is more multifaceted and sophisticated than it might seem”, is a point that needs emphasizing since so many people believe, artists like Swift are overrated and “make fun” of the impact she holds. Like many believe that calling you mother and sister your idols is to “basic” but it is true to me, just like Taylor Swift being her idol is true to Eileen.
I think I'm a role model to a family friend. He’s like my little brother and he always asks questions about how my life is. I like to think that he looks up to me and I’ll be able to pass my wisdom down to him so he can be ready for the future. I believe that knowing that someone is looking up to me is a responsibility. It’s a responsibility because you always have to do the right thing so you can show that person looking up to you what is right and wrong. It makes you acknowledge that whatever you do doesn't only affect you, but everyone around you, especially the people looking up to you.
What is it like to be a person whom someone else looks up to? My cheer coach talked with me, and the other girls in my grade (the upcoming seniors on our team, about leadership. She talked about how we’re the oldest on the team, and we have to show an example of what we want to have success this cheer season. A couple of days after our State Cheer competition, one of the freshman girls sent me a text that said “Hey Mallory, just wanted to thank you for being a good influence on what we need for the season, excited for your senior year!” That text made me feel not only really good and proud, but a sense of good responsibility - that me and the girls on my team are role models and we have to exemplify what we want and who we are. It feels good to be looked up to and it also feels like good work.
My idol is my dad. My dad is such an important part of my life because of everything he’s done for my family. When my dad went to college he went for something he loved, mechanical engineering. He had wanted to be a mechanic and work on cars. Whilst he was in college he had to work to pay for it and he eventually got to a point where he was given a job offer from a company, but it was a desk job. This was something that he never wanted to do, but he chose to take the job because he knew that it would provide a better life for my mom, and his future children, me and my sisters. To me this was such an incredible thing for my dad to do, he put the needs of his future family before something that he had been working towards for nearly three years. My dad never graduated college, but he provided an amazing life for his family and I aspire to be as selfless as him one day to make that same sacrifice if necessary.
My idol is Noah Kahan. I discovered Noah from his famous song Stick Season. This was last August, when it blew up on TikTok. Becoming a Noah fan has connected me to so many cool people. I have met friends, discovered amazing new music, and fixed my mental health. Music has such an interesting way of fixing your mental health. I never understood it until I listened to his music. I started to listen to his deep music and fell more in love with the words of his songs. He has stories in every song he has. Last October, I went to Nashville to watch one of his converts. Best night of my life. Being able to have a person influence you, is so interesting and I am so glad I was able to experience it.
Is your hero a family member, friend, or acquaintance? How do you think this experience compares to having a hero who is famous and whom you have never met? And, if your hero is someone you know, does this person know they play that role for you? My role model, or I guess you could say hero is my brother. Yes, I know him and a lot of people might think that’s a basic answer, but I have looked up to him ever since I was born. He’s the big brother who will make fun of you but also spoil and protect you. He’s not a famous songwriter or actor, he’s just my brother does seem to make a difference to me because I know his heart. I can see what is actually going on in his life and we share the same experiences together, rather than me trying to make a connection to someone I don’t know. Now I do have some celebrity heroes, but siblings are there from the very start and pretty much to the very end. I don’t think he knows he plays such importance to me because he just doesn’t stop to think for a second, he just keeps going. Like the connection Mikaela made with Taylor, he just keeps living life getting better and learning more every day. We find more and more about ourselves throughout life and that’s why I look
