Students at Pleasant Valley High School have been an ever-changing group of people. Looking at their role models in the past versus the present reveals how student trends and behaviors have changed over time.
For many students, role models have been an essential part of growing up. They give kids a goal to reach for, motivating them to work hard and learn more in high school. For many students, role models are how they see themselves in the future. Students use role models as personal examples to follow and learn from.
However, role models are constantly changing as students grow. This is the case for senior Ruth Davidson, as her role models have changed drastically.
Growing up, she loved to watch the show iCarly and looked up to Miranda Cosgrove, the actor that played Carly in the show. “I used to look up to her, just because I loved the show so much,” Ruth said, “Now, I am more realistic, and I really admire my mom, striving to have the work ethic and passion that she does.
As these role models have been changing, some students are seeing patterns emerge. One PV graduate, Vashi Chintillapali noticed something particularly interesting. “Previously, kids used to look up to people with good personalities and noble goals. Now, more and more people have role models simply as sexual figures to imitate.”
Vashi has seen an increasing amount of students paying attention to only how they look, looking up to more sexual role models instead of intellectual role models. “I believe there is no one role model that one should look up to. We should be learning from many peoples’ successes.”
These role models in students are not just some small figures in students lives. It’s important to have and admire them. They define what one values in life, so choose them carefully. Consider your own role models. Are they really people that you can learn a lot from? Why do you look up to who you do? Do you act like a role model yourself?
