The Other Wes Moore Role Model

Words: 1218
Pages: 5

Despite self-awareness, a person makes many decisions everyday, even if many are subtle. Getting out of bed, deciding what clothes to wear, and even the attitude you display to others. While there are many factors that contribute to these decision making, a major factor is who your role model can be. Role models, whether they be a close friend, family member, or historical figure, can influence what you aspire to do, and how you live your life. In The Other Wes Moore, role models play a big role shaping the lives and decisions of both Wes’s, further leading them to their places in the current world. Role models heavily influence teenagers, despite teens’ stubbornness. By setting either examples, role models either set positive or negative standards …show more content…
With the other Wes, despite being told to not sell drugs, his mother and brother were very focused on survival, such that he also view those ideals as important. His desire for survival prevented him to see the bigger picture, and ultimately caused him to even start selling drugs in the first place. Contrastingly, the author Wes had gained from his mother the perspective that Education held value, and so the long term goals were what drove him further, and different from the other Wes. Then my sister had also lost the drive for the future, and this caused her to need to repeat many courses over the summer in high school. With her friends lack of passion, she also lost passion for education, and the “I don’t care” attitude became more contagious, and her attitude about life totally changed. However, her school provided her with resources, and she soon got involved with the well-know program Big Brothers Big Sisters which granted her a mentor, Lily. My sister’s mentor was very kind and considerate, a perfect role model. She had even reached out to our father, and we met with him a couple times with the help of Lily. By having a role model leading my sister by setting a good example, she was able to manage high school better than her other rebellious friends. While academically she still had some struggles, she was able to reach out and get help, and become more responsible for her actions..
In the end, the impact role models have on teens decision making will impact whether the teens will succeed or fail. If a role model inspires a teen to do great things, then a teen is more likely to do great things. Role models play a major role in the good and the bad decisions teenagers make.
With role models playing an important role in teens’ lives, it is important to be aware of the resources and opportunities that can get teens back on track through