Who Are Your Role Models?
photo by hexodus…
Oh Mike Seaver…
I was a tween back in the wholesome ’80s. In those days, we got our morals from Dr. Cliff Huxtable, not Gossip Girl. And in those days, I loved the show Growing Pains. I always wanted to be Tracey Gold. I don’t think it had much to do with her character, the chubby overachiever Carol, though we do share the same Type A personality. Nope, it was because Tracey Gold had the same first name as me. (It’s rare I come across another Tracey, you know.) Not only that, but she spelled it with an e, not the wrong way: Tracy. Oh, and did I mention her last name started with a G? Just like my maiden name? So cool.
That pretty much sums up how kids pick their role models. There’s no science behind it. There’s no listening to a mother say so-and-so is a nice girl or a good, fine woman. Nope, it’s completely random, kind of like everything else a kid does. (As in: Why does a kid decide she suddenly hates red foods? There is no reason. She’s a kid. It probably sounded cool that day.)
photo by calmdownlove
The reason I’m thinking about Tracey Gold isn’t because she’s still my role model (hello, she was sloppy seconds once Kelly Kapowski came along). It’s because I was reading a post about today’s children and role models over at Psych Central. The author started worrying about the state of role models today: Miley Cyrus with shorts up to there. Pink prancing around practically naked. Lady Gaga being Lady Gaga. And Tiger Woods being … oh you know. I’m glad I’m not a parent. I think I’d go mad. And buy a lot of Selena Gomez stuff.
The article made me think…
Were all the role models of my generation really that wholesome? I may have been a bit too young to watch it, but I’ve seen plenty of replays of Madonna in a wedding dress rolling around on stage back when people cared about the MTV Music Awards. (Or do people still care and I’m the only one who thinks they’re silly?) Then there were those loony costumes Cher wore all over the place. I could go on. Maybe things weren’t so squeaky clean. And I turned out fine.
After Tracey and Tiffani there was Audrey.
Who are your current role models? Just because we grow up doesn’t mean we get rid of role models. They just change. Tracey Gold was swapped for Kelly Kapowsi (that’s Tiffani-Amber Thiessen in case you weren’t as obsessed with Saved by the Bell as I was). Kelly was traded in for Audrey Hepburn.
Bottom line: Instead of wanting to be just like our tweenage Tracey Gold, we shoot for someone in our life stage. Maybe yours is an athlete. Or an actress. Or, like ever other person in the country, maybe it’s Oprah.
You know, I’ve never really thought about who inspires me. (Not Oprah.) Maybe I pick bits of various people to form an ideal role model. I know part of that pieced-together person is a soccer player I read about in Health magazine. She had a terrible knee injury but dedicated herself to rehab and played pro soccer again.
Who are your current role models—or who do you look up to in terms of fitness, healthy living, lifestyle, or anything else? And who were your role models growing up? If you have kids, who do they look up to today?
13 comments
I loved Growing Pains and Tracey Gold! And Kelly Kapowski although unfortunately I was a lot more like the tall hyper girl on Saved By The Bell (whose name will come to me as soon as I hit submit)!
As I get older my role models are changing. I think I’ve mentioned that I love Gywneth Paltrow because she seems to have it all – gorgeous, happy, kids, success. I wouldn’t mind if Maya looked up to someone like her versus Miley Cyrus or Britney Spears!
Ameena, I’ll save you a full day of wondering: The tall girl was Jessie Spano.
And to think my brain saves memory space for this…
Oh my gosh…I wanted to be Kelly Kapowski so badly! (maybe it was because we had the same name…ha ha…like you and Tracy Gold)! Today my “famous” role model is Kara Goucher. I think she is an amazing athlete who has worked really hard for her dreams. As for a personal role model…I would go with my parents. They are amazing parents and have shaped me to be the person I am today. I am proud to be their daughter!
My role models back then were the A Team. Probably not the ideal role models but damn they were cool! My brother wore my mom’s chains around the house trying to be like Mr. T!
For fitness role models, I like Tony Horton from the P90X videos. Just seems like a really fun and relatable guy. My wife tells me his yoga form is excellent so I have some confidence he knows what he’s doing.
gah i dont know if i have an celebrity role models!! too crazy nowadays! My parents def have a HUGE influence on me..they are awesome and im so blessed!
David, funny thing is I also liked Mr. T. I think it was because T is for Tracey. I apparently hated how unique my name was back then.
Loved reading this post – and I agree – with all the MTV shows like Real World and Pregnant at 16, it’s hard to sheild the outside world – and with all the technology today!
I swear if my daughters friends get her voicemail on her cell phone they immediately call the house looking for her!
That being said, if you have good parents, they are the role models and can help the kids make good choices – I think I’ve done a good job!
My baby turns 18 next month and graduates from high school this year – she has a 3.7 GPA, has held the same job for 2 years and I get the best compliments about her – makes a momma proud!
Biz, I didn’t know about Pregnant at 16. I’m happy about that. I do agree that parenting makes all the difference. I have very good, supportive parents and they steered me in the right direction. Sounds like your daughter has turned out really well!
I just read in the paper today that Miley Cyrus’s sister is coming out with a lingerie line…Did I mention she’s 9 years old, and probably the role model of many other 9 year olds! Ridiculous.
Oh my gosh..don’t even get me started when peole look up to Miley Cyrus. She looks way older than she is and doesn’t dress like a normal 16 year old does!! Girls at my high school dont’ look like that!!
That being said I love Reese Witherspoon. I think she is classy, never does anything reckless and promotes great causes
That 16 and pregnant show drives me nuts. My 18 y/o cousin watches that show and just got pregnant. Trying not to assume that had anything to do with it, but I’m sure such portrayals don’t help!
I look up to writers and people who can do it all. I am amazed at the things moms and professionals juggle. I want to be a writer more than anything!
I remember not really being impressed by television stars during my day which was the 80’s as well.
These days I look up to people who seem to get it all done.
Right now my role model is Dara Torres because she’s over 40 and fierce!
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