Discussion on Positive and Negative Role Models Students

Discussionon Positive and Negative Role Models

Students

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Discussionon Positive and Negative Role Models

Our life today is encompassed by numerous challenges. We frequentlyface challenges that turn us back and make us feel like quitting.Life sometimes can be disappointing. Failures in life traumatize us,make us nervous, and we lose our confidence. However, a problemshared is half solved. It is important when we share our problemswith others. Well, we might not directly help them out of theproblem, but we can inspire them to regain their confidence and moveon. The paper will discuss positive role model and negative rolemodels.

PositiveRole Model

In life, less often we come across constant persistence for successlike that of Abraham Lincoln. He was born in a low-income family. Hisparents were uneducated, but luckily, her sister and Lincoln went toschool. When he was only ten years old, their mother Nancy died outof milk sickness. Their father remarried to a woman who encouragedhim to work hard in school. However, he had to do odd jobs liketaking flatboats of cargo to support his education.

He started developing an interest in politics and later after movingto Illinois, he started participating in debates. He vied and won theseat of House of Representatives in Illinois. He built his politicalcareer, and in the year 1842, he married Mary Todd. They gave birthto four sons, but only one survived to adulthood. At that moment,America was suffering from division due to economics and slaverymorality. Abraham opposed the idea of having the slavery trade. Inthe year 1860, he was the United States president. He faced a bigchallenge of reuniting the war-torn country, which he succeeded. Hebegan by stopping slavery in America though he did not succeed inthis fight before meeting his death. He languished the effect of warwhere he instructed his army to retreat and allow the soldiers tokeep their weapons and horses to maintain their dignity(McCrary, 2015).

Despite these achievements, Abraham Lincoln faced many challenges. Hestarted a business but the business collapsed, and he ended up beenbankrupt. In 1835, his love died and later the following year, hesuffered from nervous break. In 1838, he vied and failed as the Housespeaker. In the year, 1843, he was defeated for Congress nomination.In addition, he lost re-nomination as Congress in the year 1848. In1854, he was defeated for the United State Senate. Two years later,he was again defeated for the United States Senate. After all thesefailures, in the year 1860, he was elected as the United States’President (Burlingame,2013).&nbsp

Abraham Lincoln is my positive role model. He has inspired me throughhis constant persistence for success. Lincoln`s success did not comeon a silver plate, but he relentlessly worked for it. He was notdrawn back by the life challenges. He used the challenges to striveto better his future. He was a patient leader and finally hispatience paid. In addition, he was a humble leader, despite being theAmerican President and he fought to abolish the slave trade. However,he died before accomplishing his dream, but years later, his wish wasaccomplished. Abraham inspires me to work hard. In life, you have tostrive to make a living. In addition, to be successful in life, youhave to be patient and work for it.

Failing does not mean you cannot make it rather it is a challengethat you strive much harder. Lincoln in his quotes referred himselfas a slow walker, but he does not walk backward. The quote inspiresus not to give up no matter how hard is the situation.

In addition, Abraham despite been born from a low-income family, hedid not bury his urge to read and work hard in school. In fact, fromhis history, we learn that he had done law and he was a great lawyer(Pederson andWilliams, 2016).&nbspHence,his dream of becoming a scholar was not stopped by lack of finance orlimitation of resources he faced. Similarly, life challenges shouldnot deter us from achieving our best and working hard. In a quote, hesaid that he would study and get ready, hoping a chance would latercome (Burgdorfand Hoenig, 2015). The quote is inspiring. We shouldalways be very optimistic about our future. In addition, we should bewell prepared to face our tomorrow, as our today`s fear will lead totomorrow`s failure.

Lincoln`s life was full of turmoil. His mother died when he was atthe age of ten, lost his love, and only one out of his four sonssurvived. He remained strong and carried on. The situation encouragesus not to be limited by today`s failure. Today`s failure cannot limitour tomorrow`s success. Hence, nothing should cut our dream short. Inone of his quote, Abraham Lincoln said that whatever you are, yougive the best. The statement inspires us to give the best at ourlevel of performance. For instance, if you are a teacher, be the bestteacher. Out of this inspiration quote, we get inspired that successbegins at any level. Success is determined by how much we give in thework we do where we should develop a passion and good attitudestowards our job.

Finally, though he was not a staunch Christian, Abraham Lincolnbelieved in an all-powerful God. He believed God shaped events and heexpressed his Biblical beliefs in his speeches. Hence, he confirmsthat there is a divine power, which controls everything in theuniverse.

LessonsLearnt

Life is a hustle, but with determination and hard work, I willachieve my passionate dreams. In addition, everything happens for areason and the challenges we are facing today should motivate us towork harder for a better tomorrow. Similarly, failing does not meanwe are failures, or we cannot make it. Rather, failing is a wake-upcall that compels us to work extra hard to achieve our dreams. Inaddition, just like Abraham Lincoln, we should not give up or lookback at the face of challenges. Rather, we should hold on as tomorrowis much better than today. I also learned that God is the sole sourceof life. He enables us to carry on with our daily activities. If wehumble ourselves before Him, He will uplift us. Lastly and not theleast, I learned that it is necessary to be prepared for the futureopportunities. Unique chances like acquiring education should not beoverlooked as they prepare us for a better tomorrow.

I would prefer my children to use Abraham Lincoln as their positiverole model. The history of Abraham Lincoln and his quotes are enoughto harden them and prepare them to face life. Besides, they willunderstand the importance of education and the reason for workinghard in school. Abraham Lincoln as their model will teach them to behumble and patient in life.

In addition, they will also learn the importance of being believers.Just as Lincoln was a believer, and later God uplifted him, theyshould also follow the steps. Similarly, they should struggle to maketheir mark. Abraham once said that things might come to those whowait, but only the things left by those who hustle. Hence, theyshould actively pursue the things they wish to achieve.

ANegative Role Model

In my undergraduate level, I came across a man by the name CoxLingard. Cox was a lecturer in the department of analytical chemistryin the field of Organic Chemistry. He was a social person, punctualin attending lectures, dressed smart and students excelled in theunit. As a naïve first year, I developed the interest of befriendingCox Lingard and at least have him as my role model. After few days ofinteraction, our friendship developed, he would invite me into hisoffice, and we would pass the time discussing various topics. Then,he would give me a ride to one of the nearby restaurants where wewould share a cup of coffee. Then he would drive me back to my hallof the resident.

However, as our friendship matured, Cox started introducing me to theother part of his life. Most of the weekends, he would pick me anddrive to a nearby club. We would have fun, dance and share a bottleor two of whiskey. At the middle of the night, we would drive back tospend the rest of the nights in our residential rooms. Beforeencountering Cox, I would spend my weekend interacting with friendsthen on Sundays I would attend the Church Mass. However, after havingfun on Saturday night, Cox could convince me that we would be back ontime so that I will make to attend the Church Mass the following day.It was not the case, on Sunday I would wake up tired and with a lotof fatigue and had to spend the large part of the day relaxed on mybed. The habit went on until I turned from a Christian to an atheist.

Cox introduced me to a group of his former friends. They wereprofessionals in various fields, which influenced me with a falseidea that they would assist me later to secure a job. Most of theweekends, after the assignments, we would spend time together. Theyintroduced me to a different type of drug that was more addictivethan alcohol. We would use the same hypodermic needle to inject acertain type of drug into our bodies. Later, I came to learn that thedrug was cocaine. One weekend, the same routine followed. We met inthe usual club, what followed on that night I cannot tell. I walk upthe following day and found myself in a ward. I had to drop myfriendship with Cox and his friends.

Cox influenced me negatively. He influenced me to accompany him forclubbing which negatively affected my class performance (Tayloret al., 2014). He introduced me to alcohol and drugabuse. He also changed me from being a strong believer. Cox betrayedmy expectations. I expected to benefit from our friendship where hewould guide me on how to have a productive campus life. However, hechanged me from a Christian to a drug addict.

I would not want any of my child to have such role models. Suchnegative role models interfere with your studies and lead to poorperformance in school. They also distract you from your cultures anddoctrines. They also corrupt your morals and abandon you at yourworst condition (Lockwood,Jordan and Kunda, 2012).

Differences of the Two Role Models

The two role models are very different, habit and character wise.While Lincoln motivates me to strive to achieve my dreams, Cox drewme away from working hard. In addition, Lincoln inspires me to getprepared for the future opportunities. Contrary, Cox advocated havingluxury without caring what will happen in the future.

Similarly, Lincoln was a believer, he believed in a divine power thatshaped life events while Cox was an atheist. He was not a follower,and he influenced me out of the Christianity doctrines. In addition,Lincoln`s success was because of constant persistence, and he did notgive up in his quest for achieving. Unlike, Cox did not show anyefforts of being persistent. While Lincoln would save the littlemoney, he earned from odd jobs he was doing. He used the meagersalary to facility his education until finally, he became one of thebest lawyers. Unlike, Cox was a lecturer, who was paid better salarycompared to that of Lincoln. However, he extravagantly spent hismoney with friends clubbing and having fun. The two role models aredifferent in their perception of life.

Similarities

Both of them had achieved in their life and they were living apositive life. In addition, both controlled a large number of people.They were also positive about the life they were living.

In conclusion, we should choose our role models wisely. Positivelyrole models will influence our life for the better and towardsachieving our dreams. Positive role models motivate us in realizingour potential and achieving the best. However, negative role modelsare wicked people who we should avoid. They destruct our activitiesand influence us to engage in habits that will ultimately make ourlife desperate.

References

Burgdorf,W. H., &amp Hoenig, L. J. (2015). QuotableQuotes.&nbspAbrahamLincoln,&nbsp151(2),126-126.

Burlingame,M. (2013).&nbspAbrahamLincoln: A Life&nbsp(Vol.2). JHU Press.

Lockwood,P., Jordan, C. H., &amp Kunda, Z. (2012). Motivationby positive or negative role

models:regulatory focus determines who will best inspire us.&nbspJournalof personality and

socialpsychology,&nbsp83(4),854.

McCrary,P. (2015).&nbspAbrahamLincoln and Reconstruction: The Louisiana Experiment.Princeton

UniversityPress.

Pederson,W. D., &amp Williams, M. R. (2016).&nbspFranklinD. Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln:

CompetingPerspectives on Two Great Presidencies.Routledge.

Taylor,G., Jungert, T., Mageau, G. A., Schattke, K., Dedic, H., Rosenfield,S., &amp Koestner, R.

(2014). Aself-determination theory approach to predicting school achievementover time: The unique role of intrinsic motivation.&nbspContemporaryEducational Psychology,&nbsp39(4),342-358.