Athletes as Role Models

I believe athletes should be looked at as role models for many ways. First of all and most obviously, athletes especially pros have achieved great success through hard work and dedication, which in itself is something that many children admire as they hope to do the same someday. I think one of the more important aspect to athlete's ability to be a role model is to be aware that athletes are people too. They make both good and bad decisions and I think it is important for the general public to understand this. Yes, sometimes their actions can be more than what anyone could contribute in a good way, but they could also be so terrible that it could land them in jail. Granted the two extremes aren't something that everyone will be in contact with in a lifetime but should still be considered. It is important to realize that just like society, there are good and bad athletes (as people) and some are deserving of being role models and some aren't. Some athletes just make a mistake or do something behind closed doors they think will be okay and it ends up going national (i.e. Michael Phelps hitting a bong after winning the gold). For parents, I think it is important to instill a sense of light and dark in all people when allowing their children to get so attached to an athlete and what they stand for. Being a role model doesn't mean someone has to cure cancers or fast for the freedom of a country... it can simply be that they enforce good values and morals for younger generations and promote them on a higher level to reach out to people. Being a role model can be as small or large scale as a person wants it to be. It's just a matter of understanding that all people make good and bad decisions and that kids shouldn't copy them, but understand both the good and bad and choose what to personally act on.