Many people have had their reality crafted by their environment. Years of tradition or expectations have trapped different people into never finding their true passion or purpose. They’ve been kept, contained in the boxes of the world they see in front of them, not knowing that there might be something more. A society which breaks away from this cycle of conforming to what the world dictates is a necessity for people to thrive. Role Models become that positive change as they can encourage people to not be bound by society’s rhetoric.

More specifically, role models can inspire and break the barriers that society puts up through their craft. Expressing this is Simone Leigh, an artist admired by the world class tennis player, Venus Williams. Williams states, “For generations, Black bodies have been stereotyped… but Simone completely upends that narrative with her sculptures.” (22). This shows that through her art, Leigh fights against what society has said about African American bodies and instead expresses the truth of their beauty. Williams also writes, “She inspires generations of black women to feel empowered.” (22). This expresses the necessity of a person who is not bound by society’s rhetoric as there wouldn’t have been so many people inspired by her work if it did not hit so close to home. The issue of African American women not seeing their beauty due to what the world says is a dire one. Without people like Leigh fighting that issue with her artwork and expressing the truth of their beauty, those women might not realize that their body is a beautiful work of art as well. This further shows that role models are imperative for the betterment of society as they rewrite the narrative the world tried to write and encourage others to do the same.

Sadly though, the narrative of racial prejudice is a book that society has been writing for a long time. It is the people who fought against what the world has dictated that have painted a picture of hope rather than despair. One of these people are Halle Berry, the first African American Woman to win the Best Actress award at the Oscars (Mosley). This in of itself is monumental, as a woman of color is finally being honored for her talent in a white dominated category and industry. Before her, no other woman that looked like her won in that category. She rewrote the book that society wrote for the people who looked like her. Through her talent, generations of hard work are honored. In her Oscar acceptance speech, Berry addresses this and dedicates the award to, “…every nameless, faceless, woman of color that now has the chance because this door tonight has been opened.” (Oscars). Berry’s win has inspired many different woman of color to see that no matter what the world may label them, they too can be honored for their hard work; they also will be noticed and seen. This makes the world a better place as people like Berry, role models, set an example for others to see that their hopes and dreams are closer than they think. Subsequently, they impact the world in a positive way as they combat the book that society tried to write for them. Role models inspire others to walk the path of truth; the path that states no matter who a person is, they can do anything they put their mind to.

Additionally, a role model can get into a ring with the lies that the world tells, and fight back with that truth, winning in the end and inspiring others to fight as well. A real-life example of this is Jennifer Lozano, an international boxing champion. Lozano talks about her experience when starting to box and describes the harsh words her coach told her in an interview: “Girls don’t know how to fight. You’re still overweight. You’re not going to make it.” (Falkenheim 22). This statement shows how the world continues to try and dictate what it deems factual by stating that Lozano wouldn’t be able to pursue boxing due to her gender. This is something that should not be an excuse as a person’s gender does not dictate whether they can fight or not. As if in the boxing ring, she punches that idea down with her long list of championship wins and states, “I not only fight for myself but for every kid who has been told they can’t.” (Falkenheim 22). Lozano uses her passion, boxing, to punch stereotypes and lies away. Lies that have not only been told to her, but to many girls across the world. She rewrites the story that society tried to write for her, and instead becomes an example for many. It is this perseverance despite society’s rhetoric, that makes someone a role model. Thus, the action of telling this story and sharing it expresses how a role model makes a positive impact in the world.

A role model’s story can also fight against the boxes that the world confines people in and instead inspire them to look beyond and embrace what they enjoy. Someone who exemplifies this can be Sophia Cai; an author of a personal narrative about her experience being a fan of the musical group BTS. Cai states, “Enjoying BTS content is no different to the solidarity and joy expressed by fans of sporting teams – and yet being a fan of a boyband is more easily derided as frivolous.” This expresses the fact that society traps people in the parameters that they lay out. In this example, they put Cai in a box containing the thing that brought her joy and taped a label of “frivolous;” basically stating that the world thinks her happiness is worthless. Cai, however, does not sit in this box but instead breaks out and states, “…I choose to pursue things that make me happy, and be loud about it.” (Cai). If another person like her has had the experience of being looked down upon due to the things they like, reading an article like this can inspire that person. It can encourage them to leave the prison of doubting what they enjoy and unapologetically bask in the happiness it brings them. This further expresses the fact that a role model can bring a positive impact to the world as their experience can have the power to connect with people who have felt the same way. Those people can then be inspired to break out of the boxes that society traps them in, becoming role models themselves and continuing the cycle of liberation from society’s standards.

There is absolute failure for someone who never starts something. However, there is always a percentage of success for the person who takes the first step. It is this message that many more people need to know; A message that role models become messengers for. Role models show those people how to fight against society’s rhetoric and encourage those who are trapped by it. This has a positive impact in the world as a role model’s example can show people that there can be good results for the negativity that is so prevalent. Through a role model’s fight against what society has told them, people can learn that they too can fight back as well; they can see that it’s fine to enjoy, love, and strive for what they desire. Additionally, role models help to show people that it doesn’t matter if what they desire is to become an artist, do a sport, or enjoy something to the fullest; each is valid. If more people step up and fight against society’s rhetoric, change will come.

Works Cited

Cai, Sophia. “Why I Love Being a BTS Fangirl in My 30s: ‘I’ve Seen Suga Perform Seven Times in Six Weeks.’” The Guardian, 18 June 2023, http://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jun/19/bts-suga-army-fangirl-kpop-concerts-fandom-south-korea?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter. Accessed 28 June 2023.

Falkenheim, Dan. “Faces in the Crowd.” Sports Illustrated, Mar. 2023, p. 22.

Mosley, Tonya. “Halle Berry Entered the Ring Ready — She’s Been a Fighter All Her Life.” NPR, 8 Dec. 2021, http://www.npr.org/2021/12/08/1062345872/halle-berry-bruised. Accessed 3 July 2023.

Oscars. “Halle Berry Wins Best Actress: 2002 Oscars.” YouTube, YouTube Video, 23 May 2014, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llgL7mGYVTI.

Williams, Venus. “Simone Leigh: Shifting the Narrative.” The World’s Most Influential People Time 100, Apr. 2023, p. 22.