Keep watching your role model and comfort zone won’t distract

The Olympic Games are over. I felt so proud as I watched the marathon runners standing inside the Maracana Stadium ready to accept their medals after the grueling race. The gold medal had been taken by a Kenyan sensation.

He blazed across the finish line, blowing away the field without showing an ounce of strain on his face.

His name is Eliud Kipchoge. He completed a marathon double for Kenya following Jemima Sumgong’s victory seven days earlier on the same course for what was Kenya’s first gold medal at the Rio Games.

Kipchoge blew the rest of the field into smithereens with a powerful display as he broke away with just over 10 kilometres (km) of the race to go, running the final 4km all by himself.

But the one that caused me to reflect the most was a guy from Singapore called Joseph Schooling. Schooling rocked the swimming world when he defeated the most successful Olympic athlete of all time- Michael Phelps, eight years after he met the 22-time gold medalist as a young boy.

Offer insight

Twenty one-year-old Schooling triumphed in the thrilling 100m butterfly final that saw Singapore claim its first ever Olympic gold medal.

Having already won four gold medals at the Rio Games, a fifth appeared to be a formality for 31-year-old Phelps, only for Schooling to upset the odds and turn the swimming world on its head.

But Schooling believes that if it wasn’t for Phelps, he would not have become the champion he is today. “He is the reason why I wanted to be a better swimmer,” he said. In other words, Phelps was Schooling’s role model.

Why are role models important? It is because a role model can provide input and advice to a young person who may not have any direction or support from other sources.

When faced with peer pressure, economic adversity, unsupportive environments and tough decisions, a role model comes in handy.

For a person suffering from mental and physical disabilities, a role model who has endured the same adversities or experiences can offer insight and help teach him how to cope with struggles.

Older siblings or extended family members often serve as role models. In such cases, the role model has already established a close bond and trusting relationship with the person needing guidance.

Role models can also be teachers, ministers, older siblings, professional athletes, successful business persons or counselors.

Virtually anyone can serve as a role model for another person who is striving to achieve the success and established lifestyle the role model already has attained.

And role models are especially important for youth. Role models have an astounding effect on the lives of young people in our society.

A role model has the ability to shape the views, ideals, and actions of a young person. Role models help the youth to discover how they wish to become in the future.

The influence that role models have over young people is tremendous.

It is important for role models to be positive and responsible in instilling good morals and values because future generations are directly dependent on the role models of today.

By examining the influence of role models, role models in the community, and role models in the media, we will be able to determine the true effect they have on the lives of the youth.

Community role models are people that youngsters interact with on a daily basis. They are our parents, coaches or mentors.

These are people that young people encounter frequently, who are, in part, responsible for the young person’s perceptions of the world.

It is important for community role models to set good examples for the youth. The judgments that young people make are often influenced by these people. People who are constantly striving to improve themselves have one thing in common: role models in their lives.

This was one of the most crucial aspects on the path of self-improvement for Schooling.

As creatures of comfort oftentimes we refuse to abandon our comfort zone, lacking the motivation, not having or not feeling that strong urge within us.

Rio reminded me that there are plenty of role models in every aspect of life. You just have to find them.

Mr Waswa is a management and HR specialist and managing director of Outdoors Africa. E-mail: [email protected]