Examples

Everyone has an example. Everyone, in some way, looks up to someone else. Whether it's secretly in their heart, or open with imitation, flattery, or even jealousy. There are people I've looked up to all my life, and there are people (such as my siblings) that look up to me, even though they should probably look higher. Anyways, examples have a lot to do with our lives.

As a young child, we're pretty unsure about the world. It seems like the whole world is bigger than we are, and it's scary to be out on our own! Our parents are always there to take us by the hand, and say "Yes," "No," "Get away from there!", and teach us what we're supposed to do. Young children are forever lost without an example. This is because they know little to nothing about the world and life. It's quite easy to trust someone who is taller, stronger, and older than you at a young age.

Growing up a little, examples change as we move into kindergarten and first grade years. All of a sudden, lying to parents is commonplace, and bragging is a must in order to survive kindergarten and first grade. Our example becomes the person with the coolest lunchbox, can draw the best, kick the ball the farthest, run the fastest, or the person with the most friends. We think we can survive without our parents, because they always are the ones that ground us, keep us inside, or take away our toys. These children begin to see other people besides their parents in different ways. This is the age at which children begin to make a name for themselves, and having never done it before, someone has to show them how. That probably explains why my little sister gets in trouble by the other siblings for being a 'copycat' so often, and for telling stories, lying, or bragging.

Just when we think we've settled down into who we think we are as elementary school finishes, the snowglobe is mightily shaken once again as we move into junior high. Talking to girls/guys becomes... whoa... fun? Normal? No way... And the popularity contest is free game. All of a sudden, whether we like it or not, these 'popular' people become the object of our view. Whether we our outwardly nonchalant and inwardly jealous or fully desiring to be just like the 'in' crowd, someone is our example. Once again, the people we look to become the guides for where our snowflake settles down. As the rapid changes in your teenage years begin to slow down, we really think we know who we are, because we've shown it through our grades, our friends, our hobbies, and our interests. As we slowly gain more independence, we slowly start to look up to more and more people, other than your parents of course. Because as we all know, "You have no idea what my life is like. You lived it like... ___ years ago!", With the blank filled in with a multiple of 10.

High school is another transition, yet the disruption isn't quite as abrupt for those who have finally grounded. For those with friends in high school who have been through the ropes a few times, thechange is almost nonexistent. The former popular crowd slips into obscurity and splits into many facets. And, generally speaking, everyone keeps doing what they do best. Most band students stay in band, most language lovers still take it, and those car fanatics now have a chance to take auto shop.

Eventually, we'll all have to step into the 'real world,' the biggest change yet. Bigger than learning to share blocks, bigger than learning how to act like a big kid, bigger than dealing with voice cracks and acne, and bigger than driving or dating. All of a sudden, your parents become much more of a role model, because they live in the 'real world' every single day.

All in all, our examples are people who can do something well that we struggle with. They are people that have qualities we wish to emulate, accomplishments that are high class, and a character that everyone is fond of in some way. They are people to whom we can look for a sure footing throughout the changes of life. They are the people that give us the map so we aren't found wandering through life alone. They are they who make us better simply by being themselves.