Role Models

My 11 year old daughter, Jessica, participated in her school's DARE Program this year. One of her assign ments was to write an essay. I'm not sure the guide lines, but Jessica chose to write about role models. Her essay was chosen as one of 5 that was read at the DARE graduation ceremony out of some 30 or 40 students. Here's her essay:

Role models are good to look up to. This is the definition of a role model: someone worthy of imitation; "every child needs a role model." Good role models will not going to drink, smoke, or take any other drugs. If a role model comes to your class to talk, you should pay attention to what they're saying because they're older than you and the things that are happening to them are most likely to happen to you hen you are their age. Also, you should ask as many questions as you need to.

Role models can teach you about drugs and how they can affect school and other outside of school activities in your life. You might already know a lot about drugs because, in fourth or fifth grade, you were in D.A.R.E. but you should still listen to other important things about drugs.

Any one can be a role model. Your teacher, your parents, your older friends, your older siblings, the police, firefighters, doctors, nurses, and lots of other people can be roll models. When you get older, you should be a roll model, too.

People that smoke, drink, or take any other drugs, are not good role models. If your mom or dad takes drugs, you are most likely going to follow them and take drugs.

Be wise when you choose who to look up to because if you choose someone that drinks or smokes, you are most likely going to drink or smoke, like that person. But if you choose someone that doesn't drink or smoke, you are most likely not going to drink or smoke, like that person. So, choose who you look up to wisely and you will be safe from drugs.

Role models might not only talk about drugs, but, also, might talk about themselves and things that go along in their life. You should listen to these kinds of things because when you get to be their age, those same things might happen to you.

When you get older, you will find that lots of people will be asking you if you want to try drugs. You shouldn't be afraid to say "NO" to who ever asks you if you want to try drugs. If your best friend asks you if you want to try drugs, just say "NO" and walk away. If your friend takes drugs, you should not hang out with them any more and if they ask you why you are not hanging out them any more, just say 'I don't hang out with people that take drugs' or something like that and walk away. If they get mad and try to force you to take a cigarette, or something else that's bad, go get an adult.

That's what I have to say about role models and how they are good to look up to, how they can help you, which people are good role models, and which people are bad role models. And one last thing, be wise about choosing who you look up to and…
DON'T TAKE DRUGS!!!