Role Models In Our Books And Our Lives

            The novel, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” by Sherman Alexie, tells the story of Junior, a fourteen-year-old boy who lives on a Native American reservation.  Junior leads a very troubling and difficult life.  For one, he is impoverished, and so is the rest of the “rez,” as he calls it.  He misses meals all of the time.  Also, his parents are both alcoholics, and are very neglectful.  He spends a lot of time on his own, while his father is out all day and night drinking.  Finally, he was born with serious birth defects, which left him with poor eyesight, seizures, and speech impediments.  Junior looks at life in a witty, sarcastic matter, but the truth is, he has it really bad.  However, some of Junior’s problems could have never existed if he had a good role model.

            Junior grew up with no one to look up to.  His dad was always drunk or away, and he had no older brother.  His only possible option was his sister, but she became a recluse after high school.  It is clear that characters like Junior and people in the real world who have similar problems need role models.  Great role models turn kids’ lives around, or show them the way to achieve their dreams.  Role models can save people.  So when kids are raised without role models, they often find themselves lost, and without guidance.  If a boy grows up with parents like Junior’s, how will they now right from wrong?  How will they know whom to trust?  The answer is: they won’t.  Role model-less kids have a very tough time in this world, and they all need help.  Even though Junior’s story is fictional, his situation is definitely real.