Applaud Celebrities, Admire Role Models, and Mimic the Hybrid

What does it take to become an impact- by definition, a meaningful, affecting person to others- in our present society? You see, the world is now more self-involved, self-centered and ignorant than ever before. Alright, maybe that’s simply just L.A., maybe a little bit of New York City. But to be honest, we have progressed from our admiration and praise of technological innovators and economists to the more entertaining, glamorous and physically attractive. Celebrity figures today have the most lasting influence on us, and though we know it's wrong that their lives are now associated and intertwined with power, we continue to accept this change and further our love for it. However, what do you get when you combine intelligence with fame?

Our outlook on life has changed since the 1900s when scientists were known as the topics of conversation, the genius’, the “celebrities” of the old days. Nowadays, we focus on the individuals who have made a spectacular hybrid of their celebrity life with their intelligence, determination, and multitudes of information to share. Though sometimes we can’t fathom their thought process when they were on their journey to becoming, for example, the first famous, female, African-American talk show host, we can still retrieve more life lessons by seeing the view from their eyes. The outcomes that affect us are what cause these people to be praised, not only because they are famous, but also because of their important life lessons and the mind-enriching education they have to share. 

When hearing the phrase “the most influential person in the world”, a few names come to mind; however, when hearing the name Oprah, anyone can gladly associate the two in the same sentence. From her beginning to present, the story of Oprah Winfrey is incredibly depressing yet happily uplifting, like a true tragedy that turns out to make you smile by the end. Raped, impregnated, and living in poverty with a teenage single mother, all are words that describe the most influential woman in the 21^st century, and at one point the only black billionaire. She turned her devastating rollercoaster of a life into becoming a television host and producer while contributing to charities and getting involved in Presidential campaigns. What a woman! Oprah is the epitome of a girl who started from scratch and built her own empire from the ground up. Determined to make a 180 out of the depressing and doomed hand in life she was dealt, she worked her way through radio stations and television appearances to soon make the lasting impression that would lead to her outlasting stardom.

Oprah is only one of the hundreds who has made such a forceful, positive affect on society and the way we act in our day to day lives. Their efforts and hard work build their status as phenomenal role models, which is why we look up to them. They have so much power, its unbelievable! With no one else to follow, why not mimic the actions of your favorite celebrity? This is why they have to be on good behavior at all times, because society is ALWAYS watching- More importantly, copying and imitating. If they do it, it must be cool. If George Clooney hosts a charity event for Haiti, then we should donate money and participate in helping the world as well. If Tiger Woods sleeps with fifteen women, it must be what men do when they’re older and have a family, right? Well, Tiger’s the odd exception that is still an ongoing debate on television, in the media, and causing him to lose all previous endorsements for the sudden release of his radical behavior.  It doesn’t happen so often when a top celebrity athlete endorser totally flushes his professionalism, name, trust and ego down the drain.  It’s comical how actions can trickle down to kids and adolescents, affecting them in more ways than imaginable. 

Regardless, these inspiring visionaries knew what they wanted in life from the beginning of, or even prior to, their careers. They wanted to see change to improve a situation that had affected them, and believed since no one else was taking charge or steering them in any direction, they would put the problem in their hands. It’s as simple as that. Well, individually they are more complex than a short statement. Their stories are intricate, difficult to fathom, and for some more than others, it is very hard to put yourself in their shoes. Poverty climbing the ladder to stardom. Literally, “rags to riches.” These people made an impact that at the time, unknowingly, would change the world.