Positive Thursday: Lessons Learned from my 14-year-old Sister

Last updated on June 9th, 2012 at 09:50 pm

I often think of role models as people that are older than me, but lately I’ve been so reminded that role models can be any age.

I am inspired by my little sisters — and this week want to highlight some words of wisdom from my 14-year-old sister, Hope.

role model — noun

person whose behavior, example, or success is or can be emulated by others, esp. by younger people.

I asked my little sister if I could ask her a few questions about dreams and goals. It’s sometimes easy to get so caught up in your own dream — and your own stage of life. I wanted to hear the perspective of someone eight years younger than me; someone in a completely different phase of life. I’ve been in her position, but life and our culture was so different back then. Let me just say, I was blown away by her honest and wise responses.

1. Do you have any dreams or goals? What are they?

A dream I have is probably just impacting someones life, like making a change. Or saving a life. One of my goals is to graduate high school, and honestly get good grades and do good on my ACT and go to a nice college of my choice.

2. What motivates you to accomplish your goals and dreams?

I feel motivated by people saying I can’t do things. I like to prove people wrong, so when somebody says that I cant accomplish something or cant do it, I want to show them that I can.

3. Who or what inspires you?

I am inspired by people who do something with their talents. Someone who doesn’t go out and smoke and drink because ‘you’re only young once’. Like obviously there’s more to life than just having fun, so somebody who actually doesn’t care about peer pressure.

4. What is earlier memory of your dreams (what did you want to be when you were younger, etc.)? How has that changed now?

I remember when I was little I wanted to be an astronaut. And a spy. I used to be so interested in spying stuff and adventure. Today I’ve realized that maybe those dreams were a little crazy, and risky, and hard. But that person is still inside me that dreams of having a fun life, not just sitting behind a desk all day.

I love what she had to say about dreams, especially the idea of peer pressure. That is something I often think “ends” after junior high and high school, but it really doesn’t, does it? We often feel pressured to think, act and be a certain way based on other people – and let that affect our dreams. I also love that Hope said she is motivated by people who say she can’t do something.

One of my favorite quotes is this:
“People who say it can’t be done should not get in the way of people doing it.”

So true, right? Don’t let other people get in your way. This week, I’m going to make the conscious decision to not let others impressions of me affect the way I live life. This week, I’m not going to live down to other people’s expectations.

Thank you to my lovely sister for her brave responses and for being the wonderful, smart and beautiful girl you are.