Everyone in society should be a role model, not only for their

The words of Barry Bonds — "Everyone in society should be a role model, not only for their own self-respect, but for respect from others." — resound as a call to personal responsibility, a summons for each human being to rise into the dignity of example. In these words, we hear the truth that greatness is not confined to kings or heroes, to athletes or leaders, but belongs to everyone. Every soul, whether mighty or humble, walks as a living torch whose light can guide or mislead. To be a role model is not merely a privilege; it is a duty — for your actions shape not only your destiny but the lives of those who behold you.

To live as a role model is to live consciously, with an awareness that your deeds echo beyond yourself. Bonds reminds us that this is not only for the sake of self-respect, which sustains the heart from within, but also for the respect from others, which binds the fabric of community. A man or woman who honors themselves naturally commands honor from those around them. When a society neglects this truth, it decays; when it embraces it, it flourishes.

Consider the example of George Washington, who, though victorious in revolution, refused the temptation of kingship. He chose humility over power, setting an example that preserved the young republic from tyranny. His self-respect guided his decision, but his action also won the respect of others, both in his time and for centuries after. By being a role model, he built a foundation of trust and virtue upon which a nation could stand.

Or recall Mother Teresa, who walked among the poorest of the poor in Calcutta. She did not seek fame, yet her life became a beacon. Through her compassion, she preserved her own self-respect, for she lived in alignment with her deepest values. But her deeds also drew the respect of others, across borders and faiths, proving that true influence is born not from titles but from the example of a life lived with love.

The teaching is clear: if each person strives to be a role model, society is strengthened, for every heart becomes both teacher and student. A child sees the patience of a parent and learns kindness. A worker sees the integrity of a colleague and learns honesty. A community sees the courage of one of its members and learns resilience. In this way, respect grows not from laws or force, but from the everyday examples of ordinary lives lived with dignity.

The danger lies in forgetting this duty, in imagining that only the famous or the powerful must set examples. For when ordinary people excuse themselves from responsibility, corruption spreads, and respect withers. But when even the least among us lives as though the eyes of future generations are upon them, the world is transformed. Every act becomes meaningful, every choice a legacy.

What then should you do? Begin with your own self-respect: live in a way that honors your values, so that you do not walk in shame before your own conscience. Then extend outward: let your words, your deeds, your habits inspire those around you, whether family, friends, or strangers. Act as if a child is watching, for indeed, the young always are. And remember, every role model begins not with grand gestures, but with daily faithfulness to truth, kindness, and justice.

Thus let this wisdom be passed down: society is not sustained by laws alone, but by role models who embody respect. Be such a one, and your life will not only uphold your own dignity but will plant seeds of honor in the hearts of others. And long after you are gone, the respect you inspired will remain, like a flame carried into the future by those who followed your example.