You can try to find a traditional Catholic role model, such as a priest, but many teens have a hard time relating to clergy. It’s awkward for teenagers to ask their priest for advice. Teens can feel like the priest won’t understand their plight, and even if he did, teens can be intimidated by the fact that these men are priests, not just a casual acquaintance.
Alternatively, youth can look to their parents. Mom and dad are the ones who typically start off their kids’ journey as a Catholic. But they aren’t always the most relatable. And yet, teenage children can inform parents of a problem and parents can provide a solution their kids know is correct, but the kids may still feel that their parents did not think about the problem from a teenager’s point of view.
As a youth, let’s say you’ve looked around for someone to fit the bill, but still you come up empty- handed. You decide to turn to celebrities, specifically the people who constantly show up in the media. Soon, you realize that this was probably the worst choice you could have made for a role model.
Popular celebrities often are people who Catholics do not want to emulate. For example, many celebrities encourage the use of illegal drugs and excessive use of alcohol, not always on purpose, but by posting pictures of themselves engaging in such activities. They encourage this type of behaviour with those who admire them. Even Madonna posted pictures of her underage son holding bottles of Tanqueray gin on her Instagram.
Celebrities who project Christian values — intentionally or unintentionally — are labelled as “goody-two-shoes” and stored away in some obscure corner in the teen magazines. An example of this is Tim Tebow, widely known for his amazing football skills but not as well known, and many times even criticized, for his devotion to his Christian faith. When Tebow’s name is mentioned in the media, it’s about who he’s dating or what happened during his last game, but never about the fact that he is against abortion or that he prays before every game.
Pop culture decided it is more important for impressionable youths to read about who is having an affair with whom, or who wore that entirely too revealing dress to the Grammys, so much so that no one even bats an eyelash any more. So what should a young person do? If there are any Church youth groups, teens can get a feel of them and possibly join. Many of the people there have strong Catholic values and would make great role models. In addition, teens can always turn to older siblings or relatives. Most have the same upbringing as you, which leads to having the same Catholic values. And if teens still haven’t found anyone, they can turn to volunteer organizations or keep an eye open at their workplace for a role model who supports their Catholic values.
(Swist, 16, is a Grade 11 student at Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School in Toronto.)