The Responsibility of Being a Role Model

[EricH]

One way that I personally remember the responsibility is that I am representing X groups. As a member of those groups, I must not do anything that would drag those groups down or tarnish their image. If I do, then no matter what disclaimers I use, I have hurt the group's image of the eyes of others. Because I choose to always act as though I'm in the spotlight, even when I'm not, I wind up in the spotlight more and more.

I didn't even know I had much of a following here until this year, at the one event I attended. It seemed like half of one particular team wanted a picture with me when they realized who I was. (I had my CD nametag, as I normally do, plus a volunteer nametag, so I was kind of easy to spot if you could see me.) Thinking about it now, I realize that to them, I'm one of their role models, and I need to be extra careful about what I say and do.

And yet, I still have my role models. Some of them I've met, others I haven't. Still others I've probably met without knowing it. I wonder what kind of impression I made on them?

It's kind of scary, being a role model or a leader. There isn't a whole lot of room for errors, and everyone has their own definition of error.