Idols: Blog Post #4

 There are a multitude of people that I look up to. Whether it’s someone I have known my whole life or an artist I have recently listened to. There are many people that have changed my life in different ways. Someone that I know personally that I look up to as an idol is my mom. My mother, Cathy, is the most thoughtful, loving, and generous woman I know. The things that she has taught me throughout my life have become so important to me and the way I view life. She is always looking out for others and takes care of others more than herself (which is not always the best for her own sake). My mom is constantly checking in on my siblings and I, making sure we are mentally and physically okay, or just to catch up for the week. She is also always reaching out to those in need or having a hard time. All throughout my elementary, middle, and high school years, she would always start meal trains for those going through a rough patch. My mother would gather the whole community together to give love and support to those who need it. 

My mom has gone through a lot throughout her life. Both my father and mother come from poor families, who did not have much growing up. She and my father were able to come together to build a life for my siblings and I where we did not have to worry about money, housing, or food. We did not have to go through the struggles and hardships our parents did. My mother is very loving and generous because of her past hardships. She is able to give back to those who helped her or to those in need. She spoils her only grandchild and shows her love through quality time and gift-giving. This quality of generosity is a trait I love about my mom. I hope at one point in my life I will be able to give back to those who gave to me. 

My mother is also the most extroverted person I have ever met (which can be a blessing and a curse). Having this extra special part of her personality breaks those barriers of social anxiety. She can make friends with just about anyone and anything. Whether she accidentally ran into someone at the grocery store, or in line for coffee; my mother can talk to anyone about anything at all times. It’s always been a running joke in our family that she has the world on speed dial. This is something I strive for, not necessarily being able to talk to anyone, but the thoughtfulness she puts into every conversation. My mom is able to connect with others and has genuine conversations with every person she knows. This quality of thoughtfulness is something I idolize in my mother. 

Someone that I do not know personally that is one of my idols is Ariana Grande. Ariana first got her start on a broadway show named 13, when she was 12 years old. She gained popularity after her character Cat on Victorious and her talented voice. I have mentioned Ariana Grande in past blogs, but she is definitely one of my idols (besides Beyoncé of course). I remember listening to her when I was 11 and thought she was such an amazing singer. After that pilot episode, I became obsessed with her and her music. I started to learn more about her and who she was as a person.

Ariana sounds like a funny pick for an idol, but there are many characteristics that she has that are important to me. She is selfless, compassionate, and resilient. Ariana is constantly donating and advocating for transgender rights, especially for trans children. She was an advocate for Black Lives Matter and marched alongside protesters during the 2020 protests. Now many of these things are the very bare minimum for celebrities, as they have the outlet and money to participate and be activists. However, it is important to me how she is not afraid to voice her opinion when it comes to human rights issues. She is compassionate in the way that she stands her ground and openly supports her beliefs. 

Ariana Grande has also been through a lot of trauma throughout her life. On May 22, 2017, there was a terrorist suicide bombing in Machester at Ariana’s Dangerous Woman Tour. The attack killed 23 people and injured over 1,000. This was a devastating and traumatic event for everyone there. Less than a month after the attack, Ariana Grande came back to Manchester to put on One Love Manchester. This was a benefit concert that included big-name artists like Mac Miller, Miley Cyrus, Pharrell Williams, and The Black Eyed Peas. This showed how much compassion and love for her fans. Even though she was mentally struggling, Ariana still put on a performance for those who were affected. 

After this concert, she took a year off and came back with her fourth album called Sweetener. This album personally means a lot to me, as there are a lot of songs that talk about mental health and the difficult process of healing. The last song, “Get Well Soon”, is 5:22 minutes long, which is the date of the Manchester attack. It also holds a 30-second moment of silence at the end to pay respect to the victims of Manchester. These examples show how much Ariana gives back to those who love her. It was inspiring to me that she was able to put others before herself during this traumatic time. These traits are what I aspire to be; selfless, compassionate, and resilient.

 My mother and Ariana Grande are very different people, but mean a lot to me. They portray characteristics that I strive to have. Traits that my mother has started to teach me like thoughtfulness and love are very important to me. Other traits from Ariana Grande like compassion and selflessness are some that I work on daily. Overall, these two women are great examples of people that I idolize in my life.