If you asked any child who they look up to, you would be surprised by the results. Famous people. Singers. Musicians. People in the limelight. Children are idolizing, admiring and respecting these people. I remember when I was growing up, my peers looked up to Paris Hilton or Britney Spears. Now they look up to Justin Bieber or Miley Cyrus. Why do people look up to entertainers? Because they are in the public eye.

When we grow older, the people we look up to change. There is no ultimate description of a person to look up to and everyone is different based on their passions. We no longer look up to the star of our favorite Disney channel show, or the hottest boy band we’re crushing over. We have more life experience and we understand that we look up to people because of their actions.

Where are the people that donate to charities, who help the homeless, who are kind? Where are the people who form their own opinions instead of following the crowd?

Why are these attributes often overlooked, but which celebrities are sleeping together is Top News?

What happened to looking up to our mothers? Our brothers? Uncles? Grandparents?

How about our town’s police officers? Or firefighters? Or military personnel? All of whom risk their lives for our freedom.

Or the people who work double or overnight shifts, in order to provide for their family?

Or the celebrity who is not well liked because they actually stand for something?

My 14-year-old cousin Angelina looks up to professional athletes because she enjoys BMX, skateboarding and riding scooters.

I personally tend to look up to inspirational and uniquely strange people, such as Mahatma Gandhi, Lady Gaga and Marilyn Manson, because I want to change people’s perceptions.

Gandhi, Gaga and Manson have powerful opinions. And I like that. I like when someone is passionate about something and strives to change it. They are cultural influences.

Mahatma Gandhi for his peaceful activism.

Lady Gaga for her Born This Way Foundation.

Marilyn Manson for his controversial stage personality and view of politics and religion.

I think there needs to be more positive influences for children and young adults to look up to. Just because Gandhi, Gaga and Manson are different (or odd) does not mean they should be considered any less influential. I look up to these people because they are confident and powerful and we all have the right to admire who we choose.

So next time your child looks up to the “New Hannah Montana” or the “Devil Worshipper”, maybe you should try and find their reasoning and not put them down for their beliefs, however naïve they may be.