There are tons of different people to look up to, people that inspire you and people that will constantly influence your life. For me, these are 7 people to look up to that have been a huge inspiration in my life. While my inspirational people might be different from yours, take a look at mine and share yours in the comments! I'd love to know who and why the people you look up to are inspirational to you!
One of the best people to look up to and one of the most inspirational people to me is Rosa Parks. I am huge on rights and equality, especially since I am gay and I can't imagine what this woman went through on December 1st, 1955. She stood her ground, though, and that is one of the reasons why I look up to her – because I always want to stand my ground.
Rosa Parks was an American civil rights activist, best known for her role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. On December 1st, 1955, Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama, which was a violation of the city's segregation laws. This act of civil disobedience sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which lasted for more than a year and was a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement.
Parks was an active member of the Montgomery chapter of the NAACP, and had attended the Highlander Folk School, a social justice training center in Tennessee. She also worked as a seamstress and was a regular churchgoer.
Parks was arrested and fined for her act of civil disobedience and, as a result, became an international symbol of resistance to racial segregation. She was honored with the NAACP's highest award, the Spingarn Medal, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Parks' legacy has been celebrated worldwide, with statues, monuments, and schools named in her honor. Her story has been featured in books, films, and television shows, and her name has become synonymous with courage and strength in the face of injustice.
I was a born writer, I've been writing since I can remember, whether it was little stories and fan fictions of my favorite band (Hanson!) or if it was poems. Poetry has been a huge influence to me and it's made me who I am today. So of course, Emily had a huge influence on not just my writing style, but my entire life. She's an amazing poet, an incredible woman and she went through a lot!
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) was an American poet who is widely considered one of the most influential female poets of all time. Her work, which often explored themes of death, immortality, and the power of the human spirit, is credited with revolutionizing the way poetry was written.
Born in Amherst, Massachusetts, Dickinson lived a reclusive life, rarely leaving her family home and never marrying. Despite this, she wrote over 1,800 poems in her lifetime, many of which were published posthumously by her sister. Her work is characterized by its use of unconventional syntax, as well as its exploration of themes such as death, mortality, and the power of the human spirit.
Dickinson's work has been praised by many for its unique style and its ability to capture the human experience. She is often credited with paving the way for modernist poetry, and her influence can be seen in the work of many contemporary poets.
What list of inspirational people would be complete without Oprah? This woman – there are so, so many things that I could say about her. She's not only an incredibly influential woman, but she's known for her charities, known for her huge heart and she's known for her selfless acts. She's truly one of the women that I'd love to just talk to.
Oprah's journey from a humble, challenging childhood to becoming a media mogul is emblematic of her resilience and tenacity. With The Oprah Winfrey Show, she not only revolutionized daytime television but also used her platform to initiate crucial conversations around personal well-being, spirituality, and self-improvement. Her influence spans beyond entertainment, with her Book Club transforming reading habits and her work as a philanthropist touching innumerable lives. Her authenticity and ability to connect with people make her a true beacon of hope and transformation in a complex world. There's a reason why everyone knows just Oprah – she embodies the power of possibility.
Now, a lot of you might not know, but I was home-schooled and one of the biggest things my mom always taught me about was Nelson Mandela. He was not just the first black South African to hold office, he was one that wanted rights for everyone, he wanted to dismantle anything racist and make it a beautiful world.
Because I am gay, I can't have a list of inspirational people to look up without including Harvey Milk. He was not just the first openly gay person to be elected into office, but he is responsible for a lot of the headway we have made on gay rights now. While he didn't stick long in politics, he is still an icon and I look up to him!
While most people believe that Harry Potter is just a book series, I think the fact that J.K. Rowling wrote the intro, the idea and sketched everything out on a napkin at a cafe is so inspirational. She's a legend now and it's not just because of the way she brought Harry to life, but it was because of all of the tricks, riddles and everything she put into the books.
While these are just a few of the inspirational people that I look up to, do you have any more? Who do you look up to? Give it all up in the comments!
J.K. Rowling is a British novelist, screenwriter, and producer best known for her Harry Potter fantasy series. The series has sold more than 500 million copies, making it one of the best-selling book series in history. She has been awarded numerous awards, including an Order of the British Empire and a Companion of Honour.
Rowling was born in Gloucestershire, England in 1965. She attended Exeter University, where she studied French and Classics. After graduating, she worked as a researcher and then a bilingual secretary for Amnesty International. She began writing the Harry Potter series in 1990, while she was living in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The first book in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, was published in 1997. It was an instant success, and the series has since been adapted into eight feature films. The last book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was released in 2007.
Rowling is an advocate for many causes, including literacy, gender equality, and animal rights. She is also active in a number of charities, including the Lumos Foundation, which she founded in 2005. The foundation works to improve the lives of disadvantaged children around the world.