Superhero!

During every mock interview I do with a student or graduate I ask the question, “Who is your role model and why?” At least 95% of the respondents say “My mother.” It is like a contest, knowing the student if I think they will or won’t choose their mom, granted my odds are pretty good if I go with “mom”. The reasons vary but usually talk about always being there, working hard, giving up things for the sake of the family and being strong.

Now the career counselor in me wants my business students to say “Donald Trump”, my technology students to say “Bill Gates”, medical students to say “Dr. Vivian Thomas”, graphic design students to say “Andy Warhol”, etc, etc…following it up with some profound statement about how this person has touched their lives and changed the world. This is the ideal in the career coaching world demonstrating industry knowledge, passion and respect for the people who set the foundation in their particular field.

Real life doesn’t subscribe to career coaching. Again at least 95% of students and graduates will say their mom is their role model almost instantly. I find that it is impossible for me to tell a student/grad that their mom or dad shouldn’t be their role model as it is a beautiful thing to think of your parent that way and even though it may not be the best suited answer for an interview, it is the answer they own and comes from their heart so I let it stand without further coaching. Your role model shouldn’t be “coached”; there is simply something innately wrong with that very idea.

So this brings me to my little role models and a paper my daughter wrote in fourth grade. Now mind you, this is exactly how it was written; I did not spell or grammar check it. From the mouth of babes:

My Superhero!

My superhero is my mom. I chose my mom cause she has always been there for me. She helps me so much!

My mom is my superhero cause she would die to save me! No matter what would happen. She will risk her life to save me! People will say she isn’t a “superhero”, but she is to me!

My mom looks like me. She has blonde hair. light skin and blue eyes. Her height is 5’6″ or something. (It is really 5’9″) My moms name is Amy. She is kind, funny and outgoing. Amy or my mom’s favorite color is ruby red. Amy’s favorite food is sucey (sushi misspelled). She loves her some good sucey.

One think my mom has done to be my super hero is for saving my life. She saved my life by catching me before I fell off a big rocket play place. My mom climbed up there to catch me before I fell off!

As you can see my mom is a superhero in many ways. That is why she is my superhero and I love her for that!

So I wonder if my Winifred is asked during an interview years from now who her role model is and why, what she will say? Will Mom or the Director of Career Services play a bigger influence in her answer? I hope Mom wins (please do not tell my boss).

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Amy is the Director of Career Services at Herzing College Online and teaches career development courses for the online campus. Email her at or visit http://www.herzingonline.edu.