Out of the millions of shows out, there are several role models and characters to look up to. However, out of these, one that stands out to me is Monkey D. Luffy from the manga One Piece.
The manga covers the journey of a young boy, Luffy, who is an underdog that desires to become the Pirate King by finding his legendary treasure. He has several characteristics that make him a worthy role model for people chasing a dream unimaginable by many others. First of all, he has extraordinary determination, and he will always persist, even in hopeless situations. This had led him to be able to do the “impossible”, and pull through many times.
Luffy also has very high energy and a never dying spirit. He is always optimistic and never tells himself that he cannot accomplish a task. If he has an opportunity, he will seize it and do whatever he can to carry it out. Although his attitude is not perfect, it allows him to attain many new skills and he also is willing to change his attitude to make himself a better person.
I also admired his brother, Ace. He played a huge role in Luffy’s success, and he always supported him throughout his journey. He never told Luffy that he could not execute a task or goal and was the perfect teacher to him. Unfortunately, Ace died tragically after one of their missions, but he had already influenced Luffy enough to become a better person.
Another important quality he has is being able to chase his dream, no matter how foolish others believe it to be. He followed his goal until the very end and proved everyone that he could become the Pirate King. Everyone has dreams, but most people drop the journey due to others telling them that it is not possible or that it is too childish. Luffy’s undying perseverance inspires many others that their dream is achievable, both inside and outside the show.
In the manga, you can watch his character development from beginning to end. At first, he is a loud-mouthed and boisterous boy. However, later on, you get to see his change of heart and who he truly is, deeper than the first impression. This is also due to Ace and his lessons.
Mental growth is a strong theme in the show, and this is proved through the many instances where Luffy truly outdoes himself, and surprises many people, including himself. Even if he is a bit ignorant at times, he tries his hardest to learn what he is not good at or does not know. He never brags about his strength or power, and his story is truly of one of rags to riches.
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