When it comes to those they most admire, young people do not look chiefly to the worlds of music, today’s wars or history. Instead, they turn to their own families.
Asked to name their heroes, young Americans surveyed by The Associated Press and MTV make their parents the collective top pick. Twenty-nine percent choose their mothers, 21 percent name their fathers and 16 percent pick their parents without specifying which one. Allowed to choose as many heroes as they’d like, nearly half mention at least one of their folks.
Next in line as the poll’s top heroes: 11 percent choose friends, 10 percent God, 8 percent their grandmother, 7 percent their brother and 5 percent a teacher or professor.