ANGELINA JOLIE

My role model is Angelina Jolie. I would like to be just like her one day. She

is very beautiful and successful. She is devoted to acting and I like the way

she transforms herself in each film. She has acted in many very popular

films and, a film after film she has been more and more popular. She has

won three Golden Globes and one Oscar in a Supporting role category.

I also like her because, although being very rich, she is never selfish, rude or

hard fisted.

Vast majority of famous and rich people spend their money on parties and

drugs, but she never does something like that. She helps poor people in

Africa, as well as worldwide, everywhere where people suffer hunger and

poor living conditions. She has organized many charities. She has even

adopted a few orphans.

M. H., 15

MIRKO FILIPOVIĆ

My role model is Mirko Filipović, known in the world as Cro Cop. Mirko Filipović is a Croatian boxer, K-1 fighter, martial arts fighter and one of the

most successful athletes in Croatia. Although he is almost 40, he is still showing his persistence, physical strength and endurance in fighting much younger and talented fighters. Although he hasn't won many fights, back in

the early days, Mirko was extraordinarily good and won numerous titles in difficult competitions. I heard about Mirko on television but, unfortunately,

still haven't got the chance to meet him in person. Mirko has been into this sport since he was a child, and his persistence made him a world-wide famous and appreciated person. Not only is he an excellent athlete, but he is also a promoter of healthy life

without alcohol or drugs, he trains eight hours a day, travels around the

world and has a quality family life with his wife and two children. I think

Mirko should be a role model to many people, especially young people, and

show them that you can create something from nothing, just like he did. He

has lost many fights, but after that he tried harder and trained harder and

always came back in the ring. Despite his sport, Mirko is a very calm person

and always ready to make a conversation or a joke, which he showed in a

couple of interviews. I chose Mirko to be my role model because of his life

story that shows us that you can accomplish your goal with persistence and

hard work.

M.H., 16,5y

LUKA MODRIĆ

My role model is Luka Modrić. He was born on 9th

September in Zadar, Croatia. He is

professional football player and Croatian national team member. He plays for Real Madrid in

Spain. Modrić plays mainly as a central midfielder, but also can play as an attacking

midfielder and winger. He is marked with number 19. He is married to Vanja and they have

one two years old son.

He started his career in FC Zadar, and after displaying some talent, Luka signed with Dinamo

Zagreb in 2002. While playing for Dinamo, the club won three Croatian league trophies, two

Croatian Cup trophies and one Super-cup trophy. He was awarded the Croatian football hope

of the Year in 2004. He agreed transfer terms with Tottenham Hotspur on 26th

April 2008, the

amount of transfer was incredible £16.5 million. Very soon, he became the key player in the

team. He played his the first game in preseason friendly match with a new club against

Norwich on 28th

July. His first official match was the one against Middlesbrough, which was

lost 2-1. In summer 2012 the first rumours arose, saying that Luka was about to become Real

Madrid player. Negotiations took eighty days and on 27th

August 2012 Luka become Real

Madrid player, his transfer cost was €33 millions. That day, Luka became the best paid

Croatian player ever. He was a member of Croatian National Team at World Championship in

Germany, in 2006, and at European Champoionship in Austria and Switzerland, in 2008.

Since I play football, Luka is my role model. I like watching him because he is very feisty and

never gives up. When he had started playing football, nobody believed he was going to be

great player because he wasn’t strong. He has proved that dreams can come true if you are

hardworking and persistent.

LIONEL MESSI

Everyone has at least once asked themselves what life of famous people is like. Is this life

real, is it the way it is portrayed by the media, or is it just a big lie? A lot of people became

famous just by being born into a famous family; others gained fame and respect by working

hard to fulfil their dreams. One of these people I admire and appreciate is Lionel Messi.

Lionel Messi is an Argentinian football player who continued his career in FC Barcelona.

Today, Messi is thought to be the best football player of his generation and his path to the title

of the best way anything but easy. As a child he was keen on football. At the age of 11 he was

diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency. His parents couldn't afford the treatment so he

had to fight for success on his own. This didn't go unnoticed by lead people of FC Barcelona

who offered him to finance his treatment on condition that he moves to

Barcelona and continue playing for them.

In turn, Messi remained faithful to Barcelona, he didn't change

his club, and he became the best contemporary football player,

and thus repaid everything his club had done for him.

What I value about Messi is his persistence, commitment

and loyalty. He showed to the whole world that, with great effort

and will power anything is possible. He showed that effort and

persistence are really worthwhile and this is something people start

questioning when they don't succeed in something the first time they try it.

Luka, 16y

My father

My father is my role model. He is a policeman. He deserves to be other people’s role model because he has such a great personality. He is a good person, a good friend and an excellent parent. What I like the most is his goodness toward me and other people, he is very careful, devoted to my well being and safety, always taking care for me. But, what I like even more is his behaviour when he is with his family, friends or colleagues. He always knows what to say. I can tell him my secrets because he is very trustful, he always talks to me like a friend, not like a strong parent. Also, he is very gentle. Last year I was in hospital, and he came to see me instantly when he was told that I was ill. He was very worried. He used to call me five or six times a day to ask me if I needed something, if I wanted something, how I was, and so on. He tried to make me smile, so he made my stay at hospital not so bad. Since he is a policeman and he is sometimes in danger. I know that he does that risky job to afford me everything I need and to make my life nicer. His behaviour and his character influence me a lot. He helps me to understand the world around me and he tries hard to make me a good person. I hope that one day, I will be like him.

D, 16 yrs

MY GRANDFATHER

Speaking of role models, the first person that comes to my mind is my grandfather. My grandfather Stjepan is a very special person, and, since we live in the same house, I have known him my whole life and spend a lot of time with him. As a young man, he was a shoe designer, and later he set up his own business in fitting wooden floors. He deserved to be my role model because he is a very persistent person and makes his dreams come true. My grandfather is very smart, hard-working and leaves nothing to coincidence. I like his stories about his childhood and past because his family as very poor, but he is proud of life and wouldn't change a bit. My grandfather comes across as a tough man, however, he is really sensitive, but rarely shows it. His family is always first and he often brings us together. Also, my grandfather works really hard, he is 64 and works like he is 25. He is full of positive energy and always willing to do something. He always make sup new plans. I

admire his persistence. He never backs down from something he wants. He is an optimistic person who always looks on the bright side of life. I like my grandfather's job, but it is not

actually the job itself - it’s about his willingness to accomplish anything. A couple of months ago, my grandfather learned

how to use the Internet; he ordered spare parts for his tractor and restored it. This is just one of many examples showing he is

not afraid of new challenges. I am often told to have inherited my grandfather's traits, but he is still unique to me and I look up to him. I

admire his persistence, courage and big heart. D, 17 yrs