--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I want to be a positive role model…" description: "\"I want to be a positive role model, especially for kids and Aboriginal people... When people see me, often all they see is another Australian athlete h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/cathy-freeman-11281_aboriginal_i-want-to-be-a-positive-role-model-espec_2210666.jpg" --- # I want to be a positive role model, especially for kids… ![“I want to be a positive role model, especially for kids and Aboriginal people... When people see me, often all they see is another Australian athlete having a go. It isn't until they see the full Cathy Freeman picture that they realise how proud I am of my ancestry and heritage. I'd like a little…” quote by Cathy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/cathy-freeman-11281_aboriginal_i-want-to-be-a-positive-role-model-espec_2210666.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/cathy-freeman-11281_aboriginal_i-want-to-be-a-positive-role-model-espec_2210666.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/cathy-freeman-11281_aboriginal_i-want-to-be-a-positive-role-model-espec_2210666.jpg) > “I want to be a positive role model, especially for kids and Aboriginal people... When people see me, often all they see is another Australian athlete having a go. It isn't until they see the full Cathy Freeman picture that they realise how proud I am of my ancestry and heritage. I'd like a little more tolerance and acceptance of my culture and all the differing cultures that make up Australia.” [Cathy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-freeman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She seeks broader acceptance of her Indigenous heritage beyond athletic identity, urging cultural tolerance. **In simple terms:** She wants people to see her whole identity, not just her sport. Key Takeaway Promote cultural understanding and respect. Themes identity heritage acceptance representation Mood hopeful determined inspirational Type personal social When to use this quote - sports events - community talks - school programs - media interviews Key Concepts Indigenous culture public perception role model Questions to Reflect On - How can athletes leverage fame to educate about culture? - What steps foster genuine cultural acceptance? A Different Perspective Change in public perception may be slow and face entrenched stereotypes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aboriginal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aboriginal/) [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Ancestry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancestry/) [Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Australia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/australia/) [Australian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/australian/) [Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cathy/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freeman/) [Heritage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heritage/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Kids Aboriginal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids-aboriginal-4894064/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Models](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/models/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Australian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-australian-1661640/) [Positive role model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-role-model/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Realising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realising/) [Role model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role-model/) [Role models](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role-models/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Tolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerance/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [My mind is pretty made up that life for Cathy Freeman will be as an unmarried woman from now on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-freeman/my-mind-is-pretty-made-up-that-life-for-cathy-freeman-will-be-as-an/) [Cathy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-freeman/) > [I think some of my favorite Australian films were shot by people that are not Australian. And I think when Dean Semler did 'Dances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/i-think-some-of-my-favorite-australian-films-were-shot-by-people-that/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [I have been told many times that when I win I make my people proud to be Australian. I am Aboriginal, I am one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-freeman/i-have-been-told-many-times-that-when-i-win-i-make-my-people-proud-to/) [Cathy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-freeman/) > [I had many teachers that were great, positive role models and taught me to be a good person and stand up and be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-james/i-had-many-teachers-that-were-great-positive-role-models-and-taught/) [Kevin James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-james/) > [I want to be a positive role-model for my daughter. The last thing I want to put out there is that it's acceptable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-spelling/i-want-to-be-a-positive-role-model-for-my-daughter-the-last-thing-i/) [Tori Spelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-spelling/) > [What we'd consider a positive role model, I think it's impossible to actually be a role model. You'll have your flaws or defects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/what-we-d-consider-a-positive-role-model-i-think-it-s-impossible-to/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) > [As an African-American male born with a couple of strikes against you because of your skin color, I think it's very, very important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/as-an-african-american-male-born-with-a-couple-of-strikes-against-you/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) > [I make an active effort to remain a positive role model to kids. They need people to show them there's another way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mc-hammer/i-make-an-active-effort-to-remain-a-positive-role-model-to-kids-they/) [MC Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mc-hammer/) > [The best way to support dreams and stretch is to set apart small ideas with big potential, then give people positive role models and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/the-best-way-to-support-dreams-and-stretch-is-to-set-apart-small/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [The reason most of the children are having problems in any inner-city neighborhood is because they don't see enough positive role models in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marla-gibbs/the-reason-most-of-the-children-are-having-problems-in-any-inner-city/) [Marla Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marla-gibbs/) > [I've always kind of lived my life to be as much as possible a positive role model for children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-feldman/i-ve-always-kind-of-lived-my-life-to-be-as-much-as-possible-a/) [Corey Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-feldman/) > [That's really my goal now. I'm trying to be a positive role model to my kids and to just enjoy this ride, because it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-s-really-my-goal-now-i-m-trying-to-be-a-positive-role-model-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I also feel I'm a positive role model by not putting my education on hold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/i-also-feel-i-m-a-positive-role-model-by-not-putting-my-education-on/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [More Asians need to be on television as a positive role model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiana-tom/more-asians-need-to-be-on-television-as-a-positive-role-model/) [Kiana Tom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiana-tom/) > [I've tried to take the opportunity to be as positive a person as I can be, as positive role model as I can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyan-douglas/i-ve-tried-to-take-the-opportunity-to-be-as-positive-a-person-as-i/) [Kyan Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyan-douglas/) ## More by Cathy Freeman > [My mind is pretty made up that life for Cathy Freeman will be as an unmarried woman from now on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-freeman/my-mind-is-pretty-made-up-that-life-for-cathy-freeman-will-be-as-an/) [Cathy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-freeman/) > [I don't have a lot of regrets in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-freeman/i-don-t-have-a-lot-of-regrets-in-my-life/) [Cathy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-freeman/) > [I have time to breathe, time to be myself more often, I am a lot more relaxed and less guarded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-freeman/i-have-time-to-breathe-time-to-be-myself-more-often-i-am-a-lot-more/) [Cathy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-freeman/) > [I'll just let time happen. I don't have to articulate what may be or what may not be. I don't even do that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-freeman/i-ll-just-let-time-happen-i-don-t-have-to-articulate-what-may-be-or/) [Cathy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-freeman/) > [I was running since I was 10. Since grade one at school people looked at me and thought, oh gosh she can really run,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-freeman/i-was-running-since-i-was-10-since-grade-one-at-school-people-looked/) [Cathy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-freeman/) > [I lie around the floor with my cats Billy and Jazz or watch DVDs with my best friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-freeman/i-lie-around-the-floor-with-my-cats-billy-and-jazz-or-watch-dvds-with/) [Cathy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-freeman/) > [Being overseas at the time it all kind of happened was perfect because I had no idea that it was going to attract so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-freeman/being-overseas-at-the-time-it-all-kind-of-happened-was-perfect/) [Cathy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-freeman/) > [I made my first Australian senior team when I was 16, first Olympics when I was 19, and I retired. I'm 32, I retired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-freeman/i-made-my-first-australian-senior-team-when-i-was-16-first-olympics/) [Cathy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-freeman/) > [The last sort of really low-key race I ran, I realized with about a hundred metres to go, that my heart just wasn't in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-freeman/the-last-sort-of-really-low-key-race-i-ran-i-realized-with-about-a/) [Cathy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-freeman/) > [I've had my fair share of being dismissed. But I'm only about to turn 30. And when I finish running, I'm going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-freeman/i-ve-had-my-fair-share-of-being-dismissed-but-i-m-only-about-to-turn/) [Cathy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-freeman/) > [I'd like to see as many sports as I can because I have never had the chance to enjoy the other sports in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-freeman/i-d-like-to-see-as-many-sports-as-i-can-because-i-have-never-had-the/) [Cathy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-freeman/) > [I do not have any official responsibilities related to the Australian Olympic Committee or the Federation of Athletic Associations since I am too busy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-freeman/i-do-not-have-any-official-responsibilities-related-to-the-australian/) [Cathy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-freeman/) > [I don't agree with everything Madonna's done but she is fearless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-freeman/i-don-t-agree-with-everything-madonna-s-done-but-she-is-fearless/) [Cathy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-freeman/) > [The Athens Olympics will be meaningful even though I cannot participate as an athlete, since I can participate in the flame relay all over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-freeman/the-athens-olympics-will-be-meaningful-even-though-i-cannot/) [Cathy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-freeman/) > [I am very determined and the sport is my passion. I believe I am born for running.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-freeman/i-am-very-determined-and-the-sport-is-my-passion-i-believe-i-am-born/) [Cathy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-freeman/) [Explore all 60 Cathy Freeman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-freeman/) ## More Aboriginal quotes > [I won the seat of Oxley largely on an issue that has resulted in me being called a racist. That issue related to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-hanson/i-won-the-seat-of-oxley-largely-on-an-issue-that-has-resulted-in-me/) [Pauline Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-hanson/) > [I'd much rather people knew me as a good tennis player than as an aboriginal who happens to play good tennis. Of course I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-d-much-rather-people-knew-me-as-a-good-tennis-player-than-as-an/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [One of my earliest memories is being backstage at 'Bran Nue Dae' in Darwin when I was about eight. It's such a fun, happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-sebbens/one-of-my-earliest-memories-is-being-backstage-at-bran-nue-dae-in/) [Shari Sebbens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-sebbens/) > [Aboriginal people are key because they have a different sense of where we belong and how we interact with nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/aboriginal-people-are-key-because-they-have-a-different-sense-of/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [We've had real strong aboriginal male artists who've crossed over to the mainstream who have toured the U.K., who have been a massive influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mauboy/we-ve-had-real-strong-aboriginal-male-artists-who-ve-crossed-over-to/) [Jessica Mauboy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mauboy/) > [Genius . . . arises in the natural, aboriginal concern for the conscious unity of all phenomena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-hunter-austin/genius-arises-in-the-natural-aboriginal-concern-for-the-conscious/) [Mary Hunter Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-hunter-austin/) > [In 1995, the Paul Keating Labor government commissioned an inquiry into the forcible removal of Aboriginal children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/in-1995-the-paul-keating-labor-government-commissioned-an-inquiry/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [The native American has been generally despised by his white conquerors for his poverty and simplicity. They forget, perhaps, that his religion forbade the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-alexander-eastman/the-native-american-has-been-generally-despised-by-his-white/) [Charles Alexander Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-alexander-eastman/) > [The families of Aboriginals who have died in custody in NSW will suffer again because of these white lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-murray/the-families-of-aboriginals-who-have-died-in-custody-in-nsw-will/) [Arthur Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-murray/) > [Over 120 Aboriginal communities run their own health services - some have been doing so for 30 years. They struggle with difficult medical problems.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-fraser/over-120-aboriginal-communities-run-their-own-health-services-some/) [Malcolm Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-fraser/) > [“If they follow the way of Money Chiefs, they shall die. Earth is sick and can no longer care for her children. Now, Earth’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fr-d-ric-perrin/if-they-follow-the-way-of-money-chiefs-they-shall-die-earth-is-sick/) [Frédéric Perrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fr-d-ric-perrin/) > [I have written with some amazing singers and songwriters - the moment with Snoop Dogg was amazing - but being able to tell an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mauboy/i-have-written-with-some-amazing-singers-and-songwriters-the-moment/) [Jessica Mauboy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mauboy/) > [In the European tradition, rivers are seen as divisions between peoples. But in the Aboriginal tradition, rivers are seen as the glue, the highway,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ralston-saul/in-the-european-tradition-rivers-are-seen-as-divisions-between/) [John Ralston Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ralston-saul/) > [People look at me, and they don't see what they think is a typical Aboriginal. I always thought I'd be the white person in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-sebbens/people-look-at-me-and-they-don-t-see-what-they-think-is-a-typical/) [Shari Sebbens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-sebbens/) > [The most ultimately righteous of all wars is a war with savages, though it is apt to be also the most terrible and inhuman.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-most-ultimately-righteous-of-all-wars-is-a-war-with-savages/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) [Browse all 184 Aboriginal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aboriginal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I want to be a positive role model, especially for kids and Aboriginal people... When people see me, often all they see is another Australian athlete having a go. It isn't until they see the full Cathy Freeman picture that they realise how proud I am of my ancestry and heritage. 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