Shortly after becoming the President of the USA, Barack Obama named Abraham Lincoln as his role model. He said Lincoln’s journey “from the unruly frontier to the apex of power, to conquer the greatest moral challenge of his time is evidence of a fundamental element of the American character”.

Lincoln, who is considered one of the greatest sons of America, is my role model too. Despite hailing from a poor economic background, he managed to rise to dizzy heights and led his country as the 16th president. He was successful in bringing to an end the slavery of the blacks and worked hard for the uplift of the oppressed and the downtrodden. His popularity grew by the day. He had his share of frustration and difficult times, but he overcame it all.

Lincoln’s acts of kindness and empathy for his fellow countrymen are not only the hallmark of every great leader, but also great lessons for us. Right from his struggling days to challenges in his political career, he has shown the world that nothing can hold you back if you have the potential to make it big.

Lincoln brought about equality and endorsed the ideas of fraternity and liberty in his motherland. His continuous efforts in spite of initial failures inspired me. For me, Lincoln’s famous quote, “Nearly all men can handle adversity, if you want to test a man’s character, give him power”, could not be more true. His humility appeals to me the most.

Politicians in India must also imbibe Lincoln's qualities so that they can serve the country better.

Poonam Priyadarshini

Class IX, DAV Public School (Pokhariput), Bhubaneswar