The Measure of a Man

 

     It is only typical of American society to shroud their role models in a veil of perfection. Human nature involves the rule that ignorance is bliss, so if people ignore the faults of our idols, they will actually have an idol. As far as most humans look in pop culture today, they will not find anything beyond a human with more faults than successes. Perfection is impossible to find, but a true idol can be found, not ironically, from an old season of American Idol. Runner-up Clay Aiken has proven himself as a model citizen. He is imperfect, as every human is, but his beautiful heart and soul prove to be more influential to his existence than his flaws. Before he skyrocketed to fame, Clay worked at the YMCA Summer Camp and fought against the head of the corporation to admit a disabled girl.

 

Clay spearheaded the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, a foundation built to fund the research and help of Autistic children. He has recently traveled to Uganda as a UNICEF ambassador. He testified before U.S. Congress in a plea for more aid overseas, stating staggering statistics to the congress members. Clay’s good heart overshadows his human nature, presenting a beautiful person worthy of being anyone’s role model. Clay himself says, “Nobody is perfect. But we are all born with gifts.” (Aiken 242) Clay accepts that no idol is truly perfect, but if anybody could be a true idol, Clay would be it.

 

     Clay worked at the YMCA summer camp as a young adult, which is where he was nurtured and influenced into helping others as his life’s goal. His idol at the time was the head of his camp, a man named Jeff. Clay idolized him as someone who could do no wrong. One girl named Rene had a developmental disability, but wanted to join the summer camp. The YMCA had a policy that did not allow special-needs children to apply to their camps. Clay begged to let her in, even volunteering to spend every day with her. Jeff eventually accepted, and she was admitted into the camp.

 

Once the next session rolled along, however, Rene was not allowed back into the camp. Clay went to Jeff to ask for help, but Jeff simply turned away. The reality hit Clay that Jeff was not flawless. “It seemed almost as if his will to serve had run dry.” (Aiken 149) The harsh reality hit Clay full force, but his fight with the YMCA showed his big heart and his undying need to help others.

     This urge to help others led Clay into teaching classrooms of autistic children. He was not a certified teacher, however, so he was not able to continue with that career track. Along the way, he did meet Michael Bubel, a young, low-functioning autistic boy. Clay began taking Michael places in public, such as the library or the grocery store. Near the end of his college education, Clay had to leave school six credit-hours shy of graduation for American Idol, but he had to create a model non-profit organization to pass college.

 

As he was interviewed for the show, he mentioned his project, and named it “The Bubel/Aiken Foundation.” Fans sent in waves of checks to this foundation that they believed was real, but Clay had never had ideas of this foundation actually existing. When over $50,000 came in for donations, the foundation began. The first task of the foundation was to call the YMCA headquarters. They located a Kansas City YMCA, which became the pilot program. The YMCA as a whole did not accepted the responsibility of allowing disabled children into their camp, but the fight still goes on. Donations to the Bubel/Aiken Foundation continue to pour in. The Foundation continues in its motto, “Opening hearts, opening minds.” (Bubel)

 

     Clay has recently expanded his goodness overseas to Uganda in Africa. He was asked to be an Ambassador for UNICEF, the worldwide children’s aid organization. He submitted a Congressional testimony. This testimony asked Congress to increase UNICEF funding to 130 million dollars. After this testimony, he left for Uganda, and said, “It’s unfortunate that such a tragic situation is not adequately publicized. I’ll impress it on the US government to help end it.” (US) Even after already expressing the need for help to congress, Clay still felt it necessary to ask for even more, after seeing the devastation firsthand. His heart keeps making his body help, and judging by his recent affairs, he will not stop.

 

     Clay Aiken proved himself as a star by reaching the finals of American Idol, searching for the next talented pop star. Little did they know that they had stumbled upon the next true idol for Americans. Clay Aiken has shown nothing but love and care in his efforts to make the world a better place for children, disabled and unfortunate. Clay states, in his autobiography, “I was planning to teach in the classroom. I am still teaching. My classroom has just gotten a lot bigger.” (Aiken 171) The world is a better classroom with a man like Clay Aiken standing up front.

 

By: Greg