The speaker contends that we should learn to think on their own rather than copy role models. Although I agree that independent thinking is of significance to make a sound decision , the speaker underestimates the significance of learning role models.
 I concede that it is essential and significant for us to make best choices based on independent thinking instead of copying role models indiscriminately and blindly. After all, every person is such an unique entity that what suits others might not suit him or her. If we just indiscriminately follow the foot prints of others,but not think or act independently , we may end up in failure. On the other hand, independent thinking tend to lead people to innovative and significant choices ,which in turn, give rise to success. The following great names in the physical sciences come immediately to mind: Mendeleev , Einstein and Crick , who not only act independently ,but think independently as well. Mendeleev compiled the unprecedented Periodic Table; Einstein called Newton's three laws of motion into question ,giving rise to a new theory, the theory of Relative; similarly Crick challenged the prevailing notion that the structure of DNA is single helical and later discovered the truth behind DNA structure. In short, instead of copying others , these great people thought and acted independently , contributing to their best choices and therefore their staggering achievements.
However, role models are equally ,if not more , important for us to make best decisions or choices in three respects.Firstly, role models with rich experience and expansive knowledge can make us aware of the big picture of the issues we face. Through getting the big picture first, we will be more reasonable when making choices about the issues. For example, students can have a rough idea about how to learn a foreign language and the overall characteristics of the foreign language through related linguists' rich experience and knowledge , thus they tend to make a better choice than other students about the way of learning the language. Also, we can learn lessons from mistakes role models make to avoid the same mist.Take the discovery of DNA structure by Crick and Watson in biology. According to Crick, he was witness to the faults that his co-workers made in their futile attempts to figure out the model of amino acid chains in proteins ,which turned out to be significant lessons applied to the helical structure of DNA. The two examples illustrate that one can make better,if not best choices from either role models' achievements or mistakes.
In addition to helping us save time and energy ,as well as avoid making unnecessary mistakes, role models add impetus and conviction to our pursuits , so that we can stick to those tough but good choices. For example,we from time to time want to give up our dreams because we find difficulties and drawbacks we encounter too tough or challenging. However,when we read stories of role models, such as Helen Keller, a deafblind person becoming a great female writer and lecturer at last, we feel we regain energy and confidence ,which in turn help us stick to those tough but best choices. In short, role models uplift our spirits, so much so that we would adhere to those seemingly dispensable and tough but probably best choices.
 In conclusion,instead of copying others , we should think on our own to make best choices because we are unique entities ; on the other hand, however, we should not underestimate the significance of role models ,who can equip us with impetus and enable us to gain an overall picture of the issues we face and give us lessons ,which in turn , assist us in making decisions..