About 3 years ago, the news broke that 5 Seconds of Summer, a band from Australia, were going to be the opening act for One Direction on their world tour. Having never heard of them before, I didn’t know what to expect. But what I can say is; I was not disappointed. I’ve grown to love this band so much over the past few years not only because of their incredible song writing skills and musical talents; but because of who they are as people. While I love every member equally, the oldest member, Ashton Irwin, has come to be an inspiration of mine. Although there are many, here are some reasons why he inspires me.

1. His incredible outlook on life

Every chance he gets, Ashton is always tweeting something positive, or giving fans, or people in general, life advice. As simple as this tweet is, you can tell from it that he has such a big heart; that he believes in the power of kindness and how hate and bitterness will never overtake it. He is the type of person that exudes positivity and trying to live life not only to the fullest, but in a way that is filled with love and kindness.

2. How he encourages fans to be themselves

Accepting people for who they are, in my opinion, is such an important and beautiful quality to have. When you have such a large fan base as Ashton does, your voice starts to become heard more than ever- and he uses his in the best possible ways. In society today, there is more of a pressure to change ourselves to fit in- but what we should remember is that being ourselves is better, even if it means standing out- and that’s the message Ashton is trying to send.

3. Despite family troubles, he’s come out even stronger

At a young age, Ashton’s father left. It truly breaks my heart when I think about it, as no one deserves to go through something so terrible. But what I admire most about Ashton is his strength and positivity; he still lives life to the fullest and is able to be happy. I’ve had my share of family troubles, and Ashton shows me that no matter how bad life gets, there’s always room for it to get better.

4. How he believes we all matter

There are moments in life when we feel alone; that we don’t have an important place in the world. But what Ashton is saying could not be more true; we are more important than we think. There are more people out there that care than we think. Because Ashton is quite famous and has an important place in the spotlight, it’s wonderful that he’s using that spot to remind us that we all matter and are never alone. I just think it’s so amazing how much he cares about his fans, and he never fails to let that show.

5. How he inspires people to pursue what they’re most passionate about

Ashton is the drummer in the band, but also occasionally sings. I’ve seen him drum live several times, but each time it never gets old. He puts so much passion into drumming that it just exudes from him as he plays. The reason why watching him drum inspires me is because it encourages me to find something, especially a job, that I am just as passionate about. He has also said before that one of the best ways to experience life is to step out of your comfort zone, which is something I firmly believe in. I truly hope that one day I find a job that I am passionate about, even if I have to step out of my comfort zone to obtain it.