Iola High School
Iola, Kansas
Teacher: Loretta Arnold

A Big Part of My Life
By Megan Catron
12^th Grade

In Iola, we have…many people from different backgrounds, races, and cultures all living in one small town.  This leaves many of us to know each other around the community very well.  I expect this community to give back to one another, just like they have done in the past with state basketball trips.  They need to be there and give out support to everyone.  All types of people are coming together to unify to be what is considered a community.  Community is not only just about the town we live in but is also about our world, nation, local, family, and even organization communities.

Taking community global can be interesting.  Everything about the world is so diverse.  A person not only wants to be a part of the rich and famous lifestyles like Paris, France, but also a part of the poor lifestyles of third-world countries.  Regardless, these third world countries…need us…most, so we should give even more to these communities.  I feel for the countries that do no have what we have in America.  Not only [are] third-world countries [part of] our community, but the Iraq War classifies as well.  Not only is there a community in the United States for Americans, but there is now a community over in Iraq for Americans.  We have had our troops in Iraq for five years now, and we have become accustomed to living in [the Iraqi] community.

Last year Hurricane Katrina struck the gulf coast and caused a large amount of destruction.  This not only caused great pain to the gulf region, but stretched clear across America.  Mainly the people most wounded by this natural disaster were people from New Orleans.  After the storm, I do not know how many citizens went to help out the survivors.  What I know is that many people from my community of Iola took time and put forth their efforts to help.  Many people just from my school went with their church on a mission trip, just to help sort the damage.  Our high school participated in many fundraisers; one of them was to raise a gallon full of money to buy needed items for the victims of Katrina.  It didn’t matter where we were from, every little bit helped.

Pride in our local community is what makes Iola so special to me.  No matter what the elders, students, or youngsters do, the whole community knows about it.  We have a local newspaper that continues to display every great moment we present.  My greatest memory is when our Iola High School basketball program made it to the state tournament.  So many people that I never knew before was supporting our every move.  This pride in a community [is] hard to find.  Something so small as an elementary school child winning an award [makes] our community proud.

Not only is political community important, but my family is my heart and soul in defining a community.  Everyone in my family is different.  I have a unique family, with a mom, dad, and a step-mom.  It doesn’t matter who is in my family, everyone encourages me to succeed in life.  They want me to compete at everything with my absolute best.  My extended family is the one who gives me the most pride in what I do.  My grandparents support my every move, whether [they] approve or not.  As long as I am satisfied, they are happy.

My grandparents are part of [what] makes me the person I am today.  Without these people I wouldn’t know who or where I would be today.  I am so thankful to have such great grandparents that help me out every day.  They are my background, my history, my life story.  My grandparents have great values that they continue to carry along with them and pass down, not only to me, but to other kids and grandkids in the family.  The most important thing my grandparents have taught me is to always be honest, and I should never have any worries.

My friends and I are everywhere in the community.  There are so many diverse students just in our high school, that the community supports all of us.  I love the fact that my friends and I are close.  We can go anywhere in Iola and people congratulate us on a good sports season or great job on an academic program.  Not only do I appreciate my friends’ support, but mostly my boyfriend’s.  He is always supporting me and [is] there for me whether I am in trouble or just needing a little encouragement.  Without his support I could get down on myself, so he being there for me is awesome.

My own community that is uniquely special to me is my current volleyball team at the high school.  The senior girls on the team have been my rock recently.  We battled through the tough practices together, the victories and, of course, the memories.  I do have to admit that this season has been one of the best.  Not only did I share these memories with the team, but was able to spend [time] with my best friends.  My friends through volleyball season still hang out everyday.  No matter what anybody does, no one makes plans without all of us tagging along.  We are inseparable.  We are truly sharing a great friendship together.

To me, a community is very diverse.  As I have explained, …not one community is the same.  From our local to world community, family to friends, each one holds a special place in my heart.  I can truly say I love the communities that I live in every day and wouldn’t ask for another.

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