Kinsley High School
Kinsley, Kansas
Teacher: Dr. Galen Boehme
My Connection to Community
By Jacob Burghart
12th Grade
I am an important part of my communities because I show individualism, consider my rights as privileges, and respect institutions. A community is a group of people living in the same locality and under the same government. Communities vary from ancestors, and extended family, to close friends and immediate family.
I am a significant part of my community because I demonstrate my individualism. Individualism can be shown through activities such as sports, school, and art. In high school I participated in sports such as basketball and golf. Sports give me a sense of accomplishment and belonging with my teammates. Camaraderie emerges from this community with my friends. Another aspect of individualism is learning about my past. In my English class I studied the distant history of my family. It was very interesting to gain knowledge about great-great grandparents, and the origins of my ancestors. Another aspect of my individualism shows through my art. I have always loved expressing myself to other people in a way that they can all interpret as they please. We should all be willing to express ourselves, if not as a showcase of our character than as a way of appreciating our American freedoms.
I am an important part of my community because I consider my rights as privileges. As a member of the world community, I must realize certain aspects of my life I should not take for granted. In America, we are fortunate enough to have certain freedoms such as freedom of the press, assembly, and speech. Freedom of speech contributes to individualism and creates many institutions. Many other countries do not have freedom of speech and the people in those countries suffer from this. We must value what our forefathers have given us and what so many soldiers have fought for.
Freedom of religion is another right I consider my privilege. I am fortunate to live in a country where I cannot be oppressed for my beliefs. I can worship whatever deity I wish and not suffer consequences. So many other countries are in civil wars over religion, or have strict policies censoring religions. In America, we can all live as individuals in the religious respect. My family has a major influence on my religion. I have become Catholic because my parents and relatives are Catholic as well. My nuclear community and I attend church every week; we see worship as a way of spending time together because we are all so busy during the week. Church is an important institution and it should not be forgotten as America moves forward as a nation.
I am an important part of my community because I respect my institutions. Because I attend school, I am a part of the community of teenagers all around America who attend the same national school system I do. All us students are members of our own generation and we attend school, church, and other activities as a whole. We are all subject to the same rules and regulations, and we are all seen as the future of America. It is important that we all respect school, because education is our ticket to a prosperous future. I do my best in school because I know how important education is to my success. We must all take into account the positive aspects of education.
By patronizing local businesses I show respect for my institutions. My small local community has few businesses. However, when a new business starts, many residents will find themselves visiting. For example, just a week ago a new restaurant opened. Instead of waiting to hear if the food was good, my brother and I ate there as soon as we could. We were glad to patronize a local business in its crucial first week. It is the desire to help succeed that makes me an important part of my community. We have a duty to help our community thrive in any way we can.
College is another institution I respect. After I graduate from high school I will find myself in a new community much different from where I live today. I will have to live, study, and work all on my own. But I will not be completely alone, for hundreds more students will take the same plunge for the first time. I will need to connect myself with the college community in order to be successful. Clubs, school work, and work will all become interrelated as I find myself on my own for the first time. It is important that all who attend college see the benefits of becoming involved.
In closing, I am an important part of my community because I show individualism, consider my rights as privileges, and respect institutions. I value community because soon I will be on my own. I will have to integrate myself within my communities so I can be a more successful person.