1995-1996 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest
Responsibility Who Has It And Who Doesn't And What That
Means For The Nation
Teacher: Barbara Petersen
Luck High School, Luck, Wisconsin
Teacher : Barbara Petersen
1st
Ross Fellerath 2nd Kris
Johansen 
3rd Katie
Nelson
"Responsibility is a trait lacking in many Americans today. Many people are asking themselves what others can do for them rather than what they can do for themselves.. What are the problems? The solutions? What can we ourselves do to bring back responsibility to the citizens of the United States? Both the problems and the answers lie within ourselves.
The lack of responsibility has more to do with a lack of work ethic than anything else. Many people simply do not take pride in providing fro themselves. When this pride is lost, people must look in other places to 'earn' the money necessary for their survival. . .An area resident was intoxicated and fell off his brother's porch. He filed a lawsuit against his brother but did not win. At least the jury had some sense of morals and made the proper decision. Somehow it seems that people today are not responsible for their actions if they are inebriated, yet these people, the real people at fault, were responsible for their own intoxication.
Yet another example of people not being held responsible for their own actions is the recent trend of bartenders being liable for their patrons as they leave the establishment. Once again the real people at fault are not being held responsible for their actions, and the worst part is that all of these instances are completely avoidable. . .Another way to help correct the problem is to not only do what one is required to do but go out of the way to do more than our 'fair share' of the work. Too many people today are only concerned with doing enough to just 'get by'.
The Adopt-a-Highway plan is a perfect example of the good programs being established to promote responsibility. Under this plan a group of people volunteers to pick up roadside trash over a given length of a particular highway. In return for this, a sign is placed along the road to acknowledge the group undertaking the responsibility for the clean-up of the given area.
Another example of the resurgence of the responsibility is the Toys for Tots program the senior class and student council at Luck High School in Luck, Wisconsin have initiated. These groups collect toys and money to buy toys. This helps to make a brighter Christmas for all the children in the area.
St. Croix Falls High School students in Luck, Wisconsin have spearheaded a seat-belt safety program for elementary students in their school. This program informs the younger students of the dangers of riding in cars without the protection of a seat-belt.
At local concerts, a requirement for entry to the show is that the listener bring non-perishable food items to gain entry. After the concert, the food is donated to an area food shelf. Then this food is distributed to the needy in the area.
Another example of the good deeds that are occurring to promote responsibility is the collection of items by Luck Lutheran Sunday School classes for 'health kits'. These kits consisted of toiletries such as shampoo, soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes, deodorant, and washcloths. School supplies like pencils, pens, and paper were also included in the kits. After they had been packaged by the classes, they were shipped to Africa to be distributed in poverty stricken areas.
Organizing drug-free local music concerts is my contribution to the solution. These concerts give local teens a drug-free alternative to other less healthy forms of entertainment during the weekends.
In conclusion, the problems associated with lack of responsibility are abundant, and so
are the answers. If we each take pride in our work and responsibility for our own actions,
the problem will cease to exist. We have to remember that almost nothing comes for free,
and if something does, someone else has made a sacrifice for it."
Ross Fellrath, Luck High School, Luck, Wisconsin
"The last example I have is one that I will never forget. Three years ago a three
year old girl was missing. She had been playing in the yard while her father was doing
farm work. She inconspicuously left the yard and wandered to the woods. Ten minutes later
her father noticed that she was gone. He looked around the house and farm but was
unsuccessful in finder her. Darkness soon set in so the father went out the house and made
some calls for help. Within on hour of his phone call there were about two thousand
volunteers combing the area. After a very nerve racking search, the girl was found
unharmed. The beautiful part of this story is that when the father called friends to come
help, he only called ten people. Word of the search spread quickly and people flooded in
to offer help and support to the family."
Kris Johansen, Luck High School, Luck, Wisconsin
"We, as a nation, need to get back to the family. It seems our nation's idea of 'quality' family time is sitting in front of the television and watching what ever is popular at the time. We need to reinstall a good work ethic, which will lead to responsibility. My parents are prime examples of having a good work ethic and being responsible.
When we first moved here my father needed a job. He grew up on a farm and was no
stranger to work. He took a plain factory job even though he had twenty years in the
military. He worked for almost a year there just to support us. He not only took an
unfavorable job to support us, but also joined the area ambulance crew. My mother, having
a degree in Early Childhood Education, planned a Halloween party for children. This may
not sound exceedingly extraordinary, but she was responsible for the enjoyment and well
being of everyone who showed up."
Brian S. Henriksen, Luck High School, Luck, Wisconsin
"I once met a girl in Omaha while I was vacationing. Her name is Michelle. She
heard the area day care center needed some help. She ended up volunteering so much time
that when the day care center got back on its feet they hired her. That proves giving of
yourself to help others pays off in the end. It may not be monetarily, but we as a
community, or nation need to convince more people of that fact."
Brain S. Henriksen, Luck High School, Luck, Wisconsin
"In California, two narcotics officers received a search warrant and entered a
home where they believed heroin was being peddled. A married couple lived there. They
searched and found nothing. As they were leaving, one of them, on a hunch, went over to
the crib where the baby lay sleeping and removed its diaper, and there was the heroin. The
case was thrown out of the court because the baby hadn't given permission to be
searched."
Jessica Wallin, Luck High School, Luck, Wisconsin
"I am a volunteer on the Community Education Committee. I video tape events they
put on for the community. I am an editor for the school yearbook. I was a crew member of
last year's play, and held one of the lead roles this year. I participate in three varsity
sports and have school, a family life, and a social life on top of all that. I am no
stranger to responsibility. If a charitable cause needs help, and I have no prior
obligation, I have no qualm about helping. I can only hope in this era of broken homes,
people are able to get the ethics they need to be responsible citizens somewhere."
Brain S. Henriksen, Luck High School, Luck, Wisconsin
"I volunteer at the local hospital. This gives me a sense of responsibility. It
makes me feel like what I contribute to my community is important. I show others I am
responsible by handling pressure and being dependable. This is what responsibility means
to me."
Erin Bloom, Luck High School, Luck, Wisconsin
"Another great example of responsibility, that is sometimes overlooked, is
volunteer emergency services. In my community there is both a volunteer fire department
and EMT service. These people put countless hours of hard work and training into helping
out other people. In the case of fire, they are putting their lives on the line every time
there is a fire. Both jobs require an unmeasurable amount of responsibility."
Kris Johansen, Luck High School, Luck, Wisconsin
"People across the nation are all doing their part. Mike Elder of Indianapolis
began walking a regular area of Clear Stream housing development. He would check in every
day with vendors and find out the local gossip. If he heard of something going down, he
would show up and his presence alone was often enough to stop it. He started walking his
beat in 1991. From 1991 to 1993 the number of service calls had been reduced by almost a
thousand."
Brain S. Henriksen, Luck High School, Luck, Wisconsin
"Responsibility is up to every one of us. No one can force it on us. We have to impose it on ourselves in countless little ways everyday, by not trying to get out of paying a traffic ticket or by trying to get out of jury duty. Small daily decisions like that, taken together, determine the moral fiber of a nation.
Good people do not have to stand by and let evil win. They can fight back and start by
applying high standards to themselves. Responsibility. We need to revive and strengthen
it, because it is the value we cannot live without."
Heidi Giller, Luck High School, Luck, Wisconsin
"I believe that irresponsibility is caused by laziness and poor attitudes."
Katie Nelson, Luck High, Luck, Wisconsin