Joliet Central High School

Joliet, Illinois

 

Teacher: Michael Reilly

 

 

 

Responsibility And The Role It Plays

by George Nathan DeLeon
Grade 11

 

Responsibility plays a very important role in life. From taking care of your goldfish as a child, to managing your checking account as an adult, there are many responsibilities we need to fulfill.  In life, you are responsible for many things. You are responsible for many things. You are responsible for your family (including yourself), your money, and your community. Without these things, life is not really worth living. If you are not responsible, you are at risk of becoming a failure. 

           

When you are born, your family supports you in every way, shape, and form. When you become an adult, if you have children, it is your responsibility to take care of them and raise them correctly. In my family, it is very important that we share one meal a day together. When we eat, we talk about our day. When I get older and have kids, I will try my hardest to spend as much time with them and have that one or more meals a day to share with each other.  I think every family should have this responsibility.

           

It is true that children usually turn out to act like their parents. Usually bad parents make bad kids. We always hope that that you are a good person so your children also turn out to be good human beings. Next, when you decide to get married, you need to make a decision that deals with the rest of your life. You are responsible for making a commitment. When you get married, you take your vows. In them it says “in sickness and in health, till death do us part.”  That should be the wakeup call and open your eyes.  If you do not think you can live with this person till death, you need to reconsider the marriage and wait a while until you think you are ready for the commitment.

           

Another important responsibility is your parents. Your parents brought you into this world. We owe it you them to take care of them when they are old, sick or injured. This not only means visiting them and caring for them, it also means to support social security and be happy that there is a social security plan that will be there when you are old.  Family is a very important responsibility we all need to fulfill.

           

When you see your paycheck, and see all the money you have just made; do you just go out and spend it on junk and things you truly do not need?  That is a decision you have to make. The responsible answer is ‘NO,’ but irresponsible people say ‘YES.’  If you are a millionaire, or just a part-time grocery bagger; you must know your limits on managing your money. When you spend your money, you need to put your priorities before the things you want. For adults that might include bills, taxes, children, food or insurance.  A teen might have to spend his or her money on car insurance of saving for college.  It is important to know your limits on your money. Money management is a very big part of responsibility and of growing up.

           

Making your voice heard and trying to change things is called social activism. Ralph Waldo Emerson states ‘For nonconformity the world whips you with its displeasure.  And therefore a man must know how to estimate a sour face.’ This means that if others disagree with you, it is because you are not like them and once you experience this, you will know who your true friends are.  In order to be socially active you need to be your own person and be sure to avoid conformity, even if that means losing your friends.  Speaking your mind is a very important part of being a responsible individual in your community.  In order to live a happy life and be respected in your community, you need a loud voice and speak your conscience freely. You need to keep your commitment to morality. Many times people see something they do not agree with and just swallow it.  They shut their mouths and just deal with the problems. If you are against something whether it is gangs, violence, pollution or anything that you think is wrong you need to let someone know. A good place to start is city hall. Usually meetings are scheduled once or twice a month to answer questions and try to solve problems. It is your responsibility to change what is wrong and to make a difference in your community.

           

Responsibility is one of the hardest lessons to learn. Without it, your life will be full of confusion and hard times. Without responsibility, there is a lot of wasted potential. There are three basic responsibilities we need to fulfill. First, you need responsibility to your family. Without your family support as a child, you would not be a responsible person.  They taught you your basic morals. If you have a family of your own, you will have to teach your kids basic morals and hopefully they are good ones. Second, you need to be responsible financially. You need to but your family first and think of your self second.  Being responsible with your money means using your money where you need it most. If you have an expensive lifestyle, then you better have a lot of money to back it up.  Last, you need to have a loud voice in your community. You need to let people know what you are unhappy with as well as things that you are unhappy with. Keeping your mouth shut solves nothing. These responsibilities will make the quality of life better your you, your family, and your community.

           

 

ANSWERS RELEVANT TO THE REQUIRED READING

 

Q1.  The role of marriage in society has decreased over time.  For some people marriage is not as important as money and economics.

 

Q2.  couple#1: married 42 years, “Being together and working out the problems”

       couple#2:  married 6 years,   “Trying to make your spouse as happy as possible”

       couple#3:  married 10 years,  “Never forget your anniversary”

       couple#4:  married 22 years,  “Spend some quality time together away from the kids”

       couple#5:  married 7 years,   “To know your children that are a piece of both of  you”

       couple#6:  married 50 years,  “Listen to your spouse” “Be caring and understanding”

       couple#7:  married 2 years,    “Please your spouse in every aspect”

       couple#8:  married 30 years,  “Take some time away from the kids….”      

       couple#9:  married10 years,   “Stay truthful; never lie to your spouse, stay honest”

       couple#10:married 35 years ,“When your spouse is in a bad mood, cheer him/her up   and make the best of times”

 

Q3.  Our collective goal should be happiness, to be happy takes much more.

 

Q4.  A worthy goal for my community is for everyone to co-exist and get along.  In my community,there are a lot of arguments that lead to hatred.

 

Q5.  I do not agree with the excerpts from “Tomorrows Child.” In the first excerpt; I think children should not need dolls to remind them of their mothers. The mother should be there for their children as much as possible. In the second excerpt; we are already in a winner take all society, it is called capitalism. I don’t think minorities make a deal in economics; education is the main factor.

 

Q6.  American Democracy is not big on a central government so it is easy to get lawyers to help on issues under the cities and states. There are many religions and races in America. This makes more problems because of morals and customs. Lawyers can help solve these disputed on a level plane. Being a wealthy nation lets us focus on other things like pollution. Law can help with preserving our land.  The U.S. being so big with so much diversity needs a good law system to keep things in order.

 

Q7.  I prefer regulations because bad practices can be prevented before they even happen.  People do not want to face the penalty from breaking the rules.  Bad practices will always be around.  I believe the best and only way is to make laws with punishments.

 

Q8.  One way society would benefit from the retirement of baby boomers would be more jobs for the younger generation.  Another way would be when the baby boomers retire, they can start their own businesses and hire other baby boomers, thus calling it a “Gray Wave” of entrepreneurs.  Lastly, the “Gray Wave” entrepreneurs will offer services to the Generation X’ers.

 

Q9.  I think President Clinton’s anti- poverty program will not be as easy as he explains it.  First, in order to get a job to support a family, you need education.  Second. if you don’t have an education, a minimum wage job will not help when it comes to a family.  Third, as many non-profit organizations there are, taxes pay for the organizations and people always want lower taxes.

 

Q10.  Truett Cathy and Tom Lewis both have camps and activities for kids that do not have a good lifestyle.  They both work hard at what they do.  They are both role models for the children they help.