Valley Springs High School
Valley Springs, Arkansas
Teacher: Lavina Grandon

Personal Responsibility
By Carley Mayo
Grade 12, Age 17

943 words

 

We are all familiar with the universay saying, "What's in it for me?"  People in America today want to know that their actions will produce some sort of reward for them.  On the subject of today's communities, actions taken to better the quality of life for the community as a whole will produce rewards for individuals without fail.  Each person must take responsibility for his role in the family, in his work environment, and in his interaction in the community.  The community can only become stronger when people are involved and assume their responsibilities.

           

First of all, all improvement in the community starts within the family.  The community can be stregthened only if every individual fulfills his proper role in the family.  Communication is a very essential factor when it comes to strengthening the family.  Parents must have very adequate commuication with their children on issues involving their family.

           

It is not uncommon for unmarried couples to move in together and have children without even bothering with the legalities.  According to University of Wisconsin sociologist Larry Bumpass, the average live-in relationship last only eightteen months.  This means about three quarters of all childrenn born to cohabiting couples will see their parents split up.  Marriage seems less necessary to Americans in this day and age.  Meanwhile, evidence is mounting that marriage is a plus for most people, generally making them happier, healthier and even helping them to live longer.

           

When a married couple decides to  have children, they should be undoubtedly sure and should be ready for the responsibilities of beninning a family.  When they do invite children into this world, they should be ready to fulfill their role as parents.  "We have so many latchkey children in search of human connection," muses marketing consultant Faith Popcorn.  "They'll be able to carry thier mother around in doll form!".  As unrealistic as this assertion is, parents and children are growing further and further apart.

           

It is important for children to first learn good, solid morals from thier parents, then what their role in the community is.  When families all play a part in good communication, they will become more well-rounded, therefore more productive in strengthening our community.  Due to recent outbreaks of violence among the youth of America,  we can't help asking whether good parenting skills could have saved lives.

           

Secondly, each person must take responsibility in his work environment.  Many people may feel that there is no reward in their work.  Then may come to work, put in their time, and go home feeling as if they play no part in making their work environment better.  Some businesses have incentive meetings in which employees can get togther and discuss ideas about how to better the workplace, how to make the quality of work better, and how to just be happier at their job.  It gives each individual the opportunity to make a difference in his community.

           

Each person should take part in any programs to better his education.  Knowledge leads to growth in each individual which is an important asset in improving the quality of life in our communities.  Businesses should offer scholorships to schools to give students a better chance to make a difference.  A lot of times it is hard for parents to get off work to spend time with their children.  It is needed for the workplace to allow parents time to devote to their children, especially directly after childbirth.  Each and every person can make a difference in his workplace.  A person should never think he is too insignificant to make a change.

           

Finally, stronger communities can be developed in America by people's interaction in the community.  After the problems in the community have been detected,  steps must be taken toward improvement.  One way of doing this could be by mentoring.  Experts agree that any effort to help the next generation must include mentoring. "Of all the social ideas of the last 30 years, it's the only one that we know works," says Newsweek senior editor Jonathan Alter.  One study by Public/Private Ventures shows that children who are mentored are less that half as likely to abuse drugs or alcohol and mentoring can also boost employees' productivity.

           

Programs involving mentoring and others such as the Big Brother program, which concentrates on children without fathers, can tremendously help children.  It gives them a feeling of self-worth and someone to looke up to,  There are many ways for a person to interact in their community.  Every community has different activities and programs to be involved in.  All a person must do is put forth a small amount of time and effort.  Everyone should take part in any community activity if at all possible.  Everyone has an important role to play with his interaction in the community.  In a community where everyone is involved, it can only mean for as stronger, more productive community through togetherness. Therefore, there needs to be a new emphasis put upon personal responsibility in the community.  Only if each individual fulfills his role in his family, in his work environment, and in his interaction in the community can the quality of life in the community be improved.  We need to set goals for ourselves to do what we can for our community.  Richard Eckersley asks, "Will we improve the quality of life by continuing our present path of progress . . . or do we need to find a new path that lead in a different direction toward new personal and social goals?".

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References

Eckersley, R.  (1999).  Is life really getting better?  The Futurist (January).

Eckersley, R.  (1998).  Tomorrow's child.  Newsweek, 133(19), 54, 56.

Groal, N.  (1998).  Mentoring makes a difference.  Newsweek, 133(19), 20.

Wingert, P.  (1998).  I do, I do-maybe.  Newsweek, 133(19), 58.

 

Questions to Answer After Completing the Required Reading

 

Q1-How does society invest in marriage in the USA and in Manus?

The U.S. has almost no concern for marital status and in Manus is considered a offensive thing for someone to be divorced

 

Q2-Interview 10 married people.  (No names.)  State the length and number of each one's marriages and a line or two of advice from each on how to maintain a long, happy relationship.

1.  30 years-Marry a Christian.

2.  12 years-Try your hardest to get along no matter what and don't fight in the presence of offspring.

3.  3 years-You need to make sacrifices in order to keep the marriage strong.

4.  14 years-Stay by each others side no matter what.

5.  6 years-Try to let spouse win the argument, no matter how hard it will be.

6.  19 years-Maintain mutual respect and start out as friends. 

7.  30 year-Keep trust, try to refrain from anger, never talk behind spouse's back, and say you love them a whole lot.

8.  12 years-With communication being the key, have respect for spouse at all times and be unselfish and willing to comprimise.

9.  5 years-Never loose your sense of humor.

10.  23 years-Never turn to any other and keep on loving your spouse.

 

Q3-According to Richard Eckersley, what should our collective goal be?

According to him your collective goal should be to dematerialize society without reducing the quality of life.

 

Q4-Write a worthy goal for your local community.

A worthy goal for my community would be to not take for granted what you have now because it can be reduced to nothing in one minute.  Another goal would be to be caring and have compassion for others not in the same position as you.

 

Q5-Comment on the excerpts from "Tomorrow's Child."

I feel that a lot of parents don't spend near enough time with their children and this is a large problem in this country.  I also agree that the gab between races should be closed.

 

Q6-How does the fact the USA is a democracy make lawyers particularly helpful, according to Kathleen Sullivan?  How does our diversity, wealth and size make lawyers particularly helpful?

Lawyers are helpful in our country because the help to protect the individual and institute fair rights.  Diversity contributes respect for religion, race, women, etc.  Wealth makes for more room for expanding to help solve the problems of the environment.  Size makes fore a vast territory for work.

 

Q7-Ms. Sullivan claims bad practices are changed either by regulations of punitive damages.  Which do you prefer and why?  Can you think of an alternative?

I prefer to use punitive damages.  Each person should admit their mistakes and not make excuses for their shortcomings.

 

Q8-Briefly describe three ways society would benefit from the coming retirement of baby boomers, according to the required reading.

Society could benefit by:

1)  Jobs provided to teenagers by entrepreneurs

2)  Some of the retired could start their own business and give advice to the young soon to be babyboomers. 

3)  Maybe they could give advice to youngsters.

 

Q9-Evaluate the likelihood of President Clinton's anti-poverty program making a real impact.  Give at least three reasons to back up your conclusions.

The likelihood of his program to work is small.  Thirty five percent of former welfare recipients can't perform simple tasks, such as finding a location on a map and 41% couldn't use a calculator.  Even if they are willing to work, what real use would they be.

 

Q10-Name three things Truett Cathy and Tom Lewis have in common.

They both have quite large responsibilities to the companies they work for, they both have interest in future education, and volunteer to teach and help kids.