1997-1998 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest

Responsibility: Who Has It, Who Doesn't, And What That Means To The Nation 

Medicine Lodge High School, Kansas
1st Nicholas Prather        2nd Ryan White         3rd Justin Kimball

Education Programs
"In Chicago, parents of public school children created a program they call home gatherings. Under this program, parents assemble at the homes of other parents and discuss the goals and values of their children's school with one teacher. This gives the parents a chance to express their interests and hear the teacher's input on how the children are fulfilling the requirements. This parent/teacher interaction gives both sides a chance to examine dilemmas and develop solutions. When parents involve themselves directly with the school, children are encouraged to extend their boundaries to achieve success."
Jennelle Bieberle, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

"The University of Kansas has a program called even Start, CAPS (Children and Parents Succeeding). This program provides adult literacy training, a parent support group, and parent and child classroom time. It allows parents to assist their children in education so their full potential may be reached. When parents put forth an effort to show their concern with education, children realize how important education is to parents. In return, this sparks a desire in children to be successful and please their parents."
Jennelle Bieberle, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

Discipline
"The sport of rodeo strengthens and builds the responsibility of the contestants. Every level of rodeo is primarily a self-directed sport, which is not often coached, with the exception of various colleges who have rodeo teams. With this lack of coaching and supervision, a very high work ethic must be maintained in order for a contestant to be successful at this sport. Many obligations and arrangements must be made and later fulfilled just for practice to take place. Such acts as arranging a place to practice and borrowing cattle to rope becomes a challenge which is overcome only by responsibility. Secondly, time management must be added to the list of responsibilities needed for a rodeo contestant to be successful. High school and college students who rodeo are especially pressured to give up their practice time for social events and other school activities. A truly dedicated and responsible contestant will place practicing and preparation time as the most important aspect of their busy life. Time management also becomes relevant when the contestant must be at a rodeo hundreds of miles away at a certain time. A high level of responsibility must be practiced when a time of departure is to be arranged and when little time can be wasted on the trip.

In addition, responsible driving is gained over the many miles driven to and from rodeos every weekend. Over the past year and a half, I personally have driven 45,000 miles to various rodeos and other horse-related activities. This includes the twelve miles I drive twice a day just to feed the horses I compete on… While waiting several hours at a rodeo for a chance to rope, many temptations can be found that may lead to becoming unprepared or even cause the contestant to miss his/her event. A few of these temptations include: going out with friends, talking and messing around until the last minute, and staying out late the night before. There is always the temptation of partying or drinking the night before with friends, which also leads to irresponsibility. The ability to overcome these temptations is a major factor in my success at the sport of rodeo."
Ryan White, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

Definitions
"Responsibility deals with how people take care of themselves emotionally and physically."
Justin Kimball, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

"There's an old saying that goes, 'If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything.' We have to stand for something in this life. If we think we can avoid responsibility by choosing not to take a stand, we are wrong. If we are not part of the solution, we are part of the problem. We shape our lives through responsible activities. They say with freedom comes responsibility. The reverse is also true: With responsibility comes freedom. Responsibility is about holding ourselves accountable for what we manifest in our lives. It's about ownership. Recognizing our ability to choose between right and wrong, and our ability to respond, is a must."
JaRee Underwood, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

"Responsibility is defined as the state, quality, or fact of being capable of making moral or rational decisions on one's own and, therefore, answerable for one's behavior."
Julie Cunningham, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

Community
"Americans need to realize that it takes only one person to ruin the lives of all people. Taking responsibility for the actions I make every day and never forgetting there is always someone out there who is willing to listen and learn from me is the essence of a responsible life."
Justin Kimball, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

"Many people stand up for others' needs and take responsibility for them, even though it is not their problem. This type of responsibility is displayed by students who tutor others, and also by the way people make sure everybody gets decent food to eat. I felt I needed to show that some kids can do positive things, by putting up Christmas lights…In order for the world to become more responsible, everyone must pitch in and do their part to make a better place for future generations to live in."
Justin Kimball, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

"Contrary to what the media might tell us, people of color value family, education, and collective responsibility. However, some of us [don't hold onto] those beliefs because of the legacy of oppression. Some of us have bought into the stereotypes and lies about ourselves and have started acting on the "every man for himself" mentality. We can all take responsibility…by facing the problems [in] the world-environmental damage, hunger, hopelessness, and illiteracy. We should not waste valuable time and energy placing blame, either on other people or ourselves. We must accept the reality that society's ills will not disappear unless we all accept responsibility."
JaRee Underwood, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

Alcohol
"According to a recent study, an astonishing 38.6 percent of all teenagers drink weekly. Of all of the teens surveyed, 31 percent say that they only drink alone. There are 41 percent of teens that drink when they are upset because they claim it makes them feel better. Only 25 percent drink when they are bored, and 25 percent drink to feel high. Even though 92 percent say that they will not drink and drive, one-third of all teens have accepted rides from drunk drivers."
Julie Cunningham, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

Irresponsibility
"Also, portable rest rooms were knocked over at a large community-wide festivity by unknown troublesome criminals. This is an immature act, which embarrasses the community. Many visitors come from around the state and nation to enjoy the festivities. An irresponsible act such as this may cause travelers to stay away from this town."
Justin Kimball, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

"Statistics show that every four hours, a socially recognized and approved union between two individuals of the opposite sex with the expectation of permanence and usually with the aim of producing offspring, will take place in the United States of America. The only problem...two-thirds of these marriages will end in a divorce or separation within two years...Researchers say that an inadequate amount of time is [spent] for choosing that life-long mate."
Justin Fluke, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

Illicit Drugs
"Illegal drug use and cigarette smoking among teenagers continued to rise in 1996, according to federal officials who unveiled the latest drug survey results. The sharpest increases shown in marijuana and cigarette smoking occurred among eighth and tenth graders."
Julie Cunningham, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

Lessons of Life
"A trait learned from working in a grocery store during one's adolescence is being a courteous person to strangers. When customers walk in the store, workers are encouraged to greet them with a smile and make them feel welcome. Politeness and charity expressed towards customers, and later in life, towards superior persons or companions, is a valuable trait to be taught. This is because of the vision that all people are rude in today's world and the need to contradict it. In a small town grocery store, learning the value of courtesy is a high priority, which will be very valuable for these high school employees when they enter 'the real world.'"
Scott Boyd Keltner, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

"High school employees working in a small town grocery store learn to take orders, through the order may not always sound appealing to them. The thought of cleaning bathrooms is always a dreaded sound to the ears of an employee where I work, but the thought of cleaning public bathrooms is a thought much more appalling. Though the chore may sound nasty, employees must overcome their fear and do this duty to earn their minimum wage…Doing undesirable tasks is a big part of anyone's life and is one of the many traits that are taught at a small town grocery store."
Scott Boyd Keltner, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

"When in middle school, many students take part in the tradition on Halloween of trashing the small town's business fronts with shaving cream and/or rotten eggs. These students seem to go about their business as if there were no problem with their temporary vandalism. Though shaving cream wipes off of windows rather easily, the actual task of removing the shaving cream is a job which [causes] most employees to cringe. [Later], when in high school, these students who used to trash the storefronts, are now responsible for cleaning the mess… This teaches the teenagers respect for others' property. Sometimes learning takes lessons to reach a responsible place in life."
Scott Boyd Keltner, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

Irresponsible Acts
"Recently in my city, a few students ruined the impressions of many townspeople towards teenagers by starting hay bales on fire and nearly burning the next door business down, too. By burning the bales, these children not only annihilated their own images but the images of all teenagers as well. The possibility of curfews has been questioned at town meetings, and this upsets all the kids in the town because the mandatory curfew is not fair to the teenagers who are doing no harm. The irresponsible behavior...also set unsatisfactory examples for children of younger ages."
Justin Kimball, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

"A postdoctoral associate at the Center for Cancer Research was caught in a hit-and-run accident while riding her bike. The driver dragged her and her bicycle for two clocks before getting away. A man from Omaha, Nebraska claimed on his insurance form that an invisible car was at fault for the damage to his vehicle. It was later found that the man had hit a telephone pole. These kinds of incidents are examples of drivers who do not take responsibility for their own actions."
Ty Stackhouse, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

Parenting
"One of the most important influences on children are their parents. Parent's involvement in education helps to stimulate a desire for learning in their children. Many problems in school evolve with lack of attention from parents. All children deserve attention, and when parents are too busy to spend quality time with their kids, the children may resort to negative behavior in order to be noticed. To some children, getting bad grades is a way to gain the notification they crave. This is an expression for an emotional requirement that needs to be fulfilled. Also, children may resort to skipping school when their acts are not taken seriously. Children tend to follow the examples their parents provide for them. If parents seem uninterested and uninvolved in their children's education, the children are more likely to lose motivation to do well in school. Some children may even end up dropping out of school if parents do not supply proper guidance and reinforce the importance of education. When kids feel as if their parents are not concerned with their education, they are less likely to think about heir future and the consequences of not furthering their education…Parents become so involved with their occupations that they leave little allowance for quality time with their children. With a fast-paced society, it is difficult for both parents and children to create time for each other. A time should be set aside when the whole family is able to sit down and communicate with each other…Giving children encouragement and praise can serve as a way to unfold the lines of communication. Parents can begin with gestures as small as asking children about their days or finding out about the kinds of information they learn from day to day. This can help children feel a sense of responsibility to apply themselves so they can provide positive details to share with their parents."
Jennelle Bieberle, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

"When children are young, they watch and mimic everything their parents do. Therefore, parents have a responsibility to set a good example. If children see what is right, they will be more likely to follow the right path. When I was young, I knew my parents made a special effort to drive to town and devote in all the public elections. This has played a vital role in making me take part in my civic duties. I just turned eighteen and am already registered to vote. I am anxious for the first election so I can play a part in our government. Also, my parents have…encouraged me to participate in community services. Although I am eighteen years old, I still take pride in helping elderly ladies with chores [and I] baby sit at the primary school on parent-teacher night. Also, my parent shave told me of the severe punishment I would face if I chose to break the law. I respect their authority and choose to stay out of trouble. I believe my parent shave taken the responsibility of raising me to be a responsible citizen. If other parents took the time, as my parents do, I believe more young adults would be responsible citizens."
Gayle Price, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

The Problem
"Many Americans feel the organization [IRS] uses its power to enforce an unfair tax code that is incomprehensible. This is an enormous problem for taxpayers throughout the nation. Every honest taxpayer pays every time there is dishonesty in a tax return, whether it is the …actions [of the taxpayer] or the IRS. These crimes of deception translate into money out of the pockets of every law-abiding American."
Jackie Ohler, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

Peers
"Teenagers tend to involve themselves in what everyone else is doing or what feels good without thinking [about] the consequences they might have to face."
Julie Cunningham, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

Role Models
"Many of our government leaders have not led responsible lifestyles…1. Robert Packwood, former Senator of Oregon and Chairman of the Finance Committee, was recommended unanimously by the Senate Ethics Committee to be expelled for evidence of sexual misconduct, evidence tampering, and bribery. This man was both a representative in our government and an influential leader. It was, and still is, discouraging to know that this type of character was allowed into our political system.

2. Senator Phil Gramm of Texas was given recommendations for a 1996 GOP presidential election position. Gramm was given recommendations despite being fined $30,000 by the Federal Election commission in 1989 for illegal and excessive campaign contributions and other election law violations. Also, Gramm was proven to have business transactions with convicted Dallas S&L owner, Jerry Stiles. Stiles was convicted of 11 counts of conspiracy, bank robbery, misapplication of bank funds, and other charges. Furthermore, Gramm was caught in the act of making campaign solicitations from his Congressional office; this was a violation of 18 U.S.C. 607(a). Is this really someone we needed to review for a presidential election position? Did we really want someone with these credentials as a President of the United States?

3. Senator Alphonse D'Amato of New York was accused of being 'The poster child for the rotten campaign-finance system on Capitol Hill.' More than half of D'Amato's associates and political allies were convicted in 1988 for bribery and racketeering. A former vice chairman testified that his company funneled at least $30,000 in illegal contributions to D'Amato for favors they expected to receive. Yet, D'Amato continues to be re-elected to the Senate and was an adviser to Dole in his 1996 presidential campaign."
Nicholas Prather, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

"Many teenagers have taken time after school to help other students with their schoolwork. This is a positive manner to show younger children that they care for them and do not mind giving their time for them. This gives kids a great example to look up to, and they will possibly someday do the same favor for others with the same need they once had. Many times the best ways to show responsibility is displayed by the small deeds one does for people."
Justin Kimball, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

"My parents' relationship…has taught me that marriage is not easy, but instead, marriage is a life-long commitment."
Justin Fluke, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

"Michael Jordan is one of the most extraordinary athletes who has ever lived and still has enough time to care for the children of America. Some responsibility he has acquired is spending time with his family, fulfilling his and his father's dreams, and being committed to a cause. Jordan is not an athlete who chooses to have children, then never spend time with them. He goes home whenever possible. Jordan also had a childhood dream of playing baseball, which was his father's dream for him, too. So, a few years back, Jordan decided to play baseball and even though he was not the best, he stuck to it. He showed respect by taking on the responsibility of making his and his father's dream come true. Now that he is back to basketball, he is truly committed to winning all of the championships in which he is able to play, even if that means playing with a 104-degree temperature. Last season, the Chicago bulls were playing the Utah Jazz for the championship. Michael Jordan had flu-like symptoms all day and had not eaten any food, but he still came up with enough strength to play and score 38 points. This shows children that when faced with a commitment, responsibility to others is also involved. Jordan made a commitment to his teammates; therefore, it became his responsibility to be at the game."
Crystal Moore, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

"Being a professional athlete who is also a role model, takes a tremendous amount of responsibility…there are plenty of individuals who choose to go the extra distance to show they care about the example they give."
Crystal Moore, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

"A teenage boy sits in front of his television set and watches his favorite basketball team, the Chicago Bulls, play during the playoffs. During the game Dennis Rodman, a Bulls player, trips over a cameraman while chasing down a loose ball and falls to the floor. Rodman, blaming the cameraman for his fall, kicks him in the groin. Today, many professional athletes are looked at as role models. The athletes need to take the responsibility to watch their actions and control their tempers while they are in the limelight. What does the incident involving Dennis Rodman and the cameraman say to today's youth of America? Does this tell all of the children who look up to Dennis that it is okay to kick their teachers, their friends, or even their parents?"
Kyle Fowler, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

"Many professional athletes, such as Barry Sanders, are idolized by many kids throughout the world. His dazzling stop and go, shake 'n bake spin moves are not the only actions that separate Barry from the rest of the players in the NFL. The way he conducts himself on the field is one of the many reasons millions of people love Barry…One act sets of his unselfishness more than any other. Barry gives ten percent of his yearly earnings to the Paradise Baptist Church, his former church in Wichita, Kansas. When Barry was drafted into the NFL in 1988, he promised on television that he would donate ten percent of his yearly contract to his church. Barry has kept his word for almost ten years now. Barry Sanders is truly a responsible athlete who devotes his extra time and money to his many fans and favorite charities.

While Barry's millions of dollars are being donated to charities throughout the world, some professional athletes look to spend their money in other ways. Dwight Gooden, currently with the New York Yankees, spent much of his wealth on illegal drugs. He became addicted to cocaine while finding fame in the big leagues. Gooden is a perfect example of an athlete who makes millions of dollars playing a sport, yet cannot find any better way to spend his money than on harmful drugs."
Kyle Fowler, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

Responsibility
"Over and over again, those in leadership lose their primary focus. Visions of money and power tarnish the concentration of many of our superiors, causing them to cheat, swindle, and pervert our government that was founded so honorably. Yet, it is still our responsibility as citizens to educate ourselves and respond to those exploitations correctly. As citizens of the United States, we have been given unrestricted rights. Freedom to petition, press, and assembly are just a few of the rights we can utilize. These liberties are given to us to prevent an unquestioned, unstoppable government. We have the ability to show our opposition to those officials who have been recognized as detrimental to our nation. With the freedom of press, we can inform the public of the misuse of materials and power. Also, freedom of petition allows us to gather the names of all of those who feel the same misgivings about someone or something. Assembly, in the same way, grants us the privilege to collect under similar interests and doubts. Despite corruption, many people have prospered under these same liberties.

In 1776, James Madison was elected as a delegate to the Virginia Revolutionary Convention. With his superiority, he helped start a revolution of independence and good government. He failed to be re-elected in the Virginia legislature because he refused to furnish whiskey to the voters. He later took a strong stand for religious freedoms during the writing of the Constitution. His ideas and insights were the main points used in the building of the Constitution. Also, Madison was elected as a President of the United States and today, is considered one of the greatest government leaders of our nation. Similarly, former Senators and Presidents have made a wonderfully positive impact on our nation, taking the responsibility that our citizens have given them very seriously. President Franklin D. Roosevelt had a unique care and compassion for the American people. During wartime, Roosevelt provided jobs and food for those in need. He held a firm resistance to compromise and irresponsibility.

Thomas Jefferson, also a President of the United States, took a strict stand on morals and ethics. Jefferson once stated, 'The care of human life and happiness and not their destruction is the first and only legitimate object of good government.' Like Roosevelt, Jefferson had a strong charity for his fellow constituents. President Abraham Lincoln was famous for his opposition to slavery and his steps to overcoming that evil. Lincoln once said, 'As I would not be a salve, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy.' His desire to end slavery despite its overwhelming support was, and still is, very inspiring. Teddy Roosevelt, a Republican President, was a very energetic man. He believed in a constant growth and taking risks. Just the thought of his determination for success and improvement fatigued many."
Nicholas Prather, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas Solutions:

"Young [grocery employees] are learning valuable lessons in life, [which] helps them form dreams of higher-end jobs with higher wages, actual benefits, and a comfortable work environment. Young employees at this store learn a valuable lesson in life: promptness. When one person shows up late for their shift, it is a setback for the rest of the workers on that shift. When a young person learns to be precise in their timing, or even a little early, this trains them for when more responsibilities will be placed on them later in life with the existence of a family, and so on."
Scott Boyd Keltner, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

"Teenagers are taking responsibility when they excel in academics. It shows that they are applying themselves and looking ahead to their future. Responsibility is shown in their sports because they have to make many sacrifices to participate. They must restrain themselves from doing many of the irresponsible activities that other teens are participating in as well as focus on academics in order to stay eligible. Then, teens take responsibility when they hold jobs while in high school. High school students have many feats to overcome, and getting a job adds to the list. Teens who get jobs show responsibility by looking ahead to future needs for money. Whether they need money to help pay for college, or just their individual needs, carrying the loads of school and a job shows great responsibility.

Again, teens show responsibility when they are role models for younger children. Many young children, as well as junior high students, look up to high school students. Being a good role model shows great responsibility…"
Julie Cunningham, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

"Great responsibility is shown in being a good friend. The person must be willing to listen, compromise, show honesty, and be trustworthy."
Julie Cunningham, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

Self
"Sometimes there are people who do not know how to behave responsibly, so they set poor examples for other citizens, especially young children. Other people allow themselves, mentally, to decline to an area where they want to commit suicide or harm others. Responsibility not only means helping others and do what is right, but also to make sure you are taking care of yourself."
Justin Kimball, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

Sex
"According to statistics, by their 17^th birthdays, 52 percent of girls and 58 percent of boys have had sex."
Julie Cunningham, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

Statistics
"Statistics show that drivers become safer as they age. According to the Utah Safety Council, drivers in the 55+ age group have the lowest accident involvement rates of any driving age group. This is contrary to popular belief. This information is even more astounding when it is realized that this is the age group that experiences a dulling of the senses, such as hearing and vision loss. There are also statistics showing that drivers in the 55+ age group have the lowest number of traffic violations, including speeding and drunk driving."
Ty Stackhouse, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

Solutions
"Thus, Teddy Roosevelt, among many others, helped build a nation that is slowly being destroyed. But, with out efforts. Responsibility in politics can be saved. The first step to improvement is education. We must educate our voters. Our representatives should be questioned and reviewed. Many of us vote before researching our options. An answer could be to begin election committees. These committees should form locally nationwide. In these committees, the electees would be evaluated and analyzed. Their ideas and convictions on each available issue would be known publicly. This would prevent anyone with distorted intentions to come into power. Repeatedly, this process would provide responsible government leaders, which would lead us to a better nation and a better government."
Nicholas Prather, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

Teens
"American teenagers need to learn some new ways of taking responsibility for themselves and stand up for their actions. In realizing that teenagers are responsible, many Americans would feel more at ease in believing them. They will learn to understand teenagers' feelings about certain issues being discussed in our government or community."
Justin Kimball, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

"I have always tried to overcome the stereotype of a typical employee. Other teenagers also battle to overcome this vision of a high school slacker who will never amount to anything…Many veteran employees are troubled and astounded by the work habits of some of the high school workers. They are frightened to see that these high school kids, the future of our country, are not working hard enough, if at all. The way these children personify themselves in this place of business is a bad vanguard for other, more responsible employees at the same establishment. Also, the way these high school employees treat more fragile items at the store could astound and scare away innocent customers. The way the potato chips are treated, how expired eggs are left on the shelf two weeks past their freshness date, and the ever-increasing horrid sight of the bathrooms are just a few irresponsible features of this grocery store that need to be changed."
Scott Boyd Keltner, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

"To be a responsible citizen, one must first help contribute to the benefits of h is/her community and country. Granted, there are young adults who are irresponsible citizens. They gain this title by breaking laws, failing to be an active member of society, and disrespecting elders. However, young adults should not be labeled because of a few 'bad apples.' In reality, there are numerous young adults who are responsible citizens."
Gayle Price, Medicine Lodge High School, Medicine Lodge, Kansas      [Back]