Citizenship: A Call for Youth Involvement
While many people have heard the importance of voting, I feel that our society is suffering from a lack of understanding of the act. Citizenship is not just the act of voting once every four years for a presidential candidate, but taking an active role in society. It is also more than just the act of involvement that I am addressing, but the level of involvement as well. Many citizens do not take part in our free democracy because they are intimidated by their lack of knowledge or understanding. That is why it is imperative for our country to be educated on the local, state, and national level.
Some may see citizenship as merely casting a ballot, but with a face and voice, its soul can be heard and allowed to move our nation. Lives have been lost while controversy has risen and been silenced, all upon the cause of freedom. In our representative democracy, we are given the opportunity to choose the leaders that make the decisions required to maintain this system. Without the required education, individuals cannot make informed decisions that truly reflect their views.
This problem goes beyond the mere intimidation or apathy that some may feel due to ignorance or simply not understanding how to run the levered machines. It reaches farther into the almost requirement of voting.
With much freedom comes much responsibility. We continue to receive the benefits of our system regardless of whether or not we choose to give back to it. I have completed over 17,000 hours of community service for this very purpose. Giving back to our citizens is what fuels the system and allows it to continue. This is just one example of the extent of liberty we are handed daily.
I do not want to take this liberty for granted and feel that by giving less than what is required of me, I am taking advantage of a system that is too often taken for granted. It is our duty to give back to the system that has handed us the freedom to become anything we dream. It is with the same passion that it hands us the education in order to achieve it.
As recipients of means to accomplish any dream with almost complete freedom, it is crucial that citizenship be given a voice in order to educate and mobilize voters. It is my goal to pour into individuals not only the importance of educating voters and encouraging voting, but the overwhelming and contagious passion to give back to a country that has given us everything. Furthermore, by our involvement, we are continuing to protect the system that gives us the same freedom. Finally, by this act the voices of our people can be truly heard.
