Contemporary society has a tendency to focus disproportionately on individual rights while neglecting the other side of that equation: responsibility. Although certain responsibilities are legally required, such as serving on a jury when called, others are voluntary, yet important, in maintaining the freedom, liberty, and equality of one another in our free society, like participating in the democratic process by voting (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, n.d.). It is important that we have awareness of both types of responsibilities.

Examples of a citizen’s rights and responsibilities (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, n.d.).

One definition of responsibility is to be accountable or answerable (Bennett, 1993). A good citizen must be aware that his or her actions, even if we think they affect only oneself, impact others. The Class of 2020 graduate featured in the following video explains the ways in which she carried forward the character trait of responsibility she learned in elementary school to provide leadership as a class officer during all four years in high school.

Characterdotorg. (2020, 29 June). Kyla. [Video]. YouTube.

Comment: Based on the observations Kyla shared in the video, make a comment about the ways in which she demonstrated personal responsibility throughout her years in school. What stood out to you in the stories she offered about her experiences?

Update: Now, give some thought to your own conception of accountability. Draw from your personal experience and describe a time when you lived up to – or fell short of – your responsibility to do right by yourself and others. Or, discuss an example from the news where a leader did the right thing by accepting – rather than avoiding – blame when he or she did something wrong. Also, think about what difference it makes when an individual chooses to take complete ownership for his or her actions.

Another way to take responsibility is to exhibit maturity, that is, to be a person who owns his or her actions, owns up to them, and answers for them (Bennett, 1993). But modern society has a strange way of looking at these concepts. Perhaps one of the most telling ways in which this manifests itself is the development of the term “adulting,” an ironic attempt to describe the mundane sorts of things adults do (Sasse, 2017). In reflecting on adulting, Dr. Ben Sasse, a former university president who now represents Nebraska in the U.S. Senate, observes, “Ours is now an odd nation of both delayed grown-ups and adult-children who create words to mock the idea that we could ever become responsible, civic-minded leaders” (Sasse, 2017, pp. 1-2).

Maturity also has an important emotional element that many people lack due to their upbringing, an aptitude that requires training like any other skill (The School of Life, 2019). When we take responsibility for our emotions and our reactions to circumstances or people that challenge or even hurt us, we demonstrate the sort of maturity needed to navigate adulthood. This is an essential skill if we are to be actively engaged citizens who are others-focused enough to make a meaningful contribution to those around us.

The following video suggests that for as many as half of us, if we haven’t had it modeled properly during childhood, acquiring emotional maturity is like learning a foreign language (The School of Life, 2019):

The School of Life. (2019, 13 November). How to test your emotional maturity. [Video]. YouTube.

Comment: After watching the video, please make a comment on your thoughts about the three cardinal virtues of emotional maturity – communication, trust, and vulnerability. Offer your perspective on whether you think learning this skill is easier or harder than learning a foreign language. What challenges are you experiencing in developing maturity in accepting responsibility for your actions and emotions?

Update: Share an example of a situation in which you have reacted with one of the three signs of emotionally immature behavior (sulking, anger, or coldness) indicating someone who has not developed responsibility for his or her emotions. Reflecting on that memory, discuss what you might have done differently to reflect one of the virtuous responses described in the video.

Gratitude creates in us a feeling of obligation and the sense that it’s our responsibility to pay forward the gifts we’ve been given. It stands in direct contrast to the modern realities we so often feel, including comparing ourselves to others, experiencing fear of missing out (“FOMO”), or even expressing a sense of entitlement that we deserve to have something.

The notion that we ought to be thankful for what we have and not covet others’ belongings has its moral roots in the Ten Commandments, and it also has practical applications. Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th president, is credited, among others, with observing that “comparison is the thief of joy.” When we consider that this sentiment came from a man whose mother and first wife died within hours of one another on the same day when Roosevelt was only 25 years old but who went on to receive the Medal of Honor and become the youngest man to serve as president of the United States, it offers some important perspective on the value of working hard and being thankful for what we have.

Upon assuming the presidency in 1901 after the assassination of President William McKinley, Roosevelt continued the tradition begun by President Lincoln in 1863 of celebrating Thanksgiving. Here are some of the words he used in his 1903 proclamation:

Washington Post. (2018, 21 November). A Thanksgiving message from Teddy Roosevelt — and Post opinions. [Video]. YouTube.

Comment: What are your thoughts on some of the sentiments shared by President Roosevelt in his Thanksgiving proclamation of 1903? For example, he quotes from Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address (“of the people, by the people, for the people”) as an example of liberty to the world, he expresses gratitude to God for the blessings bestowed on Americans, and he makes a distinction between the powers of good and evil in the world. Many of these notions are no longer prevalent in popular culture. What impact do you believe our lack of gratitude as a function of morality is having on our society today?

Update: Please take some time to reflect on the privileges we enjoy as Americans and make your own update to share your thoughts with your peers. Or, think of a time when you demonstrated a sense of entitlement rather than thankfulness for something you received or thought you should have received.

Another aspect of gratitude is encapsulated in the idea that we ought to offer or return kindness or compassion to others. From Aesop’s fable of the lion and the mouse, to the parable of the Good Samaritan, to the acts of Clara Barton, the Civil War’s “Angel of the Battlefield” and founder of the American Red Cross, kindness is a timeless virtue (Bennett, 1993).

Watch the following video to learn about some of the practical implications of kindness:

randomactsofkindness. (2017, 13 November). The science of kindness. [Video]. YouTube.

Comment: What are your thoughts on the scientific and other benefits of kindness described in the video?

Update: Share a “random act of kindness” with the class that you believe would be a good way to show another person or our community the value of compassion toward others.

Too often too many of us want to give up when circumstances start to get a little challenging, when the process of growth generates a bit too much discomfort, or when others around us seem to be getting ahead by taking easier paths. Whether this character trait is called perseverance, resilience, determination, or tenacity, American history overflows with examples of individuals and teams that have pushed through difficult times to achieve goals that seemed impossible.

Perhaps one of the most important examples of perseverance was exhibited before the nation had even celebrated its second birthday, adopted the Constitution, or elected its first president. But even in the winter of 1777-1778, General George Washington and his fellow patriots were providing the leadership and resolve necessary to bring our very country to life. Watch this video to learn more about what it took for the men to survive their winter encampment at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania:

Senator Ben Sasse. (2017, 19 December). Valley Forge: One of the first American Christmases. [Video]. YouTube.

But perseverance isn’t just a historical phenomenon; it’s something in our very midst even today. Here is a recent example of a fellow teenager who shares his story of overcoming challenges on the athletic field:

Characterdotorg. (2020, 5 May). Ayomide. [Video]. YouTube.

Comment: After watching these two videos, make a comment on what stood out to you about the characteristic of perseverance. What does Ayomide have in common with the patriots of Valley Forge? How can we apply their lessons to our lives?

Update: Now, make an update on an experience from your life where you have had to overcome adversity through the application of perseverance. What lessons did you learn from the experience? How are you applying them to your current circumstances? In what ways might you be able to use what you’ve learned once you go to college, begin your career, or start a family?

Another key component to attitude is adopting an optimistic approach to life. You may have heard the observation by the famous optimist, Zig Ziglar, “It is your attitude, more than your aptitude, that will determine your altitude.” More than just a cliché, this is a formula for success in your life. It takes very little effort to be a pessimist. Smile more, encourage others, believe the hard can be accomplished, and the “impossible” can be achieved.

Take a few minutes to watch the following video, which features a 17-year-old student from Venezuela, who has been in the country for only four years, taught himself English in six months, runs a company, and recently published a book. He is a terrific example of a young person who maintains an optimistic attitude and refuses to accept that anything is impossible.

TEDx Talks (2019, 16 December). A case for more youth optimism. | Juan David Campolargo | TEDxNaperville. [Video]. YouTube.

There is a great quotation from the Navy Seabees that perfectly captures the concept of optimism, “The difficult we do now, the impossible takes a little longer” (Eng, 2018). As you go about your day, think about how you can apply this notion that success is inevitable with a good attitude!

Comment: What is your reaction to Juan David Campolargo’s TED Talk? Make a comment on your thoughts and feelings about what he presented regarding Generation Z and the future.

Update: Please post your own update on some possible actions you can take or recommend to your peers to promote a greater sense of optimism in our community.