“When we are children we seldom think of the future. This innocence leaves us free to enjoy ourselves as few adults can. The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind.”
― Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind
Adult: having attained full size and strength; grown up; mature
Child: a person between birth and full growth; a boy or girl
definitions from www.dictionary.com
Child: a person between birth and full growth; a boy or girl
definitions from www.dictionary.com
RESPONSIBILITY
[ri-spon-suh-bil-i-tee]
Definition of Responsible:
1. answerable or accountable, as for something within one's power, control, or management (often followed by to or for ): He is responsible to the president for his decisions.
2. involving accountability or responsibility: a responsible position.
3. chargeable with being the author, cause, or occasion of something (usually followed by for ): Termites were responsible for the damage.
4. having a capacity for moral decisions and therefore accountable; capable of rational thought or action: The defendant is not responsible for his actions.
5. able to discharge obligations or pay debts.
(www.dictionary.com)
1. answerable or accountable, as for something within one's power, control, or management (often followed by to or for ): He is responsible to the president for his decisions.
2. involving accountability or responsibility: a responsible position.
3. chargeable with being the author, cause, or occasion of something (usually followed by for ): Termites were responsible for the damage.
4. having a capacity for moral decisions and therefore accountable; capable of rational thought or action: The defendant is not responsible for his actions.
5. able to discharge obligations or pay debts.
(www.dictionary.com)
Am I responsible?
The time has come where I make the transition from a child to an adult. Already?! While some people, such as my roommates and friends are making this a smooth transition, I find myself getting stuck. To be honest, I do not feel that I am ready to be an adult yet. Yes, I am responsible enough to take care of my car, make my bed, complete my school work, and walk the dog; but I do not think I am responsible enough to pay my own bills, attend a "big-girl" doctor, rather than a pediatrician, or especially have my own classroom in my future profession as a teacher.
Future is the keyword. I know one day I will be ready for all of these tasks but not today. However, my day to day activities are pushing me farther and farther into the real life. For example, I had a meeting with my advisor about graduation-- am I really ready to graduate?! I, also, just had a job interview for a volunteer position, where I wouldn't get a salary. Since when do I work without pay... since I decieded it would look amazing on my resume. So while my current feelings keep me stuck in my "childish" ways, my surroundings are pushing me towards being a full on responsible adult. Clickhere to edit.
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Breaking Down "Responsibility"
The word "responsible" includes various words that help define what the word means. Therefore, if I am responsible, wouldn't I also fit the words that define responsible? Let's take a closer look...
answerable or accountable, as for something within one's power, control, or management
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I would say that I am accountable for myself. I decide my own choices and actions that may affect my life in a positive or negative way. I feel comfortable being "answerable" to myself. I do not feel overwhelmed by this trait due to the fact that I have been taught to take accountability for my actions since I was little--- parents and teachers have taught me this skill. However, there are still aspects of this word that do not fit me. For example, I am not accountable for all of my bills. As a college student, my focus is my education and, fortunately, my parents understand this. They are still accountable for my financial needs: they pay for my college house, my tuition, my clothes (sometimes), my food (sometimes), etc.
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However, they do teach me to start to taking control of my own financial needs. So, I pay for my "extras." I pay for extra clothes that I don't need but want, my dinners when I go out with friends, the fun activities I do to keep busy and enjoy my day. A more specific example is the trip I am planning to go on in November. My best friend is studying abroad in London, so I paid for my plane ticket to visit her, and I am responsible for making my spending money. Once again, I am stuck on the edge between child and adult.
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chargeable with being
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Again, I am stuck in between adult and child for this definition. It's as if I am at a fork in the road. I am looking at two different paths that I can take. One saying "child" and another saying "adult." I am standing in the front of the two roads, confused on where to go. There are positives and negatives to both directions. BUT, it seems as if I can't make my own choice, I am being forced towards the adult path, by friends, family, teachers, and life. In reality, though, I become an adult when I am ready- when my actions and behavior match what I believe an adult is: responsible. In the case of being chargeable with being the author, cause, or occasion of something, this is sort of iffy. I am still a consumer.
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I am not a producer. I do not take command in many of my own ideas. For something like creating a concept for my Twitterive project, I must look for advice and guidence from my professor. No, this is not a bad thing. But I am not the true author of my work. Yes, I wrote it and created it but some of the thoughts have come from other people. For something as simple as deciding what to be for Halloween, I go to friends and family for their suggestions. Although these are not life-changing decisions that effect my life is a monumentous way, it is still something that is holding me back from being a true grown-up person.
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If I had to describe myself based on the word responsibility, this is the main part that suites me. For as long as I could remember, I always had a capacity for moral decisions. So I guess there was always an "adult" part of me. I hate breaking the rules and feel terrible if i actually do: the moral part of me. Of course, there are times when you have to break some rules but I always catch myself if I am about to do something dangerous or stupid.
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having a capacity for moral decisions and therefore accountable; capable of rational thought or action
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I do not fit this definition in any way. I am not able to support myself, financially. I work during the summers and a few weekends during the fall, winter, and spring. However, that money goes into my bank account and saved for me. I use that money to buy clothes, go out to restaurants, gas, vacations, overall anything "extracurricular" I do. I am not capacble of paying for my off-campus house at school, my college tuition, or anything of complete significance. I must relay on my parents to support me financially, which definitely categorizes me as a child.
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ACCOUNTABILITY
[uh-koun-tuh-bil-i-tee]
The Spectrum of Accountability
While I discussed being accountable for myself, there are so many different types of accountability.
Political Accountability"the accountability of the government, civil servants and politicians to the public and to legislative bodies such as a congress or a parliament."
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Ethical Accountability"Within an organization, the principles and practices of ethical accountability aim to improve both the internal standard of individual and group conduct as well as external factors, such as sustainable economic and ecologic strategies. Also, ethical accountability plays a progressively important role in academic fields, such as laboratory experiments and field research."
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Individual Accountability in Organizations"If individuals are held accountable or responsible, individuals who could not have prevented the results are either unfairly punished, or they “take responsibility” in a symbolic ritual without suffering any consequences. But if only organizations are held accountable, then all individuals in the organization are equally blameworthy or all are excused."
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Constituency Relations"A particular agency or the government is accountable if voices from agencies, groups or institutions, which is outside the public sector and representing citizens’ interests in a particular constituency or field, are heard."
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Accountability in Education"A policy of holding schools and teachers accountable for students' academic progress by linking such progress with funding for salaries, maintenance, etc." Additionally, schools are held accountable for the safety of the students.
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Examples:
“It is a painful thing to look at your own trouble and know that you yourself and no one else has made it.” -Sophocles
Why do people care so much about
responsibility and accountability?
Let's See What Twitter Said...
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:QUESTION |
So, Overall...
The thought of a world without responsibility is great. But, that's all it is: a thought. The reality is responsibility is still here and people still have to try and work towards it. So, even though I am stuck on the edge of childhood and adulthood, society and time will only push me closer and closer towards responsibility. It's bound to happen.