¡Viva La Responsabilidad!
by Eimy Sarduy, Junior, National English Honor Society Liaison, iPreparatory Academy
by Eimy Sarduy, Junior, National English Honor Society Liaison, iPreparatory Academy
In any given dictionary, one can find at least four different definitions for the word “responsibility.” The one I am discussing is not in any of them. Responsibility is our response to life’s unforeseen events. In other words, it is our choice and our duty to decide on how we will react.
Do I let one singular moment, one life-altering event, define me, or do I make the most of my situation?
Do I let one singular moment, one life-altering event, define me, or do I make the most of my situation?
US Citizenship Podcast Image of US with Hispanic Flags
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That is the question Frida Kahlo had to ask herself at the young age of six when she contracted Polio and was left paralyzed in her right leg and later again when a trolley crash left her infertile. Kahlo transformed something that would have broken a lot of people into a creative outlet that healthily expressed her suffering; she began to paint; until, eventually, she succeeded in becoming an inspirational icon, especially for women. Kahlo took control of her own life, and considering that she redefined beauty with her iconic unibrow, one could say that she made the most of it. Change is never easy, but sometimes it can improve entire communities. Look around your neighborhood. Do you notice the restaurants, the languages, the music, the dances? |
Hispanics are responsible for a large part of those influences in our community. Most of the people from Latin America probably didn’t plan on moving to the United States, but once they did, they decided to bring their culture with them, and thanks to that, we live in a more diverse society.
Adapting to a new situation takes time and strength, but it is possible. Although the world seems to be falling apart around us during this pandemic, it isn’t. The Covid crisis will end, but for now, let’s act responsibly to keep things from worsening. Not seeing your friends every day at school isn’t fun, and having to wear a mask to leave your house is not ideal, but it is a responsible, and more importantly, a safe thing to do.
During a pandemic, there is not much we can do, so let’s focus on the little we can do. For starters, we can try to avoid going outside as much as possible. And, when we do leave the safety of our home to attend social gatherings, we should follow the CDC’s guidelines and limit the number of people present to no more than ten. These suggestions help keep us from being infected, and the fewer people are affected, the sooner the pandemic will come to an end. In other words, we are responsible for determining how long the epidemic will last. |
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So, let’s control the way we respond to change and follow the positive examples that others have set before us. Let’s embrace change because it is inevitable. And, most of all, let’s be responsible for our own actions.