Respect is something we learn at a young age. In preschool, we are taught to respect the speaker, our peers and our environment. Somewhere along the way, some of us seem to have forgotten that respect.
Being considerate is very important in our lifetime. We will not get far if we do not treat others how we want to be treated. Respect, for the most part, is something that is earned.
Bullying is a form of disrespect. A lot of bullying and disrespect toward peers has to do with a sense of superiority or even one's own insecurities. Insulting someone does not do you or the victim any good. Taking the feelings of others into consideration and putting yourself in their shoes for a moment can make a difference.
Along with our fellow peers, we must also respect our teachers, who are there to help us learn and make a future for ourselves. Teachers are there to provide knowledge, yet some of us choose to pass our time in class by not paying attention and fooling around. Schools have rules to follow to make the system run smoothly. Showing up to class and not talking during a lesson is a sign of respect toward the teacher.
As well as our teachers, we should also appreciate school property. A number of acts of vandalism go on throughout the school.
For example, graffiti is quite common. You may find plenty of profane content written on the walls of bathrooms, sides of desks or even in lockers. Appliances in bathrooms may also be damaged or destroyed.
Vandalism is an act of rebellion in teens. Some may see it as entertaining, just to get a reaction out of someone. Or perhaps vandalism gives a sense of ownership or power.
We should keep in mind that people put time and effort into cleaning our school each day to make sure it is an upright working environment the next day. It is not fair to school staff that we disregard the property, whether it be leaving trash on the ground, damaging school property or writing graffiti on the wall.
Respect is a key tool we will use for the rest of our lives and important to go far in our future.
Although we are still young and immature, and we will always make mistakes, we must remember that people are much more appreciative if we are considerate toward them.
Macy How is a grade 10 student at Brooks Secondary School.
