Responisibility

What Personal Responsibility Means to Me

Melissa Totman

GEN/200

March 5, 2012

Debra McDowell

Personal Responsibility

Even though it is easy to blame someone else for failing, receiving an education is taking personal responsibility. Every individual is responsible for his or her own academic future and it will only be achieved by taking personal responsibility.

I am personally responsible for my own academic future; I cannot rely on anyone else to make sure I finish college. I cannot blame someone else if I do not succeed. As noted by Simon (2009), “Responsibility involves a rational decision-making process that enables the person to fully own the action that arises from the decision” (p. 1). It is my responsibility to make time to study and complete my assignments. I tend to think through a problem carefully and research options to find the one that will allow me to fulfill my duties. I pay particular attention to the experts on the subject, to find the best solution for a problem. My goal is to make a fully informed decision and to meet the needs of the community, without harming the least advantaged. As a single mother of three children, time management can be hard most of the time. I have made a schedule for me and my children to ensure I have plenty of time each week to accomplish the tasks I have on my schedule. I also have a specific time slot for each day to study and complete homework.

As a single mother who previously survived financially on welfare while attending college, I have realized that going back to school placed an increased amount pressure on me. I have learned as a single mother I can persevere and make it through college. I am determined to provide for my children without relying on welfare. As noted by Jaquelin (2001), “Official classifications like, “welfare mother” and “college student” influence a woman’s...