When I was applying for the Governor's Scholars Program in 2012, part of the application was to write a response to one of several prompts. I chose to make an address to my fellow high school students about something that I thought was important. This is the response I came up with, a response that had to be only about 200 words.

The greatest challenge facing high school students today is maintaining the value of common courtesy. In our society, a teenage student holding open the door for a stranger is rarely, if ever, seen. This reflects not only lack of common etiquette, but also the lack of morals, dignity, and awareness for opportunities which all humans should hold in high regard. When we do not help others, we cannot help ourselves. Each life must depend on other lives if there is to be trust, understanding, and a bright future. Otherwise, every person would become desolate from feelings, and the rise of ultimate solitude would bring no need to interact face to face.

However, when people do help one another, and when respect is distributed equally between every person, no matter what their ethnicity, religion, or hometown, bonding occurs. This allows people to hold themselves upright, and freely communicate, which causes motivation to accomplish tasks never before taken care of. Without courtesy, people might go on with their lives believing that they are not worth holding a door open for. This is why every person needs to rise up, and help revive basic etiquette for a motivated, respectful, and dignified country.