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Addilyn Schlegel

Joy Tekotte

Honors English III - 2nd Period

9 January 2019

The Impact of Responsibility

Edwin Louis Cole once said, “Maturity comes not with age but with the acceptance of

responsibility.” Throughout my life, I’ve been given an immense amount of responsibility and

through that, I’ve grown.

My first memory of experiencing responsibility was when my sisters were born. On April

23, 2005, I sat in a hospital waiting room as my little sister was born. In that moment, I became a

big sister, an event that would go on to change who I fundamentally am. Three years later, I

became a big sister again, this time to a small, fragile girl. Being responsible for their safety and

happiness taught me to be selfless. When my youngest sister was born, we had a bond like no

other. At just five years old, every day I changed her, bathed her, fed her, put her to sleep, and

did everything that a mother usually would. My sisters were my world and I protected and loved

them dearly. This being said, I also became responsible for every mess and tear, even if I didn’t

cause it.

Additionally, when my parents’ marriage almost fell apart, I was there to protect and

reassure my sisters. At the age of ten, after mothering my sister for years, I felt prepared to take

on more responsibility, so I began babysitting. At first, my babysitting jobs were for family-

friends, but years later, I built a mini-career out of watching children and babysat for the majority

of my neighborhood. At twelve years old, I got a job at a horse stable as a barn cleaner, poop

scooper, horse leader, and chicken catcher. At sixteen years old, I became responsible for driving
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my sisters to and from school, paying for all of my clothes, shoes, bedroom furniture, gas, and

many of my family’s groceries while also babysitting full time and attending both high school

and community college. When my sister and I were in a scary code red lockdown, I held back

my fear to make sure she knew it’d be okay. On multiple occasions, I’ve sacrificed my own

worries and stresses to support those I love.

I’ve also used my drive for responsibility to lead organizations, turn an unreliable job into

a sustainable source of income, stand up for my sisters when it meant losing friends, and

sacrifice without acknowledgment. Furthermore, being a maternal, mature teenager, I often get

comments about being an “old soul.” This is something I’ve recognized in myself for years, as

I’ve longed for adulthood and parenthood since I was a toddler. Regardless of any struggles, I’m

eternally grateful for the responsibility that I’ve been tasked with in this life. Having to pave my

own path has taught me to utilize my passions and abilities, stand up for what I believe, put

others before myself, and create the future I desire. I’m a stronger person because of the

responsibilities placed on me and I dream of the day I’ll lead my future family and business with

passion, strength, and humility.