The Vitality of Learning Government in School by Amber

The Vitality of Learning Government in School by Amber - October 2016 Scholarship Essay

Ever since I was young, I have been passionate about politics, and have recognized government’s impact in my life. Learning about government in school is vital, and I believe that public education should place more emphasis on it, especially since it is one of the few subjects that will be applicable to everyone, regardless of what career field they go into. If I could teach any subject in school, I would teach government because I have had excellent experiences with it that I would love to pass on to students, and it is vital for every American citizen to learn about.
My experience with government has been integral in cultivating my love for the subject. I have volunteered with my local delegate’s office for almost a decade, assisting with newsletter distribution, and at polling sites on Election Day. This experience truly made me feel like I am able to impact my community, my state, and even my country, and prompted me to begin writing letters to my representatives about issues that I am passionate about. I also am an active participant in my school’s debate team, and was the Lincoln-Douglas debate champion for my district last year. I’ve learned through debate more about current events than I ever could have imagined, and have dived in-depth to topics such as gun control, the Syrian refugee crisis, and private prisons. It has also taught me how to articulate my thoughts, and to think on my feet. Another factor that contributed to my love of government is my work with Model UN. Model UN requires you to work in groups to draft legislation that pertain to your topic. This helped me to learn how to compromise to attain my goals in a format that other groups will want to vote through. It requires sensitivity and understanding about others’ opinions, which is a beneficial skill in any aspect of life. I also hold leadership positions in DECA (an association of marketing students), Latin Club, and Model Congress. These officer positions have taught me about leadership, organization, cooperation, and teamwork. Being a club officer requires decisiveness about your decisions, and working together with other officers, and the club sponsors to achieve the club’s goals. It also forces you to take responsibility for your actions, because if the club’s activities fall through, the only people at fault are the officers. These experiences with government are a major reason I would choose to teach the subject.
In addition to my multitude of positive experiences with government, I also believe that it is a critical subject for students, and people of any age to learn about. Teaching government in schools is a vital component in producing active and informed citizens and voters. Since it is the civic duty of Americans to be informed members of society, I would be doing a great benefit to my community and my country by choosing to teach government. I would also be able to encourage students to be active participants in government and politics; a task that many young people look past since they mistakenly believe that their government won’t affect them.
Government is an important part of every American’s lives, which is why I would choose to teach it if roles were reversed. I would be able to make a transformative impact on many students lives, the same impact that was made on me in my eighth-grade civics class, and would be confident in the fact that I am sending well-informed citizens into the world.