The Teddy Bear That Bites by Wen Long

The Teddy Bear That Bites by Wen Long - October 2017 Scholarship Essay

If I could have the honor to sit down and have dinner with one U.S. president, living or not, my choice would most definitely be our 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt. Although he is most famous for his refusal to shoot a bear tied to a tree, earning his nickname of "Teddy" Roosevelt, he, himself, was not the typical cuddly toy you would find laying on the floor of a child's bedroom. In fact, Theodore Roosevelt was a warrior of war, an enemy of injustice, a guardian of the environment, and a hero in the hearts of all those who have heard his stories.
However, before I start listing the countless achievements completed by our former president, it is important to keep in mind that this is, indeed, a dinner with a president that we are discussing at hand! And what is a dinner...without a feast? It is not a surprise, for an individual who spent the years after his presidency traveling to Africa on an extended hunting trip, that his favorite foods consist of a variety of wild game and steak, served with bread and gravy. Just thinking about the meal makes my mouth water, for steak is one of my lengthy list of favorite foods. After establishing the items on the dinner menu, I must explain the reasons why I believe Theodore Roosevelt is the best answer for this essay question; he is my role model, an individual whose qualities are virtues that I wish to see in myself.
Firstly, he was a warrior of war. After resigning from the Department of the Navy in 1898, he organized the First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, known as the Rough Riders. Being the leader of this organization, he led the charge up San Juan Hillin the Spanish-American War, earning him the Congressional Medal of Honor. Carrying a plethora of experience on his shoulders from former occupations- a deputy sheriff, a police commissioner, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, governor of New York-built up his credentials in being the perfect leader of both the Rough Riders and as the president of the United States. I wish to take on his leadership qualities, although not in war, but most definitely in my future career as an international business manager.
In addition, he is both an enemy of injustice and a guardian of nature. Specifically, he was the chief of progressive reforms by proposing the Square Deal and putting it into action. In his Square Deal, his goals were to control corporations, protect consumers, and conserve natural resources. He combatted corporate evils and protected small businesses from the greedy hands of large companies. Furthermore, he passed numerous regulations that ensured the safety of the products purchased by the consumers of America, including the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. Many members of Congress were reluctant to pass these laws, as the meat industry was a powerful lobbying force. However, the passage of this legislation helped prevent the adulteration and mislabeling of food, alcohol, and drugs. Even in the face of opposition, Roosevelt stood up for what he believed was just and morally correct, in which his actions benefitted all inhabitants of the United States and will continue to do so for generations to come. This is one of the main reasons why I look up to him as a role model, wish to sit down, have supper, and have a nice long conversation with him. Moreover, he loves nature and strives to protect it. Many Americans at the time viewed the country’s natural resources as limitless. For instance, farmers, ranchers, and timber companies in the west were consuming an overwhelming portion of the available resources at an alarming rate. The reason for this was the greed for profit, and they had little concern for the damage they were causing. However, there was a small but vocal population who had a great deal of concern for the environment, and fortunately for them and future Americans, the environmentalists had the support of our 26th president. This is another quality that I admire about Roosevelt, he is willing to help the minority and push for their voices to be heard. Because of this, during his administration, he established five breathtaking national parks and set aside 42 million acres as national forests, wildlife refuges, and areas of special interest (such as the Grand Canyon).
Along with these achievements that we can talk about, I have other burning questions that I long to ask Theodore Roosevelt. Some examples include: "How does it feel like to be the first U.S. president to receive a Nobel peace prize?", "How cool is it to be one of four presidents on Mt. Rushmore, along with the father of our country, the author of the Declaration of Independence, and Honest Abe?". Getting to meet him will benefit me greatly for I can ask my role model for advice in becoming a better person; an individual who is not afraid to take charge, to stand up for my opinions, and to defend the voices of those who need help. All in all, along with a scrumptious dinner, I believe that President Theodore Roosevelt and I will have so much to talk about, we may even forget about having dessert!