FCI Staff Writer Sacramento 
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May 25, 2022,
As a college student, when it comes to taking responsibility for your actions and mistakes, especially those that may harm others, you are in the between stages.
In early childhood, when confronted and asked why we did something wrong, what is the common response?
I dunno.
We’ll often repeat it. I don’t know.
After our young adult years, as an employee, possible supervisor, spouse and parent, it is paramount that we take responsibility for our actions, or face dire consequences.
That being the case, in this young in between stage, it would be a good idea to get in the practice of taking responsibility.
Often, what you are responsible for is actually something positive.
But get in the habit early.
Future leaders, who command far greater salaries, are people who take responsibility not only for their actions, but also the people they lead, and get paid big bucks to do so.
The team at psychologytoday.com expands upon that thinking, “Taking responsibility empowers us by making us accountable for our own behavior, to think critically, perform well under pressure, and handle challenges with ease.”
That is certainly preferable.
On the pathway that you are on now, little by little, are you taking on more responsibilities?
Wouldn’t this be a good time to get some valuable practice in?
Not only may your future family or employer depend upon you but possibly our society as well.
We have a visiting female writer with some additional thoughts on this subject.
Elizabeth L. Hamilton, career principal / teacher, searched for educational materials that taught strong moral absolutes in age-appropriate ways. Appalled at the dearth of such, she decided to dedicate her own writing skills to meet the need. She had already become a published author in 1982 with Remember Pearl Harbor. In 2001, she left teaching to build a library of fictional and non-fictional books, each one purpose-written for character building.
What It Means to Be Responsible
Ask what it means to be responsible (while standing around the water cooler), and you may get as many answers as there are people present. One may think it means being at fault for what went wrong. Another may say it refers to a person with authority – the boss who controls employees. Suppose they turn the question back on you. Do you know what it means to be responsible?
Etymology of “Responsible”
You could, of course, open a dictionary and read the definition, but maybe you prefer etymology: the facts of the origin and development of a particular word. Such facts can be helpful when we want to define a word. Take the word before us: “responsible”.
What it means to be responsible can be determined by looking at the etymology of the word. When did people first use it? Where did they get it? Turning to the Online Etymology Dictionary, we read:
1590s, “answerable” (to another, for something), from obsolete French responsible (13c., Modern French responsable, as if from Latin *responsabilis), from Latin respons-, past participle stem of respondere “to respond” (see respond). Meaning “accountable for one’s actions” is attested from 1640s; that of “reliable, trustworthy” is from 1690s. Retains the sense of “obligation” in the Latin root word. Related: Responsibly.
There we see three slightly different ways to tell what it means to be responsible.
- Give an answer: People have used “responsible” for more than 400 years to describe one who has to give an answer for his or her actions. For example, if the boss asks if a certain monthly payment went out, the responsible person must be ready to respond. He or she must answer. He or she is the person “answerable” for the mailing of that payment.
- Accountable for actions: For more than 350 years, people have used “responsible” to describe one who is accountable for his or her actions. Such a person is required not only to give an answer for actions, but also to explain those actions to another person. Once the responsible person tells the boss that the payment did not go out, he or she will be required to explain why it did not go out. A wise boss adheres to the adage, “no responsibility without accountability.” The responsible person must account for actions and decisions.
- Reliable, trustworthy: Since the 1690s, people who are asked what it means to be responsible are likely to add to the above that this adjective describes a person who is reliable and trustworthy. The boss told a certain person to mail that payment. Performance of the task in timely and accurate manner would prove that person responsible, i.e. reliable, trustworthy. He or she was obligated to fulfill the task, and did so. The boss can now say that is a responsible person. If he wants similar tasks done in the future, he will ask that person to do them.
Examples of Being Responsible
Actual cases may help solidify the meaning for us. The following come from my own neighborhood. Maybe you have seen similar instances of responsible people.
Jane functions as the responsible person for the weekly coffee klatch set-up. If people have questions about set-up, they ask Jane and she gives an answer. One day, Jane failed to complete set-up on time. The self-appointed group president asked what happened, and Jane gave an answer: “I slept in late.” Not satisfied, since unwritten rules required that coffee be ready on time, the president required an explanation as to why Jane did not make set-up a priority. She pointed out that Jane had proved herself reliable and trustworthy in other matters, so she surely could have skipped breakfast or something. In the end, Jane explained to everyone’s satisfaction, and coffee klatch was back to normal.
Mitch holds the position of responsible person for maintenance in our community. Mitch proves himself reliable and trustworthy on a daily basis. Today, Mitch is building a horseshoe pit for the community. The manager is not supervising Mitch (some residents are trying). Mitch could give an answer for what he is doing, and he could explain his actions if asked, but the manager chooses to give him free rein. Mitch is obligated to carry out the project from beginning to end. He is obligated to do his best work. The manager may hire additional helpers, but the buck stops with Mitch. Reliable, trustworthy Mitch is the responsible person for creation and future maintenance of the new horseshoe pit.
Conclusion
Saying what it means to be responsible is not a difficult task. Doing what is meant by being responsible can be difficult. Your own life is the proving ground. If you want to be a responsible person, evaluate your life, and ask family or friends to add their evaluation once you have told them what it means.
© 2015, Elizabeth L Hamilton.
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Elizabeth_L_Hamilton/525098
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9066604
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