WAYS I SERVE MY COUNTRY
by Daniel Villarreal

I am only 15 years old, a freshman in high school. I am ineligible to serve this country through military service, I cannot vote, and I have paid taxes, on prize winnings, only once. However, I am serving this country in a very important way.

Democracy is a government run by the people. In order for the actions of the government to match the needs of the people, the people must express their needs and wishes by voting. If only a small fraction of the people vote, then only that small fraction is represented, and those who did not vote may not get their needs met. Therefore, the government does not fulfill its purpose completely. The more people vote, the more effectively the government functions.

Being aware of current events and the issues surrounding politics is an important part of citizenship, one that everyone, regardless of age, can do. You need not be ... of voting age to be aware of what's going on around you and in Washington. That is how I, at the age of 15, serve my country. Our country depends on people making their opinions known, on voting. By being conscious of what's happening, I am on the road to contributing to the democracy's well being by voting.

A big problem with our country today is not the economy, nor is it the war being waged overseas. The big problem is one that has been around for quite a long time; not enough citizens are casting their votes. As I mentioned before, democracy works well when everyone participates. In my opinion, it is up to our generation to increase the voter turnout, which is why it is important for minors like myself, even though we are not able to vote, to be aware of the issues.

However, we cannot do it all by ourselves. We need help from teachers to incorporate current events into their curricula. Some Social Studies teachers already do this, in the form of current event assignments (in which the student finds an article, identifies the "Who?", "What?", "When?", etc. of the article, then writes his or her own opinion). These assignments are good, but can be insufficient when left at that.

One way to add to a class's understanding of what's going on is to do what my History teacher does: he allots time every Friday to go through the current events aloud in class, one by one, to begin discussions.

In a time when turmoil is all around us, when we are still feeling, and reeling from, the effects of September 11, when we see the economy the way it is, one might feel the need to help the country in some way, to contribute.

Just open up the paper and begin to read. Instead of watching movies you've seen millions of times, watch CNN. It doesn't matter how old you are, you can still make a difference. Know the issues, be informed, and you will let democracy work for you. Serve your country (as) I do, by being aware.

PeprallyUSA.com 2003 Essay Contest Semi-Finalist Daniel Villareal, a ninth grade student at John Dickinson High School, Wilmington, DE.

Daniel Villarreal, age 15, is a freshman at John Dickinson High School in Wilmington, Delaware. He is involved in a number of extracurricular activities at school, including soccer, track, chorus, and math league. He has a wide variety of interests including sports, music, and reading. He is especially interested in reading about and visiting architectural and engineering landmarks, such as baseball ballparks, skyscrapers, subway systems, and bridges. Daniel represented Delaware in the 2002 National Spelling Bee and participated in Delaware's 2002 All State Junior Chorus. He has also received recognition for his achievements in math, language arts, and Spanish. Daniel lives in Newark, Delaware with his parents and younger sister, Diana.

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