Young Writers Society

***This is an essay for my AP Government class, to be turned in tomorrow for a grade and a possible chance at a scholarship. I just wanted a few reviews, just to see how my argument stands.

The prompt was this: What civic value do you believe to be the most important in American society? Choose one historical leader and a Founding document to discuss your civic value with. Include your own story, how you display this civic value in life today.***

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Americans are known worldwide for their stubbornness. Our fellow countries know us to be unyielding in our fights and conquests. Stubbornness, however, has a negative appeal. I prefer to refer to this sense of unyielding, painstaking effort as diligence. Diligence earned our freedom. George Washington sets a prime example.

In the Revolutionary War, George Washington played a key role. As Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, he overcame many obstacles. His army was composed of fourteen thousand untrained men; he led them to victory at Lexington and Concord. Long Island was lost, yet Washington still trusted and led his men; the hope he instilled in them gave them the strength and courage needed to capture a thousand Hessians and reclaim New Jersey. Washington had no support from Congress; he pressed forth and moved against General Howe, knowing that he could lose the battle. The winter of 1777 impacted Washington’s forces, already weak from lack of provisions or medical supplies; he focused on training the eleven thousand men left and restoring their strength. After this restoration, Washington launched innumerable attacks against the British army, effectively pushing them back until their surrender in 1781.

The Declaration of Independence, even, is a product of diligence. For over a hundred and sixty years, the colonists tolerated Britain’s rule, with the many taxes and mandates cast upon them without representation. However, as we all are aware, mankind has a limited patience. This loss of patience occurred with the Boston Tea Party and other minor rebellions that broke out throughout the colonies. Diligence urged the people to stand up for their rights: to live free of oppression from absent leaders. When actions failed to produce results, the colonists’ acts led to words, and these words became The Declaration of Independence.

This grand document, our great first president, and our continued display of diligence, helped us identify mistreatment, earn our freedom, and now is helping us keep our liberty. I am willing to say that without diligence, there is no hope.

I know I am no George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, or John Adams, and I never will be. I can, however, display diligence of my own kind. I am the Battalion Commander of my school’s JROTC program. Everyone knows you cannot become the colonel without hard work. I know that too well; it has taken me three years to achieve my goal.

I began as everyone does: I knew absolutely nothing. I would not let that stop me. I paid attention in class, learning all that I could from every lesson; I took my notes home with me, reading through them for hours before marching and commanding myself about the house, as if my voice belonged to Colonel Tanner. My father and grandfather, both of whom took part in the military, would correct me as necessary. I also began to study great Commanders of the past, like Washington and Shaw, and I began to model my leadership methods after theirs.

As I made progress, I excelled. As a sophomore, I became a Platoon Leader, skipping six ranks. That year, Captain Bradley and I worked close, plotting and then executing these plots so as to make our company as grand as possible. Sometimes, this work required us to stay after school so we could converse undisturbed. Our work paid off; Captain Bradley was awarded at the end of that year for having the best company, and I had both the best platoon and squad.

I replaced Captain Bradley. I reestablished the methods she and I used the previous year, spending hours at a time editing these methods and constructing new ones. I pushed myself harder than my fellow captains, dedicating every spare moment I had to improving my company. Unfortunately, I did not receive the best company award at the end of the year, but I did reach my goal. By displaying that I will sacrifice my personal time, that I care about the fate of the battalion, that I am willing to spend hours correcting errors, and that I can lead two hundred people effectively without losing my temper or giving up, I was promoted. I became the Battalion Commander.

My diligence has not ceased. Even now, I do all I can – creating and enforcing policies, conversing with my staff members and captains, observing progress in the companies, correcting younger students’ mistakes through peer mediation, and countless others – to make this year the best year.

There is nothing wrong with being stubborn.