24 Unit 1 Your Development and Relationships
They provide for their own needs and wants. Independent people are in
control of their lives.
Perhaps you would like to show your parents and other adults that you
are ready to become more independent. One way to do this is to assume more
responsibility. Responsibilities are the duties or jobs you must carry through.
You have responsibilities to yourself, your family, friends, school, community,
and the global environment in which you live.
Accepting Responsibility
The more responsible you are, the more you show you are ready for greater
independence. This means others can count on you to do what you say you will
do. When you tell your parents you are going to a concert, you go to the concert.
If you and your friends decide to go somewhere else, you call your parents and
tell them of the change. This type of behavior shows you are responsible.
One way to achieve greater independence might be getting an after school
or summer job, 1-16. When you arrive on time and work hard, you show
maturity as well as responsibility.
Another way to show responsibility is to manage money you have been
given or earned. If you can manage and use your money without having to ask
for more, you are being responsible with money. Managing money wisely is
often associated with independence.
Becoming independent gives you more freedom. You and your friends
may be looking forward to making your own decisions. As you become more
responsible, greater independence will follow.
Being Responsible for Yourself
Part of growing up is accepting
responsibility for yourself and your
actions. This means making decisions
about your actions. It also means
accepting the results of your choices.
You begin to decide for yourself what
is right and wrong. Although many
people and events may infl uence
your decisions, you alone are
responsible for who you are and the
person you will become.
Every day you become responsible
for more decisions and tasks. Many of
these have to do with your well-being.
When you were younger, your
family was totally responsible for
you. They made the decisions that
would infl uence the person you
would become. Now, however, you
are entering an age when you will
be making more of the decisions
1-16 To begin showing responsibility, you may want
to consider a job babysitting, mowing lawns, or
walking dogs in your neighborhood.
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