Overview

   In this section, you are going to learn about responsibility, which often requires self-discipline so that your tasks are accomplished. The value of responsibility is also linked to that of respect.
     Understanding and practicing the principles of responsibility will make you a mature person able to take charge of yourself and your conduct, one who owns one's actions and answers for them.

"In the final analysis, the great need in the world isn't for more genius, or even for more skill. It's for more people willing to accept responsibility for what they do."

Linda and Richard Eyre in Teaching Your Children Responsibility.

Definition of responsibility

     Do you know what is responsibility? Do you fully understand how to be a  responsibility person? Responsibility is a sense of duty and obligation to self and other. For example, it is your own responsibility to make sure that you do well in your studies, not your teachers. It is the police's responsibility to make sure that Singapore is safe. And also it is your responsibility to take care of your parents, likewise, your parent's responsibility to take care of you when you are young. Now, do you have a rough idea on what responsibility is? Are you a responsibility person?

     Responsibility also means accountability and being trustworthy. It also means accepting duties of roles. If you are the eldest in your family, it is your duty and also responsibility to take care of your younger siblings. If you are the president of a club, you must make sure that it is well taken care of. Being responsible also means completing tasks that you are given. If you have a project to hand in, it is your responsibility, as a student to hand in on time and not pass the deadline.

     Being responsible also means that you have to be answer for what you have done. Shifting the blame is not being responsible, it is just an excuse! I still remembered when I was in Secondary 4, and my group and I were supposed to give a presentation to the lower secondary students. But I did not know about it and neither did my team members and so in the end, we did not give the presentation. The teacher in charge was very angry and we had to meet her and give her an explanation. And so, my group member and I tried to shift the blame to one another. I, in particular said that it was the group's leader's fault for not informing us. But in the end, all of us were punished. Luckily, we only  had to write an apology letter to the teacher. Then from this lesson, I learnt responsibility. As a member of the group, it is also my duty to find out what is happening, not just the leader. As a group member, we should help the leader and not just depend on him. So, have you learnt what responsibility is?

Some benefits of responsible behavior

     With responsible behavior comes benefits. Just what are they? Firstly, being responsible can ensure the well being of yourself and others. For example in the case when a six year old boy killed a fellow classmates. The news shocked the world, but whose fault was it? The boy? Actually, the person who should be blamed is the man who left his gun lying around. A gun is not a toy, it is not a tool, it is a weapon, how can the man leave such a dangerous weapon lying around? If he had kept his gun, then the girl would not be killed. This brings us to the first benefit. Secondly, with responsibility, you can gain trust. Let's say you a the boss of a shop. You want to order some products and you have two distributors to choose from. Distributor A is a responsible person, he always sent his goods on time, while distributor B is always late, sometimes even not sending the product. Who would you trust, who would you order from? Obviously, the answer is distributor A. And also being responsible also means having good relations with others and having good self-esteem too. The benefits of  responsibility are just too much to be listed on this website. Being responsible is very important if you want to be someone with a good character.

Levels of responsibility

     Responsibility is a complicated matter. There are 4 levels of responsibility. (Can you believe it?) At the highest level, level 4 we have being responsible because of love or service. Next, we have discipline. You are responsible because of discipline. At the second level, we have being responsible because of obedience. And finally at the lowest being responsible due to fear. So, what level of responsibility are you at? Is it at level 4, or 1? If you are responsible because of love, then you are on the right track in becoming a person with good character. However, if you are responsible because of fear. Then, you should rethink about it. Being responsible should not be a burden to you, it should be something you enjoy doing. Nevertheless, no matter what level of responsibility you are at, it is better than being irresponsibility.