The Importance of Respect in Society

My family history, culture or environment has taught me to respect other people, but most importantly, respect myself. In my culture, respect is emphasized greatly.

I spent only two years of my life in my homeland before my family moved to America. The ticket to America, to my parents, was an open door leading to new opportunities earned by hard work and patience. Though they continued to live their lives away from Nigeria, they never dismissed their culture or where they came from. They raised me the way any other African parents would, placing great emphasis on respect. Respect meant acknowledging the feelings and interests of other people and treating them in a way I would like to be treated. I was 12 and studying in Nigeria about 3 years ago when I learned that respect had multiple meanings in my culture. Most of the time, it was directed towards the elderly people. When an elderly man or woman stepped into the room, we fell on our knees and curtsied to express courtesy towards them. My culture not only taught me to respect others, but most importantly, myself. I built self- respect by developing a sense of worth. Self-respect is the foundation for a life of integrity. Without self-respect, there would be no respect, and without respect, we will live in a world full of savages, violence and issues.

Responsibility plays a big role on my family and culture. ‘’ You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today’’, he father would say after I pointed multiple fingers on my siblings for something under my name. I never thought about what he meant until I moved to Nigeria. Responsibility was mentioned at home, in school, everywhere. As a child, my responsibility was to get the little things done but that changed. As you age, your responsibility evolves and advances to more serious things. Over time, I developed a definition of responsibility. It meant understanding your obligation to get things done.

As you age, your responsibility evolves and advances to more serious things.Waxing responsibility meant becoming a mature person.