Personal responsibility is the catalyst that propels an individual to move forward in his or her personal, professional, and educational life. Responsibility is an essential requirement for anyone who desires to reach individual goals and to obtain dreams. Responsibility is also a vital part of maturing. The key element to understanding personal responsibility is ownership. According to the Webster’s Dictionary for Student Special Encyclopedia Edition, ownership is “the legal right of possession or the state of being an owner” (p. 278). Hence, the processes of becoming a responsible individual means to take claim in order to move towards possession. According to a case study conducted by Stockdale and Brockett, “personal responsibility means that individuals assume ownership for their thoughts and actions” (p. 26). Each individual is responsible for his or her own actions and behaviors and all decision making be it good or bad or lack thereof. One primary focus of child rearing of parents is to teach responsibility in a loving and caring environment so this attribute will be a stabilizing factor well into adult life. Many parents and scholars argue that the act of being responsible is a learned behavior as many children lack this quality at various stages of development. My husband and I have three children ages 15, 10, and 5. In the process of rearing and watching them grow into their own, the lack of ownership amongst the children becomes clearly evident. For example, when a mishap happens and each child is questioned about their part in the situation, almost instantly, each child began to point their finger at one another with little explanation of what role each one may have played. The ten and five-year old, for instance, typically offer their explanation that result in the other person being at fault. The youngest child is a talker. When the teacher sends a notice home stating that he had a talkative day it is rarely his fault. Instead his excuse or justification for talking is the teacher assigned him to sit next to his friend that talks or the friend asked him a question that he had to answer. He does not realize that he has the choice to answer or not answer. The oldest daughter, on the other hand, is learning to assume responsibility for her grades and studies. When a test is failed, the first question asked is how much effort was put forth in preparing and studying for the test for which she rarely has any justifications for. She coming to the realization that in order to make good grades and maintain a certain GPA, she must spend time studying and no one else can perform her duties nor is responsible for her actions and reactions. After seeing the ending results of her behaviors, she has a better understanding that she is in control of her decision making where education is concern. With a better understanding of roles and their responsibilities, students are able to rationalize the concept that no studying equates to less than desirable grades; however, the more studying, the better the grades. Learning oneself is part of the process of growing and becoming more of a responsible person. The ability to evaluate oneself and being honest with what he or she discovers is another part of the journey to becoming a responsible individual. This form of evaluation is discovered through a process known as self evaluation and self actualization. Self evaluation and self actualization are the acts of taking a hard look at the person in the mirror and accepting what it reflects. The case study performed by Stockdale and Brockett, showed that individuals who “demonstrate high levels of self actualization, epitomizes personal responsibility” (p. 126). When a student realizes how their action will affect their grades and their future successes, they are more apt to develop better habits as it relates to school. For instance, if the mirror shows an anger or depressed person, in order for the individual to change, each person must be willing to accept what the mirror reveals. Upon accepting the emotional state, the next step is to understand the source of the angry and then move to resolving the issue to become a happier person. This relates to personal responsibility in that by evaluating oneself we can move to another place in life and grow. This concept is very important and a vital ingredient to success. How well one assumes responsibility for failures as well triumphs will determine how successful they are in their careers and educational pursuits. Personal responsibility is “inextricably linked to the development of social responsibility…involve the moral obligation to both self and community, and both forms of responsibility rely upon such virtues as honesty, self-discipline, respect, loyalty, and compassion” (Hirsch, p. 7). When a person takes responsibility for his or her life, he or his is moved to desiring to perform better, take better care of health concerns, reduce stress, and have a more positive outlook. However, failing to take responsibility of oneself can be very taxing on the mind and the body as well as professional endeavors. For example, a supervisor has assigned a project with a completion deadline of two week. The deadline is fast approaching. The supervisor requests an e-mail briefing the status of the project and when the expected completion date of the project will be. Unfortunately there is nothing to report because work on the project has not begun. Every excuse is given to the Supervisor as why the project is nowhere near completion with a request to extend the deadline. The Supervisor frowns on this request and questions the integrity and work ethics feeling that the employee lacks respect for the project he or she was assigned. Trust is inevitably lost. If the employee had completed the task or requested more time to complete the project before the Supervisor requested a status report, these “accomplishing results would have built credibility and trust” (Covey, p. 120) instead of distrust. Failure to assume ownership of one’s work may develop poor work habits that come with negative consequences, for example, being passed over for a promotion or lose of job. In addition to the work environment, failing to take responsibility can also have the same affect in academic. Many students fail their classes for lack of ownership in their education. They choose to put other events in place of studying and lack the drive it takes to complete assignments due to other obligations. Another reason for failure in academics is lack of time management and poor study habits. One element to being successful in academics is to “hold yourself accountable. Hold others accountable. Take responsibility for results. Don’t blame others or point the finger when things go wrong” (Covey, p. 207). In essence, one must understand that success and future endeavors depends solely on the individual. It is the responsibility of the individual to take charge on their own future and make necessary efforts to ensure he or she is successful. In conclusion, taking ownership is the most important aspect of success. Time management, financial responsibility, studying, and participation all are determined by each individual as to how much effort is given to academics. As I embark upon this journey of going back to school while working fulltime, juggling three very active children, and a military spouse who is deployed often, I understand what I am involving myself in. I also understand the weight that comes with adding going back to college to my plate. Assuming the responsibility for all my actions and reactions both productive and unproductive, a plan of action will need to be implemented. In doing so, I must be responsible for my time, my money, and my studies. Part of my course of action is to play my study time and incorporate my academics in my daily activities along with work. Neither failure nor giving up are options only performing to be best of my ability and knowing that my work will not get done nor will goals be obtained, if I do not perform and complete what has been started.

Reference Page
Brockett, R. and Stockdale, S.L. Development of the PROSDLS: A Measure of Self Direction in Learning Based on the Personal Responsibility Orientation Model. Adult Education Quarterly Retrieved from the University of Phoenix online Library, http://aeq.sagepub.com.
Covey, S. The Speed of Trust. The One Thing that Changes Everything. New York, NY: Free.
Hersh, R. and Schneider, C. Fostering Personal and Social Responsibility on College and
University Campuses. Liberal Education, Summer/Fall 2005, Vol. 91 Issue 3, p. 6-13., 8p. Retrieved from the University of Phoenix online Library.
Merriam-Webster, (2007). Webster's Dictionary for Students. Springfield, MA: Federal Street Press.